The new Renesas, following the integration with NEC, will be split into three roughly equal thirds: SOC/ASSP; analogue and power; and MCU.
The MCU business is focussing on certain cores: in the 32bit arena it is focussing on the V850, SH and RX; in the 16/8bit world it is focussing on K0R and R8C. Other cores will be supplied, but these are the ones which will have most of the development resources.
Following the purchase of the Nokia modem division, an LTE chip-set will be launched in Q4 2011, according to Rob Green, CEO of Renesas Europe.
Following the shortage of automotive ICs earlier in the year, which saw Nissan close six factories due to chip shortages, Renesas is increasing its automotive market share.
"The golden rule is: ‘Don’t stop the OEM," said Green, "it did bring up issues of forecasting and learning the lesson that the closer the collaboration with the customer the better. If customers are going to change their supplier strategy, then we’re working with those customers on the next design opportunities. As we’ve come out of this recession we’ve seen our market share increase by single digit percentage points."
Green reckons that supply and demand are coming into balance "across the board".