Combining semiconductor expertise with vehicle system knowledge

Software-defined vehicles (SDV), electrification, increasingly centralized E/E architectures and the transition from conventional 12V systems to 48V vehicle architectures are transforming the role of semiconductors. Today’s integrated circuits (ICs) are expected to do much more than execute a single function. They must interact seamlessly with sensors, actuators, control units, and vehicle networks while meeting stringent requirements for functional safety, cybersecurity, and long-term reliability.

Designing the IC itself is only part of the challenge. The real complexity lies in designing a highly integrated IC that is cost-efficient while fitting as many OEM platforms as possible. High integration helps reduce cost and PCB space. However, an IC designed too specifically for a single application or platform can limit its scalability across customers and vehicle architectures. The challenge is therefore to strike the right balance: integrating as many functions as possible while maintaining the flexibility needed to serve a broad range of ECU platforms and OEM requirements. Bosch’s decades of automotive experience help to navigate these trade-offs and develop ICs that can be used across high-volume applications.

Every automotive application has its own unique requirements. A high-voltage gate driver for an electric drivetrain faces entirely different challenges than a communication interface in a zonal architecture. Performance, power consumption, safety, communication, and reliability must always be considered in the context of the complete vehicle. Hence, every automotive IC starts with the application rather than the chip itself. What sets Bosch apart in this process is its decades of experience in vehicle electrics and electronics, actuators, sensors, control units, and automotive software. By understanding how these elements interact within the complete vehicle architecture, Bosch can translate system requirements directly into semiconductor solutions.

Bosch actively supports the industry's transition from conventional 12V systems to native 48V vehicle architectures by developing semiconductor solutions optimized for future vehicle systems. The SD148 is a good example of how Bosch translates vehicle-system expertise into semiconductor innovation for next-generation 48V applications. As vehicles become increasingly electrified and software-defined, a growing number of functions, from cooling pumps and HVAC fans to seat adjustment and steering subsystems, are shifting to 48V architectures. Compared to conventional 12V systems, 48V significantly reduces current at the same power level, improving efficiency while enabling increasingly power-demanding vehicle functions with lighter wiring harness and lower power losses. At the same time, however, designing electronics for native 48V operation introduces new challenges, including higher demands on power management, thermal performance, functional safety, and system integration.

Meeting these requirements demands more than designing an individual motor controller. It requires a deep understanding of how intelligent actuators interact with the complete vehicle architecture. This is exactly where Bosch's system-level expertise makes the difference: Rather than developing a stand-alone motor controller, Bosch designed the SD148 from the perspective of the complete 48V vehicle system. The highly integrated solution reduces design complexity, shortens development effort and enables efficient, scalable actuator platforms. Combined with native 48V operation, integrated safety mechanisms and embedded security features, the SD148 helps customers simplify vehicle integration and accelerate the transition towards zonal and software-defined vehicle architectures.

The SD148 is just one example of how Bosch translates decades of automotive system expertise into semiconductor innovation – in this case, supporting the transition to native 48V architectures and intelligent actuation. The same approach extends across the entire portfolio: from high-voltage gate drivers for efficient electric powertrains to edge connectivity solutions for software-centralized vehicle architectures, advanced communication technologies for next-generation in-vehicle networking, and for safe and reliable vehicle actuation.

As software-defined vehicles evolve, more vehicle functions are increasingly managed by central computing platforms rather than distributed ECUs. Bosch enables centralized software control at the vehicle edge, connecting sensors, actuators, lighting, and doors to central compute platforms for scalable SDV architectures. Starting with vehicle requirements rather than the chip itself, Bosch develops ICs that simplify integration and accelerate software-defined and electrified vehicles.

• System-level expertise for the complete vehicle: Bosch combines decades of automotive experience with semiconductor know-how to develop ICs optimized for real vehicle requirements.
• Engineered for safety-critical applications: Bosch ICs are designed to meet stringent functional safety requirements, supporting applications such as airbag systems, ADAS functions, and reliable vehicle control.
• Robust performance in demanding environments: Bosch semiconductors are developed for the challenges of automotive operations, including extreme temperatures, vibration, and electromagnetic interference, ensuring long-term reliability.
• Seamless integration into modern vehicle architectures: Bosch’s development approach enables efficient and connected vehicle systems.
• Future-ready semiconductor solutions: With deep system understanding, advanced diagnostics and integrated safety features, Bosch develops scalable IC solutions that help shape the next generation of mobility.