NXP Semiconductors N.V. ( NXPI ) has launched its new S32K5 series of automotive microcontrollers (MCU).

This MCU lineup is the first in the automotive sector to incorporate 16nm FinFET technology along with built-in magnetic RAM (MRAM).

The S32K5 is crafted to enhance the NXP CoreRide platform, enabling scalable software-defined vehicle (SDV) designs and offering integrated zonal and electrification system solutions.

The NXP CoreRide platform, which is a key component of the MCU, facilitates easier integration of both software and hardware, addressing the challenges in SDV development.

The S32K5 series is specifically designed to accommodate the needs of future automotive architectures, especially those utilizing zonal frameworks.

“The new S32K5 family pushes the boundaries of MCU performance without sacrificing the safety, efficiency and isolation that are essential for zonal solutions,” said SVP and GM, automotive microcontrollers at NXP, Manuel Alves.

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“The NXP CoreRide platform featuring S32K5 will help automakers and Tier-1s accelerate the development of zonal architectures, providing a scalable foundation for software-driven innovation.”

It offers automakers a real-time, low-latency communication system, while integrating sophisticated isolation features to guarantee secure and dependable performance.

Equipped with Arm Cortex cores capable of reaching up to 800 MHz, the S32K5 MCU delivers efficient power usage, boosted by optimized accelerators that enhance security, networking, and digital signal processing tasks.

Notable features of the S32K5 series include an integrated Ethernet switch core, shared with NXP's S32N processors, and a hardware-enforced isolation architecture that meets ASIL-D safety standards.

The MCU also incorporates an eIQ Neutron neural processing unit (NPU) for machine learning at the vehicle’s edge, along with high-performance MRAM to speed up ECU programming and reduce over-the-air (OTA) update times.

The S32K5 series is set to begin sampling with select customers in the third-quarter of 2025.

Price Action: NXPI shares closed lower by 6.165 at $208.84 on Monday.

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Image via NXP Semiconductors ( NXPI )