To support the automotive industry’s transition to electric vehicle production and the acceleration of software-defined vehicle (SDV) development, Intel unveiled a comprehensive vehicle solution during CES 2025.
This solution integrates high-performance computing, discrete GPUs, AI, power management, and zonal controllers, while also collaborating with AWS to develop a Virtual Design Environment (VDE). This partnership aims to reduce manufacturing costs and minimize challenges in scaling vehicle performance, enabling automakers to develop and deploy SDVs more rapidly, efficiently, and profitably.
Unlike traditional distributed automotive architectures, which often result in inefficiencies, Intel’s solution optimizes the vehicle’s electrical and electronic architecture, significantly cutting costs while enhancing performance.
To support this platform, Intel introduced the ACU U310 Adaptive Control Unit, specifically designed for electric vehicle powertrains and zonal controller applications. For powertrain use, the ACU U310 leverages advanced algorithms to reduce battery energy consumption, automatically adapting to driving habits and road conditions with optimized voltage and frequency control.
Additionally, the ACU reduces per-kilowatt costs by improving energy efficiency, enabling the vehicle to recover up to 40% of energy losses in the powertrain. This improvement translates to a 3% to 5% increase in efficiency under the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP).
Compared to conventional approaches, the ACU delivers extended driving range, faster charging, and a more responsive driving experience, while substantially reducing the Bill of Materials (BOM) costs, motor size, and battery costs for each vehicle.
Its programmable nature makes the ACU the first software-defined zonal controller, capable of adapting to various vehicle topologies and applications. This flexibility accelerates the shift toward software-defined vehicles, streamlining the supply chain and reducing the complexity of BOMs.
Intel also announced the forthcoming second-generation Arc B-series automotive GPUs, slated for mass production by late 2025. These GPUs deliver the high-performance computing necessary to support advanced in-vehicle AI workloads, next-generation human-machine interface (HMI) engines, immersive in-cabin experiences, and 3A gaming capabilities.
In collaboration with AWS, Intel introduced its Automotive Virtual Development Environment on the AWS cloud platform. This solution ensures seamless hardware and software consistency from cloud to vehicle, addressing challenges throughout the vehicle development lifecycle. Engineers can fluidly transition between virtual and physical hardware configurations.
The virtual environment integrates Amazon EC2 instances powered by Intel Xeon processors, marking the first time Intel’s automotive SDV SoC is included in AWS’s virtual environment. This eliminates the need for costly electronic control unit (ECU) simulators or development boards, accelerating innovation, reducing R&D costs, and shortening time to market with a unified solution.
