Combining leading core performance with embedded MRAM memory enables ECU consolidation without sacrificing latency or efficiency.

 

NXP's CoreRide platform accelerates time to market and reduces lifecycle costs through pre-integrated software and reference solutions from a partner ecosystem.

 

New S32K5 microcontroller family advances regional SDV architectures and expands the NXP CoreRide platform portfolio.

 

Embedded World, Nuremberg, Germany, March 11, 2025 – NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Nasdaq: NXPI), a trusted innovative solutions partner for the automotive market, today introduced the new S32K5 family of automotive microcontrollers (MCUs), the automotive industry's first 16nm FinFET MCUs with embedded magnetic RAM (MRAM). The S32K5 MCU family expands the NXP CoreRide platform with pre-integrated regional and electrified system solutions, scalable to software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures.

 

Automakers are adopting regional architectures, employing diverse approaches to distribute and integrate electronic control unit (ECU) functionality. These regional solutions are based on next-generation MCU architectures that combine real-time performance with low-latency, deterministic communications, and innovative isolation capabilities.

 

"The new S32K5 family pushes the boundaries of MCU performance without sacrificing the safety, efficiency, and isolation required for zonal solutions. The NXP CoreRide platform, powered by the S32K5, will help automakers and Tier 1 companies accelerate the development of zonal architectures, providing a scalable foundation for software-driven innovation."

 

Manuel Alves, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Automotive Microcontrollers, NXP

NXP's new S32K5 family features Arm® Cortex® CPU cores running up to 800 MHz and delivering energy-efficient application performance, all built on a 16nm FinFET process. Optimized accelerators are available to boost critical workloads, including network switching, security, and digital signal processing. An integrated Ethernet switch core aligns with NXP's S32N general-purpose automotive processor family, bringing proven networking solutions to simplify network design and enable software reuse.

 

With its integrated software-defined, hardware-enforced isolation architecture, the S32K5 enables automakers to implement zoning safely and reliably. This ensures the integration of safety applications up to ASIL-D. Without compromising security or performance.

 

The S32K5 also features a dedicated eIQ® Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU), NXP's scalable machine learning accelerator, enabling machine learning algorithms for energy-efficient, real-time processing of sensor data at the vehicle's edge.

 

Additionally, on-chip high-performance MRAM accelerates ECU programming times for factory and over-the-air (OTA) updates, with write speeds up to 15 times faster than embedded flash technology. Combined with NXP's latest security accelerators, including post-quantum accelerators with cryptographic (PQC), the S32K5 enables automakers to safely and securely deploy new features throughout the vehicle's lifecycle, benefiting both manufacturing and ownership.

 

The S32K5 will begin sampling to lead customers in the third quarter of 2025.

 

As part of NXP's CoreRide platform, the new FS25 power management controller will be available to support the S32K5, helping address the latest energy management challenges and providing high levels of protection, predictability, and fault management. The FS25 will also be available in the Samples will begin shipping to lead customers in the third quarter of 2025.

 

NXP CoreRide Regional Ecosystem Voice

"Automakers need to adopt regional architectures to deliver cutting-edge driving experiences in SDVs. By leveraging Arm Cortex technology, NXP's S32K5 MCU enables this innovation with the highest levels of functional safety."

 

Suraj Gajendra, Vice President of Automotive Products and Software Solutions, Automotive Business Line, Arm

"Teamwork alone within the automotive software ecosystem is not enough to ensure a software-defined automotive future. Speed ​​is also a factor. Elektrobit, working with the Synopsys Virtualizer Development Kit (VDK) to port our EB tresos AutoCore OS and the complete Classic AUTOSAR stack, is proud to play an active role in leveraging the NXP CoreRide platform. By porting EB tresos to the VDK, not only will our products be able to deliver first samples faster, but NXP's K5 customers will be able to begin their application development more quickly." We look forward to working with NXP's new S32K5 microcontroller to support future safety-critical operating systems with higher ASIL D requirements.

 

Jagan Rajagopalan, Head of Strategy and Product Portfolio at Elektrobit Automotive GmbH

“Strong ecosystem partnerships are essential for enabling OEMs to overcome complexity and transition to zonal architectures. By combining Flextronics’ advanced design and manufacturing capabilities with NXP’s scalable S32K5 MCU and software, we are providing OEMs with a modular, automotive-grade hardware platform for accelerating production, optimizing costs, and delivering software-defined vehicles at scale.”

 

Mike Thoeny, President of Automotive at Flextronics

“Green Hills Software is pleased to announce the launch of an RTOS, hypervisor, and advanced development tool solutions for the NXP S32K5 family of microcontrollers. Integrated and optimized for use with the latest NXP S32 automotive processors, Green Hills’ production-focused software solutions help customers leverage the S32K5 microcontroller’s impressive combination of high-performance real-time control, communication acceleration, and hardware-enforced isolation for secure operation and integration of new zonal architecture features for SDVs.”

 

Dan Mender, Vice President of Business Development at Green Hills Software

“Sonatus We are proud to collaborate with NXP on the CoreRide platform and the S32K5 family of automotive microcontrollers. This new product will accelerate the adoption of zonal architectures, a crucial evolutionary step in realizing the full promise of SDVs. Our Zonal Network Manager leverages the S32K5 MCU to simplify network management and add flexibility to the E/E architecture to ensure vehicles are ready for shipment.”

 

Yu Fang, CTO and Co-founder of Sonatus