Chinese automotive chipmaker Shouchuanwei (First Transmission Micro) has begun validation testing of its OpenGMSL-based solution at a European Tier 1 supplier, according to Chinese outlet D1EV. The move could lead to the first mass-produced multi-vendor mixed-chip implementation in the automotive high-speed SerDes (serializer/deserializer) segment, a field long dominated by proprietary standards.
Shouchuanwei demonstrated the world's first multi-vendor chip-level interoperability based on the OpenGMSL protocol at AutoSens Europe in Barcelona. The company also released its VL7817 serializer series, which is pin-compatible with mainstream GMSL serializers and supports data rates up to 12 Gb/s, targeting ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) as well as medical imaging, embodied intelligence and industrial vision applications.
From protocol to production
OpenGMSL is an open standard derived from ADI's GMSL technology, which has been widely deployed in vehicles. The OpenGMSL Association was founded in April 2025 by several semiconductor, automotive and testing companies, and has since attracted more than 50 members, including several leading automakers. The association released a draft protocol in October 2025 and formally published the OpenGMSL 3.0 specification in March 2026.
Shouchuanwei said it implemented a serializer on FPGA within three months of receiving the draft protocol, and demonstrated image capture over an OpenGMSL link with mainstream GMSL deserializers. The company then progressively verified interoperability at three international shows: CES in Las Vegas in January 2026, AutoSens in Detroit in June 2026, and finally AutoSens Europe in Barcelona, where it launched the chip-level solution less than a year after the standard draft was released.
The VL7817 series builds on the deep analog-digital mixed architecture of the VL7717 series, of which over one million units have shipped. Engineering samples are available now, with mass production expected in the first half of 2027.
First European validation project
The validation project at the European Tier 1 supplier will use Shouchuanwei's serializer paired with mainstream GMSL deserializers, targeting surround-view and ADAS applications with multiple cameras. The first vehicle integration is expected as early as 2027, with expansion to more models after initial validation.
Shouchuanwei, which began developing automotive high-speed SerDes chips in 2020, already mass-produced the world's first MIPI A-PHY automotive-grade SerDes chip in July 2025, installed in the Geely Lynk & Co 06 (2026 model year, named Relive) and later expanded to the Geely Galaxy Xingyuan. The company has shipped nearly two million automotive SerDes chips cumulatively, maintaining a zero-defect record.
With the OpenGMSL chip launch, Shouchuanwei now supports three public protocols: MIPI A-PHY, HSMT and OpenGMSL, with data rates from 2 to 16 Gbps. The company forecasts shipments of about five million automotive SerDes chips in 2026, potentially exceeding 20 million in 2027 based on current orders.
