Dutch automotive chip manufacturer and supplier NXP Semiconductors has purchased automotive Ethernet subsystem technology provider OmniPHY to deliver next-generation data transfer solutions to carmakers.

The acquisition is aimed at accelerating autonomous driving and vehicle networks.

OmniPHY has expertise in the field of automotive Ethernet technology that facilitates fast data transfer at speeds up to 100Gbps, which is necessary for autonomous driving.

OmniPHY’s advanced high-speed technology with NXP’s portfolio and heritage in-vehicle networks enable NXP to provide new data transfer solutions to vehicle manufacturers.

“The companies believe that OmniPHY interface IP and communication technology along with NXP’s automotive portfolio will create a ‘one-stop shop’ for automotive Ethernet.”

New advanced autonomous driving systems will require gigabit data speeds along with other advanced technology. In order to operate safely, self-driving vehicles need eight or more cameras, high-definition radar, lidar, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capability, which all generate huge data for current car networks.

NXP’s acquisition of OmniPHY, which has already started to decode 1000BASE-T1 Ethernet for the automotive space, will provide NXP a significant position in this rapidly evolving area.

NXP Automotive Ethernet solutions vice-president and general manager Alexander Tan said: “Our heritage in-vehicle networks is rich and with our leadership positions in CAN, LIN, and FlexRay, we hold a unique viewpoint on automotive networks.

“The team and technology from OmniPHY give us the missing piece in an extensive high-bandwidth networking portfolio.”

The companies believe that OmniPHY interface IP and communication technology along with NXP’s automotive portfolio will create a ‘one-stop shop’ for automotive Ethernet.

OmniPHY CEO Ritesh Saraf said: “We are very excited to join NXP, a leader in automotive electronics, for a front-row seat to the autonomous driving revolution, one that will deliver profound change to the way people live.

“The combination of our teams and technology will accelerate and advance the delivery of automotive Ethernet solutions providing our customers with high-quality and world-class automotive Ethernet innovation.”