General Motors Global Compact Car Platform Now Includes Microchip’s MOST50 Automotive Infotainment Networking Solution

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced that General Motors (GM) is using Microchip’s Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST^®) Intelligent Network Interface Controllers (INICs) to manage the infotainment system networking functions in their global compact car platform. This includes the Chevy Cruze, Chevy Volt, Opel Astra, Buick Excelle and Buick Verano. In addition to these GM compact cars, the synchronous, flexible, and cost-effective MOST networking technology has also been implemented in GM mid-size, full-size, performance, cross-over and SUV, truck and luxury platforms across all vehicle brands.

MOST is the de-facto networking system standard for 30 global car maker brands and over 204 vehicle models. MOST-based vehicles are now being manufactured worldwide, including North America, Asia and Europe. Since a MOST network can support multiple data types simultaneously, it enables the car manufacturers to offer system and feature set flexibility for current and future automotive infotainment applications. This also helps reduce the wiring harness weight for easier compliance with environmental regulations.

GM’s infotainment network utilizes Microchip’s MOST50 INIC with an electrical Physical Layer (ePHY), which is optimized for use with unshielded twisted pair (UTP) copper wire and meets the automotive industry’s stringent EMC standards. MOST INICs provide industry-standard hardware interfaces to processor and peripheral devices for the efficient routing of audio, video, packet data, and control messages, which greatly simplifies module designs. End users can immediately access the vehicle’s infotainment system due to the MOST INIC’s ultra-fast network startup feature.

“The launch of MOST technology in GM’s compact cars solidifies the global acceptance of Microchip’s MOST system solutions in a wide variety of vehicle platforms and proves its value beyond the luxury car brands,” said Dan Termer, vice president of Microchip’s Automotive Information Systems Division. “Car makers can offer networking features cost-effectively because of MOST technology’s inherent synchronous nature and intelligent use of network bandwidth. Another advantage is Microchip’s excellent systems-based applications engineering support throughout the car makers’ platform development process.”

MOST continues to extend its worldwide adoption as the high-speed networking technology developed by carmakers for carmakers. The MOST Cooperation, the organization through which the technology is standardized and refined, recently announced a procedure to begin the transfer of the MOST specifications to ISO (the International Organization for Standardization). This is being done to make the specifications more accessible through an internationally recognized and accredited standards organization, and establish an international standard that meets the OEM requirements of long-term stability, maintenance and reliability. This action follows international norms for continued development and supports involvement of worldwide stakeholders.