LX Semicon announced on the 10th that it has successfully begun mass production of its independently developed automotive microcontroller unit (MCU), the 'LX61101,' and has started supplying it to Hyundai Motor and Kia. This marks the first time a domestically produced MCU has been applied to Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

The LX61101 is a system semiconductor specialized for motor control within automotive body electrical systems. It assesses the speed, position, rotation direction, and torque of motors in real time to control their operation. It features an ultra-compact design based on a 40MHz ARM Cortex-M3 core, along with precise control performance. It is applied to automatic safety devices for car windows and vehicle aerodynamic control systems. For example, it is utilized in the function where a window reopens if an obstacle is detected while it is automatically closing.

Hyundai and Kia will begin equipping vehicles produced from the second half of this year with the LX61101, with plans to gradually expand the range of models utilizing the component.

LX Semicon participated in the selection process for Hyundai and Kia's new 'motor-function-specific MCU' project in March 2023 and was chosen as a supplier in April of the same year. Following approximately three years of product development and quality testing, the company achieved mass production. During this process, the product met the AEC-Q100 standard for automotive semiconductor reliability and the ISO 26262 international standard for functional safety.

This development is also significant from a supply chain perspective. Domestic companies participated in the entire supply chain management (SCM) process for the production of the LX61101, including semiconductor design, foundry (contract manufacturing), and back-end processing. It is evaluated as the first instance of establishing an organic automotive MCU supply chain connecting a domestic fabless company, an automaker, and semiconductor production and back-end processing firms.

Since 2022, LX Semicon has positioned automotive MCUs as a future growth engine, pursuing diversification of its business portfolio. This marks the first successful outcome of its expansion from its existing display semiconductor-centric focus into the automotive semiconductor sector. For reference, the global automotive MCU market was estimated to be worth approximately 15.5 trillion won last year.

The company plans to grow its automotive MCU business over the mid-to-long term and expand its product lineup from motor control to communication, driver, sensor, and power applications. An LX Semicon official stated, "Through automotive semiconductors, we will also contribute to the domestic automotive industry and the expansion of the semiconductor industry base."