The Open Road Ahead: RISC-V’s Ascent in Automotive Electronics

In the early 2000s, the automotive industry was a fortress of proprietary systems. Microcontrollers were tightly coupled with vendor-specific instruction sets, and the idea of open hardware was considered too risky for safety-critical applications. Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape is shifting. RISC-V, the open-standard instruction set architecture (ISA), is making significant inroads into automotive electronics, challenging long-standing norms and offering a new paradigm for flexibility, security, and innovation.

From Proprietary Silos to Open Standards

Traditionally, automotive microcontrollers have been dominated by proprietary ISAs like ARM and Infineon’s TriCore. These architectures offered reliability and a mature ecosystem but often came with limitations in customization and potential vendor lock-in. The emergence of RISC-V presents an alternative: an open, modular ISA that allows for tailored implementations without the constraints of licensing fees or closed ecosystems.

Infineon’s recent announcement of a RISC-V-based microcontroller family for automotive applications marks a pivotal moment. This move signals a shift towards embracing open standards to meet the evolving demands of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). At the RISC-V European Summit, leaders outlined the industry’s direction towards integrating RISC-V cores into more complex system-on-chips (SoCs) for automotive. Synopsys and SiFive also demonstrated virtual prototypes of RISC-V-based automotive microcontrollers aimed at centralized computing within next-gen electric vehicles. This signifies a clear path forward for RISC-V in robust, safety-critical environments.

The Drive Towards Software-Defined Vehicles

The automotive industry’s transition to SDVs necessitates a rethinking of electronic architectures. Instead of numerous discrete electronic control units (ECUs), there’s a move towards centralized computing platforms that can handle multiple functions through software updates. RISC-V’s flexibility aligns well with this trend, allowing for customizable cores that can be optimized for specific tasks, from infotainment to real-time control systems.

Industry experts from the recent RISC-V Summit noted that the open ISA’s modular design significantly reduces the complexity of integrating new features. For example, ADAS systems that rely on machine learning can leverage RISC-V’s customizable nature to accelerate inference and data processing without the overhead of proprietary licensing. Companies like Green Hills Software are already building real-time operating systems (RTOS) optimized for RISC-V automotive applications, enhancing their real-world viability.

Addressing Safety and Security Concerns

One of the primary challenges in adopting a new ISA in automotive applications is ensuring compliance with stringent safety and security standards, such as ISO 26262 and ISO/SAE 21434. RISC-V’s open nature allows for transparent verification processes, which can enhance trust and facilitate certification. Unlike proprietary architectures where verification is limited to vendor specifications, RISC-V’s open-source model allows third-party audits and broader community testing, reinforcing its reliability in automotive-grade environments.

Companies like Codasip and SiFive are developing RISC-V cores with built-in safety features and offering toolchains that support functional safety requirements. This approach not only accelerates the development process but also ensures that safety is integrated from the ground up. Notably, SiFive’s Automotive E6-A and X280-A processors are designed to meet ASIL (Automotive Safety Integrity Level) standards, ensuring that they are ready for deployment in everything from electric powertrains to autonomous driving modules.

Economic and Strategic Implications

Beyond technical advantages, RISC-V offers economic benefits by reducing licensing costs and fostering a competitive ecosystem. For automotive manufacturers and suppliers, this means more control over their supply chains and the ability to innovate without being constrained by proprietary technologies.

European initiatives, such as the EU’s Chips Act and Horizon Europe programs, are investing heavily in RISC-V development to bolster technological sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign semiconductor technologies. These efforts aim to create a robust, open-source ecosystem that can drive innovation and resilience in the automotive sector. In Germany, Bosch and Infineon are spearheading projects to integrate RISC-V into power management ICs (PMICs) for electric vehicles, emphasizing efficiency and scalability.

The Road Ahead

While RISC-V’s adoption in automotive applications is still in its early stages, the momentum is undeniable. As the industry continues to evolve towards more software-centric models, the need for flexible, secure, and cost-effective hardware solutions will only grow. Innovations like the RISC-V Virtual Prototype by Synopsys are setting the stage for accelerated development and integration of RISC-V cores in automotive designs.

For electrical engineers, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities. Embracing RISC-V requires a willingness to engage with open-source communities, adapt to new development tools, and rethink traditional design paradigms. However, it also offers the chance to be at the forefront of a transformative movement in automotive technology. As ADAS, SDVs, and electric powertrains continue to dominate the narrative of the modern automobile, RISC-V is poised to be a major player in this new era.

In this new era, the open road is not just a metaphor—it’s a call to innovate, collaborate, and drive the future of automotive electronics with RISC-V at the helm.