German chipmaker Infineon Technologies and Chinese automotive electronics supplier United Automotive Electronic Systems (UAES) have opened a joint innovation application center in Chongqing, according to Chinese automotive news outlet First Electric (D1EV). The center, unveiled on September 16 at UAES's Chongqing branch, marks the tenth anniversary of the partners' first innovation center at UAES's Shanghai headquarters and is seen by both companies as a new starting point for cross-domain collaboration.
The new facility aims to bring Infineon's semiconductor expertise and UAES's system-design experience into product development earlier, aligning with automakers' needs from the initial project phase. The goal is to produce mass-producible, highly reliable automotive electronics solutions more efficiently, while also strengthening supply chain resilience and building next-generation electrical and electronic (E/E) architectures.
Focus areas and technical discussions
During a concurrent technical exchange, the two companies discussed several frontier topics in automotive electronics. These included the roadmap for next-generation vehicle architectures, localization of relevant components, the restructuring of embedded control cores using Infineon's new AURIX TC4x microcontroller family, optimization of on-board charger platform designs, and full-stack power solutions for 48V vehicle architectures.
The partners also explored innovative applications for digital platforms, which could shorten verification cycles for electronic control units and domain controllers, and improve the stability of project delivery, according to First Electric.
The opening of the Chongqing center is part of a broader trend of semiconductor and automotive suppliers deepening collaboration in China, as the industry shifts toward software-defined vehicles and more complex E/E architectures. Infineon's AURIX TC4x MCUs are designed to support advanced vehicle functions, including domain and zone controllers, and are expected to play a role in the localization efforts discussed at the event.
Neither company disclosed specific investment figures or product timelines for the new center. The initiative underscores the growing importance of regional innovation hubs in China's automotive supply chain, particularly in the southwestern city of Chongqing, which has become a hub for automotive manufacturing.
