Samsung will partner with Tesla to develop a 5nm-class automotive semiconductor that will become the core of fully autonomous vehicles.
Samsung Electronics Foundry Division is currently conducting research and development (R&D) on 5nm class system semiconductors to be mounted on Tesla autonomous vehicles.
As per the report, the 5nm semiconductor applied with the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) process is a high-tech product that only a small number of companies, such as Samsung Electronics and TSMC, can produce.
Samsung has been supplying Tesla with 14nm chips that have experienced an argon fluoride (ArF) exposure process, not EUV. The area that the two companies are expanding cooperation this time is the infotainment (IVI) product line using 5nm semiconductors.
Various semiconductors such as processors, neural network processing units (NPUs), security integrated circuits, memories, and display driving chips (DDI) are used in IVI.
Ultimately, it is regarded as a core technology that enables the vehicle to reach fully autonomous driving by processing information input from sensors, lighting, and communication in the vehicle and providing it to the screen.
Tesla, which has been leading the autonomous vehicle field so far, also needs Samsung Electronics’ technology. Tesla plans to upgrade the IVI to make the vehicle look like a smartphone with wheels.
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Samsung Electronics is currently focusing on increasing the semiconductor unit. If Tesla provides the chip developed by Samsung Electronics, it is the procedure to undergo a vehicle test, adjust the yield for mass production accordingly, and then sign a contract.
If it succeeds in mass production of Tesla-oriented products, it will be able to acquire the attention of other automakers and outsmart TSMC in Taiwan. Taiwan TSMC, the world’s No. 1 foundry, unveiled the world’s first 7nm vehicle design platform in May last year, and Samsung Electronics is tough enough to skip the 7nm class and start developing the 5nm class immediately.
