Freescale to Develop Research Lab for Major Chinese Automaker

Embedded computer chipmaker Freescale has agreed to join forces with Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor for establishing an automotive electronics research lab in China.

 

The lab will set a course for developing silicon, software and systems-level solutions that Dongfeng Motor will later use in its next generation of vehicles for domestic and overseas markets.

 

Once the lab is up and running, Austin, Texas-based Freescale said the two companies would develop body electronics, powertrain control and hybrid/electric power technology.

 

Headquartered in the Hubei province, Dongfeng is China's second-largest automaker.

 

Developing this lab will involve a series of Freescale microcontroller (MCU) platforms, including 32-bit Power Architecture MCUs, 16-bit S12X and 8-bit S08 devices, as well as analog ICs.

 

Dongfeng, which previously developed an electronic engine control system based on Freescale's MPC5xx 32-bit MCU, plans to migrate the design to the MPC563x MCU, a cost-effective MCU family optimized for "green" engine control.

 

Future cooperation between the two companies is expected to focus on chassis and safety technologies, as well as in-car infotainment and navigation.

 

The agreement also includes plans to develop software and hardware platforms for ECUs, modeling tools, demonstration panels, AUTOSAR applications, in-vehicle networking solutions and low-end body control modules.

 

"Through close cooperation and joint research and development, Freescale and Dongfeng Motor expect to achieve breakthroughs in cost-effective body electronics, powertrain and HEV solutions to be deployed in next-generation automotive system designs," said Henri Richard, Freescale’s senior vice president, chief sales and marketing officer.

 

Dongfeng Motor’s Huang Jiateng hoped that the opening of the joint lab and the collaboration in creating end-to-end automotive solutions will boost Dongfeng’s technology development capabilities.