March 6, 2001–Austin, Texas–Motorola, the leading supplier of semiconductors to the automotive industry, and Germany-based Elmos Semiconductor AG, a leading manufacturer of application-specific ICs for automotive electronics, today announced a long-term partnership to jointly drive innovative architectures for the automotive market.
The two companies are joining forces to provide automotive customers more advanced microcontroller choices with an emphasis on broader peripheral sets, price competitive solutions, and fast a time to market. The alliance is expected to offer car manufacturers comprehensive solutions for 8-bit and 16-bit microcontrollers and DSPs, supporting a wide variety of applications. The partnership is intended to combine Motorola’s leading-edge microcontroller cores and powerful subsystems, with Elmos’ expertise in fast, flexible designs of standard and high voltage peripherals. It is anticipated that multiple sources for these powerful standard microcontrollers will be enabled through Motorola’s stable, high-volume production capabilities and Elmos’ flexible production capabilities, providing customers with the partners of choice in the automotive market.
“Advanced automotive systems, including mechatronic design trends, are demanding even greater levels of functional integration and performance. Hence the partnership of Motorola and Elmos, two leading semiconductor suppliers with complimentary strengths within automotive, is a perfect response to customer requirements,” explains Chris Webber, vice president of automotive electronics and telematics practice, Strategy Analytics. “Elmos’ decision to work with Motorola’s 68HC12 microcontroller family reflects the 16-bit core’s dominant position particularly within the automotive body control market.”
As emerging applications drive demand for products with enhanced feature sets, Motorola and Elmos expect to serve the automotive market with the creation of world-class products, based on Motorola’s 8-bit and 16-bit and DSP product lines. Addressing the sub-32K memory space, Motorola’s 8-bit HC08 family’s suggested pricing is expected to allow optimum product choice for emerging and low functionality applications, such as remote keyless entry. Combining embedded flash and EEPROM with on-board networking capabilities, the 16-bit HC12 product line is expected to continue to be the platform of choice for the mid-range networked applications, which include doors, seats, window lifts, HVAC, sun roofs, and lighting, etc. In addition, Motorola is redefining architecture by combining microcontroller and DSP functionality, enabling the Motorola-Elmos alliance to more quickly deliver programmable automotive solutions for electronic power steering (EPS), adaptive cruise control, and new drive by wire applications.
“Elmos and Motorola are committed to providing the industry fast design cycle times and long term supply capabilities,” says Dr. Peter Thoma, vice president and general manager Automotive, Elmos. “The automotive microelectronics industry can expect to benefit from one overall systems knowledge base, operating system, toolset, and supply chain. Jointly we expect to be able to offer fast, flexible design-ins, and full life-time service of the product.”
“Motorola is building effective alliances to anticipate the evolving needs of the automotive industry and to bring future technologies to market faster. The Motorola and Elmos partnership verifies Motorola’s position as the partner of choice, allowing us to serve the industry even more effectively,” says Juergen Weyer, vice president and general manager, Motorola.