Germany-based Infineon Technologies will supply core semiconductors for BMW’s Neue Klasse platform, including the BMW iX3 debuting later this month.
Infineon will provide a range of semiconductor components underpinning the electrical and electronic (E/E) architecture of BMW Group’s Neue Klasse vehicle platform.
The supply scope covers AURIX and TRAVEO microcontrollers, BRIGHTLANE Ethernet connectivity, OPTIREG power management ICs, and PROFET smart power switches and eFuses.
The Neue Klasse adopts a centralised computing and zonal E/E architecture that separates software from hardware, enabling over-the-air features and updates without requiring physical component changes.
Four central computing units, known as Superbrains, oversee driving dynamics, automated driving, infotainment and core vehicle functions.
One of these units, the “Heart of Joy”, combines control of acceleration, braking and steering and is built entirely on Infineon microcontrollers, centred on a latest-generation AURIX TC4D.
BRIGHTLANE Ethernet links this unit with other vehicle systems to support low-latency, real-time performance.
Three zone control units, based on Infineon microcontrollers, coordinate data transmission and power distribution.
End-point electronics control units manage functions such as traction inverters, battery management, and onboard charging.
Infineon Technologies CEO Jochen Hanebeck said: “We are proud to collaborate with BMW Group to shape the future of mobility. BMW Group’s Neue Klasse marks a significant step in introducing software-defined vehicles to the market and elevates individual mobility to the next level in terms of decarbonisation and digitalisation.
According to Infineon, the zonal layout cuts wiring length by roughly 600m compared with earlier designs, reducing harness mass by about 30%.
The company’s PROFET Wire Guard eFuses can replace up to 150 traditional fuses per vehicle.
They enable software-controlled power distribution that deactivates unused loads depending on vehicle state, improving energy efficiency by around 20%.
To expand its capabilities in high-speed in-vehicle networking for software-defined vehicles, the company acquired Marvell Technology’s automotive Ethernet business in August 2025.
