MediaTek and DENSO have entered into a strategic partnership to co-develop a custom automotive System-on-Chip (SoC) designed to support next-generation Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and digital cockpit applications. By combining DENSO’s long-standing expertise in vehicle system integration and automotive safety with MediaTek’s high-performance Dimensity AX computing platform, the collaboration aims to deliver a scalable, production-ready solution tailored for modern, software-defined vehicles. The joint initiative is focused on enhancing power efficiency, artificial intelligence performance, and system reliability to meet the growing demands of future mobility.
At the core of the collaboration is a strong emphasis on safety and regulatory compliance. Drawing on DENSO’s extensive background in automotive-grade system and safety engineering, the custom SoC is being developed to meet stringent functional safety requirements essential for assisted and autonomous driving. The platform is designed to achieve ISO 26262 compliance, supporting safety integrity levels up to ASIL-B and ASIL-D, which are critical for mission-critical automotive functions. In addition, the SoC will undergo AEC-Q100 qualification, ensuring it meets global automotive reliability standards and can operate consistently under harsh vehicle environments. This focus on safety and durability makes the solution suitable for adoption by global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers.
From a computing and perception standpoint, MediaTek is contributing its advanced heterogeneous computing architecture to power the platform. The SoC integrates high-performance CPUs alongside dedicated AI and neural processing units (NPUs), enabling efficient execution of complex ADAS algorithms. A sophisticated Image Signal Processor (ISP) is also included, optimized for real-time image and video processing. This architecture is tailored to handle the intensive workloads required for features such as object detection, lane recognition, and driver monitoring.
The platform is further enhanced by comprehensive multi-sensor fusion capabilities. Advanced vision pipelines enable seamless integration of data from cameras, radar, and lidar sensors, delivering accurate and reliable environmental perception. By jointly optimizing hardware and software, MediaTek and DENSO aim to provide precise, low-latency insights that improve vehicle awareness and decision-making in real-world driving scenarios.
To simplify system development and speed time-to-market, the joint solution includes a robust set of pre-validated reference designs and development toolchains aligned with industry standards. The SoC supports a wide range of automotive connectivity protocols, including Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), CAN FD, and LIN, ensuring compatibility with existing vehicle architectures. Vision systems are supported through multi-camera MIPI CSI-2 interfaces, while over-the-air (OTA) update capabilities and Error Correction Code (ECC) features enhance long-term maintainability and system reliability.
Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Mike Chang, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of MediaTek’s Automotive Business, emphasized that the partnership is intended to push beyond current benchmarks in safety, efficiency, and performance. By uniting complementary strengths, MediaTek and DENSO aim to accelerate the evolution of assisted driving and deliver robust solutions for the future of intelligent mobility.
