Infineon to Power BMW's Software-Defined EV Platform
Infineon is a central supplier for BMW's upcoming "Neue Klasse" electric vehicle platform, underscoring the auto industry's move toward software-defined vehicles. The partnership focuses on providing secure connectivity and real-time processing capabilities necessary for centralized vehicle architectures. This design allows for ongoing over-the-air feature updates and advanced lifecycle management.
- The "Neue Klasse" platform's computing power is consolidated into four central high-performance computers called "Superbrains" which handle functions previously managed by up to 100 individual control units. One "Superbrain," named the "Heart of Joy," is dedicated to driving dynamics and is built entirely on Infineon's latest AURIX TC4D microcontrollers, while the other three manage automated driving, infotainment, and basic vehicle functions. - This new architecture provides over 20 times the computing power of current BMW vehicles, which is necessary for the platform's advanced automated driving capabilities and AI-driven features. - The AURIX™ TC4x microcontrollers feature up to six TriCore™ cores operating at up to 500MHz and are built on a 28nm process. They include a Parallel Processing Unit (PPU) for artificial intelligence applications and support high-speed communication interfaces such as 5 Gbps Ethernet and PCIe. - For body control modules, the platform utilizes Infineon's TRAVEO™ T2G microcontrollers, which are based on Arm® Cortex®-M7 and Cortex®-M4F cores and are designed for applications like door, seat, and lighting control. - The zonal E/E (Electrical/Electronic) architecture reduces the total length of the vehicle's wiring harness by 600 meters, resulting in a weight reduction of about 30%. - Instead of up to 150 traditional fuses, the "Neue Klasse" vehicles will use Infineon's programmable Smart eFuses, which enable precise, software-controlled power distribution and contribute to a 20% increase in energy efficiency. - The first model to launch on this new platform will be the iX3 SUV, with production starting in late 2025, followed by a 3 Series sedan in 2026. BMW plans to release a total of six "Neue Klasse" models by 2030.
