Microchip & Hyundai team up to explore single-pair Ethernet for future vehicle networks
Press Release, 6 February 2026
Microchip Technology and Hyundai Motor Group have announced a collaborative effort to investigate the use of 10BASE-T1S Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) as a next-generation in-vehicle networking standard for tomorrow’s connected and smart vehicles. The initiative aims to evaluate how this cutting-edge Ethernet technology can streamline vehicle architecture, improve connectivity performance, and support emerging mobility needs across electrification, ADAS, autonomous driving and broader smart mobility applications.
As automotive systems become increasingly complex, traditional communication buses are struggling to meet the bandwidth, scalability and integration demands of modern vehicle designs. SPE in particular 10BASE-T1S offers a simplified networking approach that uses just a single twisted pair cable to enable multi-drop Ethernet communication between sensors, actuators and control units, reducing wiring complexity and system cost while supporting efficient data exchange.
Under the agreement, Hyundai and Microchip will jointly explore how to integrate Microchip’s SPE hardware and solutions into Hyundai’s future platforms, with access to early samples and technical support to help accelerate development cycles and ensure optimal performance. This cooperative evaluation phase is focused on laying the groundwork for future adoption rather than announcing a production contract, reflecting both companies’ interest in preparing for software-defined and highly networked vehicle architectures.
The move comes as automotive manufacturers increasingly turn to Ethernet-based networks to replace legacy communication protocols, enhancing performance while cutting weight and production costs. By extending Ethernet deeper into vehicles connecting devices at the edge of the network with greater efficiency the collaboration could help OEMs deliver more robust connectivity solutions as the industry pushes toward more automated, electrified and software-centric mobility experiences.
This partnership highlights a broader trend in automotive networking innovation, where scalable, flexible communication technologies like Single Pair Ethernet are poised to play a central role in enabling the next wave of intelligent vehicles.
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