Renesas and FAW Establish Joint Laboratory to Accelerate Development of Next-Generation Smart Vehicles for China’s Automotive Market

December 16, 2020

Intelligent Driving Development Platform Collaboration Accelerates Commercialization for FAW’s Smart Vehicles

TOKYO & CHANGCHUN, China–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#automotive–Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, and China FAW Group Corporation (FAW), a leading automotive maker in China, announced the establishment of a joint laboratory in Changchun, China, effective December 1, 2020. The laboratory will enable FAW to build its development platform for intelligent driving and allow the two companies to jointly develop electronic control units (ECUs) for systems including autonomous driving, intelligent cockpit, powertrain and body control. The first set of new solutions developed in the joint laboratory will be applied to FAW’s flagship brand Hongqi.

FAW is committed to developing the next generation of intelligent and connected vehicles that meet needs for connectivity, automation, shared/social and electrification. To realize smart mobility, FAW strives to continuously improve its independent development capabilities by building its own intelligent driving development platform based on the high-performance automotive central computing unit. As the leading supplier of automotive processors, Renesas offers proven high-performance semiconductors as well as market-proven expertise for smart mobility. Based on Renesas automotive processors, including the RH850 Family of microcontrollers (MCUs), R-Car system-on-chips (SoCs), and power and analog devices, the companies will jointly develop a complete automotive controller development platform that meets the industry’s stringent functional safety and security standards required for FAW’s Hongqi vehicles.

“Since 2006, Renesas and FAW have nurtured a long-term relationship through technological collaboration, working together and sharing technological expertise and intellectual properties to expand vehicle innovation for the automotive market in China,” said Tomomitsu Maoka, Senior Vice President, Automotive Solutions Business Unit at Renesas and Chairman of Renesas Electronics China. “I am excited to see the establishment of our new joint laboratory based on the long-term mutual trust developed through this relationship; I believe our collaboration will drive further development and innovation for China’s automotive industry.”

“FAW is committed to strengthening independent development capablities for new intelligent, connected vehicles,” said Li Dan, Vice President of China FAW R&D Center, Dean of Intelligent Connected Development Institute. “The in-depth cooperation with Renesas, a trusted supplier of leading automotive processors with excellent technological expertise, will no doubt enrich semiconductor device options for our intelligent driving development platform and strengthen our ability to define automotive architecture and requirements for China’s automotive market. The joint laboratory will play an important role in the development and commercialization of ECUs, and we will strive to bring the ultimate driving experience to end users.”

About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) delivers trusted embedded design innovation with complete semiconductor solutions that enable billions of connected, intelligent devices to enhance the way people work and live. A global leader in microcontrollers, analog, power, and SoC products, Renesas provides comprehensive solutions for a broad range of automotive, industrial, Infrastructure, and IoT applications that help shape a limitless future. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

About China FAW Group Corporation

China FAW Group Corporation (FAW), formerly China First Automobile Works, established on Jul 15, 1953with registered capital of RMB 35.4 billion yuan and total assets of RMB 457.83 billion yuan. The Group comprises Hongqi, Bestune and Jiefang brands, and its core business also covers joint ventures and external cooperation, emerging businesses, overseas businesses and industrial ecosystem. FAW headquarters is directly responsible for the operation and development of Hongqi premium brand, while carrying out strategical or financial management on other businesses, so as to establish a new market-centered and customer-oriented operation and management system. Honqi and Jiefang have always maintained the top positions in brand values in China’s passenger car and commercial truck markets respectively. Hongqi L series limousine has been chosen as official car for China’s major celebrations and events, highlighting the charm of oriental luxury sedan. Hongqi H series car has seen rapid growth in its targeted market. The market share of Jiefang medium & heavy-duty trucks has also taken the lead position in Chinese commercial truck market. FAW’s new energy vehicle has been put into mass production. Hongqi launched its BEV model E-HS3, E-HS9. In 2019, FAW delivered 3.464 million vehicles to customers. Group sales revenue in 2019 totaled RMB 620 billion yuan, while earnings amounted to RMB 44.05 billion yuan. In addition, the group took the 87th place on the 2020 Fortune Global 500 list.

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