Chinese automotive chip developer Aixi (爱芯元智) has announced that its self-developed M57 ADAS SoC (system-on-chip) is now in mass production and delivery within Aptiv's next-generation smart front-view integrated camera, according to Chinese automotive outlet Gasgoo (盖世汽车). The system, developed by Aptiv's China team, is installed in models from leading Chinese new-energy vehicle makers bound for the European Union market and meets E-NCAP 2026 five-star safety standards, marking M57's official entry into the European market.
Designed for Chinese automakers' overseas push
The new front-view camera unit, tailored for Chinese automakers' global expansion, uses a single M57 SoC with an integrated MCU (microcontroller unit) architecture, achieving a 20% reduction in hardware volume and a 20% reduction in power consumption. The unit features an 8-megapixel camera module with a 120-degree field of view, combined with visual perception algorithms and Wind River's Helix RTOS real-time operating system. The algorithms were jointly optimized by Aptiv's domestic and overseas teams to adapt to European road conditions and driving habits.
The M57 chip is designed for global L2+ assisted driving, featuring fully self-developed core IP and a maximum NPU (neural processing unit) computing power of 10 TOPS. It natively supports mainstream in-vehicle perception algorithms such as BEV (bird's-eye view) and Transformer. The chip integrates an MCU and an ASIL-D hardware safety island, and has obtained AEC-Q100 Grade 2 automotive certification, ISO 26262 ASIL-B functional safety certification, and ISO/SAE 21434 automotive cybersecurity certification. Its thermal design power is less than 3.5W under 125°C high-temperature conditions, making it adaptable to both gasoline and new-energy vehicles.
Milestone for domestic chips in global market
Li Hao, general manager of Aixi's automotive business, said the mass production of the collaboration with Aptiv in the EU market is an important milestone for domestic automotive chips serving the global market. Aixi will continue to deepen cooperation with global Tier 1 partners like Aptiv to streamline the chain from chip to solution to vehicle mass production.
To date, the M57 has secured multiple design wins from domestic and overseas automakers and Tier 1 suppliers, with product forms covering smart front-view camera units, integrated driving and parking domain controllers, and in-cabin perception. The chip is accelerating deployment in both the Chinese and European markets.
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