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Freescale Semiconductor and STMicroelectronics have jointly developed a range of microcontrollers based on the Power Architecture and targeted at automotive applications.

First silicon has been manufactured on a 90nm embedded-flash technology.

“These four jointly designed automotive MCUs are the first in a product roadmap underway between our allied automotive design teams using the leading microcontroller technology for automotive applications,” said Marco Maria Monti, v-p and general manager of ST Powertrain & Safety division.

According to Denis Griot, chairman of Freescale EMEA and global automotive marketing: “The system-on-chip platform enables us to quickly develop multiple automotive products incorporating optimized peripheral sets and embedded flash memory, fine-tuned for specific automotive applications.”

Lead automotive customers will receive samples of the first MCU samples in Q1. Information on pricing and availability for the dual-sourced products will appear later in the year.

The joint development work has taken place at design centres in Munich, Naples, Agrate, Sao Paulo and New Delhi’s National Capital Region.