Chery chooses Freescale for next-gen automotive engine control

electronica & Productronica China 2011, SHANGHAI, CHINA: Freescale Semiconductor is providing advanced microcontroller (MCU) technology to Chery Automobile, one of China’s largest automotive manufacturers, for the engine control unit (ECU) in future Chery vehicle models. Chery selected Freescale’s Qorivva 32-bit MPC563x MCU family for its high performance, reliability and scalability.

Freescale and Chery have a history of collaboration and innovation. In April 2008, the two companies established a joint development lab in Wuhu, China. The lab is focused on the development of vehicle and battery management, powertrain, body and in-vehicle entertainment systems, as well as hybrid-electric vehicle/electric vehicle technology.

In 2009, Chery developed the Chery Engine Management System (CEMS) based on Freescale’s S12XE 16-bit MCUs. The Qorivva MCU family Chery selected for its latest ECU is built on 32-bit Power Architecture technology. The new Chery vehicle models using the higher-performance Qorivva 32-bit MCUs are expected to reach full production in 2012.

Chery is developing a higher level engine management system (EMS) covering the VVT / EGR / GDI and other advanced control technologies, which will make the EMS more complex and demand more powerful computing capacity from the MCU. Chery will use Freescale's Qorivva 32-bit MPC563x MCU to develop these systems as Chery believes that this MCU will be the core chip in automotive electronic controls.

“We believe Freescale Qorivva MCUs are an excellent choice for our new engine control unit,” said Zhu Hang, assistant president and director of Chery’s Engine Control Department and its independent R&D on the EMS project. “Because of its advanced and complex control functions, we expect the MPC563x family to be the main chip used in future Chery engine control systems. And our cooperation extends beyond engine control. The results of our work together on compressed natural gas, flex-fuel and gasoline direct injection technologies will also enter production in the near future.”

“This is a key milestone in a successful relationship between Chery and Freescale, and we are excited to see our Qorivva MCUs helping power Chery’s latest generation of vehicles,” said Reza Kazerounian, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Microcontroller Solutions Group. “Chery is one of our key OEM partners in China and we plan to continue expanding our collaboration for the next generation of smarter, cleaner, safer automobiles.”

China was the world’s largest auto market in 2010 with 18 million vehicles sold and it is expected to set a new sales record for 2011, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Chery and other Chinese automotive manufacturers are devoting extensive research and funding to alternative energy vehicle development and are increasing their electronics system design capabilities through R&D centers such as the one Chery shares with Freescale.