Today’s cars aren’t personal computers – they’re far more complicated.
Take Audi. Its cars now have more than 200 separate processors. Most of these are micro-controllers, relatively simple electronics, as opposed to a complex systems-on-a-chip, such as NVIDIA Tegra.
Two years ago, NVIDIA was tapped to provide processors that power the infotainment system found in the newest Audis and Volkswagens, and soon other brands in the VW Group like Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini Skoda, Porsche, and SEAT.
That hasn’t changed.
The central computer in Audi’s modular infotainment platform has two main units. The key one is the Multimedia Extension (MMX), which is designed and produced by NVIDIA.
The MMX’s modular design enables Audi to migrate from Tegra 2 to Tegra 3 and beyond. It’s a plan that will let the automaker bridge the gap between consumer electronics and automotive systems. Another provider, Texas Instruments, was tapped to provide processors for another element of Audi’s system, the Radio and Car Control Unit (RCC); its main task is integrating the car’s radio with the rest of the car’s entertainment systems.
NVIDIA’s Tegra processor powers the MMX, while Texas Instrument’s processors are used in the RCC.
NVIDIA will remain the heart and soul of the modular infotainment platform, thanks to Tegra’s integrated CPU, GPU, audio, image, and video processing capabilities.
If anything, our relationship with Audi continues to deepen.
Earlier this year, NVIDIA announced our newest SoC, Tegra 3, will be used in Audi’s next-generation infotainment system, and new digital instrument clusters, across its full line of vehicles, starting next year. We’re also working with Audi on a number of advanced technologies that will continue to raise the bar for automotive computing systems.
Separately, our momentum in automotive continues. Our products are shipping in, or have been designed into 23 brands and 106 models.
More than 2.5 million cars on the road today now use our products.
