In connected car news are Gracenote, Mitsubishi, Keysight, indie Semiconductor, NOVOSENSE, UAES, Innoscience, Nexteer and MIPI Alliance.
In this Article
Gracenote: In-Car Entertainment a Key Driver
A new report from Gracenote, Nielsen’s content data division, reveals that car manufacturers have a major opportunity to strengthen customer loyalty and boost revenue by improving native in-car entertainment systems. The study shows that 94% of consumers across the U.S., Germany, Japan, and South Korea would switch from using their smartphones to built-in infotainment systems if the experience were more robust and engaging.
With 60% of drivers saying infotainment features influence their vehicle purchase decisions, Gracenote’s findings suggest that enhanced entertainment platforms could drive both sales and monetization through targeted ads, referrals, and analytics. The report also found that 82% of respondents want curated entertainment packages, while 67% want systems that integrate all content sources—from radio to streaming—and 63% desire personalized recommendations.
Gracenote Head of Product Innovation Trent Wheeler noted that automakers who deliver personalized, seamless media experiences can turn infotainment systems into new revenue channels and long-term customer connections. The report underscores how data-driven, integrated content ecosystems will define the next phase of connected car innovation.
Mitsubishi Plans Rugged Outlander
Mitsubishi Motors North America announced plans to introduce a new off-road-focused variant of the Outlander SUV in Fiscal Year 2026, adding to its previously confirmed all-new battery-electric SUV. The rugged Outlander will expand the brand’s growing lineup under its Momentum 2030 business roadmap, which aims to strengthen Mitsubishi’s presence in North America through electrification, product expansion, and dealership growth.
Building on the Outlander Trail Edition, the new model will feature off-road-specific bodywork, enhanced drive modes, upgraded performance, and a unique interior design. It will also advance Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, drawing on the company’s rally heritage, including 12 Dakar Rally victories.
Mark Chaffin, MMNA’s president and CEO, said the dual SUV announcement underscores the company’s commitment to its Momentum 2030 plan. Alongside the new 2025 Outlander, an updated Outlander Plug-in Hybrid, and an upcoming mild-hybrid model, the additions represent a renewed focus on innovation, electrification, and market growth. Further details, including naming, specifications, and pricing, will be announced closer to launch.
Keysight Optical Automotive Ethernet Test Platform
Keysight Technologies unveiled the AE6980T nGBASE-AU Optical Automotive Ethernet Transmitter Test Solution, the first platform designed to qualify next-generation optical automotive Ethernet physical layers (PHYs) under the IEEE 802.3cz standard. Introduced at the 2025 IEEE SA Ethernet & IP @ Automotive Technology Day in Toulouse, France, the solution enables compliance testing for multi-gigabit optical Ethernet links ranging from 2.5G to 50G.
The IEEE 802.3cz standard establishes high-speed, low-latency optical Ethernet for vehicles, providing electromagnetic interference immunity and lighter cabling — key elements for software-defined and autonomous vehicle architectures. Built on Keysight’s FlexDCA platform, the AE6980T integrates advanced Transmitter Distortion Figure of Merit (TDFOM) metrics, automating complex test setups and delivering detailed signal quality assessments through comprehensive reporting tools.
Developed in collaboration with optical transceiver leader KD, the AE6980T aligns with Open Alliance TC7 specifications and supports Tier-1 suppliers, OEMs, and test houses seeking to validate next-generation in-vehicle networks. The solution mark
indie Seminconductor GaN-Based Visible DFB Laser
indie Semiconductor introduced a new Visible Distributed Feedback (DFB) gallium nitride (GaN) laser diode, expanding its Photonics Business Unit portfolio with technology designed for quantum systems, automotive LiDAR and sensing, and industrial Raman applications. Operating across wavelengths from 375 to 535 nanometers, the laser delivers ultra-stable, sub-megahertz linewidths for high-precision performance.
The new ELA35 laser source enables trapping and manipulating quantum states with minimal disturbance, featuring single longitudinal mode operation, high electro-optical efficiency, and low noise with 40 dB side-mode suppression. Its embedded-grating design eliminates the need for bulky external components, offering scalable, wavelength-agnostic operation suitable for mass production.
Philipp Vorreau, vice president and general manager of indie’s SLEDs Photonics Division, said the innovation reflects growing industry interest in laser-based quantum and sensing technologies. By combining compact design, efficiency, and precision, indie’s new DFB laser positions the company to play a key role in advancing quantum computing, next-generation automotive sensing, and optical component miniaturization.
NOVOSENSE, UAES, Innoscience Partner to Advance GaN Power Electronics
NOVOSENSE Microelectronics, United Automotive Electronic Systems (UAES), and Innoscience have formed a strategic alliance to accelerate the development of Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based power electronics for new energy vehicles (NEVs). The collaboration aims to create next-generation intelligent integrated GaN products that enhance power density, efficiency, and reliability—key factors for electric vehicle performance and lightweight design.
Each partner brings unique strengths: NOVOSENSE contributes analog and mixed-signal IC expertise, UAES offers system integration capabilities, and Innoscience provides leading GaN device technology. Together, the companies plan to address efficiency, reliability, and cost challenges while promoting GaN’s wider adoption in automotive systems.
Executives from all three companies emphasized that GaN technology represents a critical step forward in vehicle electrification, marking a new stage of collaboration across the semiconductor and automotive industries.
Nexteer’s MotionIQ 2025 AutoTech Breakthrough
Nexteer Automotive’s MotionIQ software suite has been named “Automotive Software Solution of the Year” in the 2025 AutoTech Breakthrough Awards, recognizing top innovators in global automotive and transportation technology. Built on algorithms already used in over 120 million vehicles, MotionIQ unifies chassis control, vehicle development, and health monitoring in one platform—helping automakers accelerate launches, improve quality, and cut costs.
The MotionIQ suite includes three integrated product groups: MotionIQ/Control, offering functions like Steer-by-Brake and Quiet Wheel steering for enhanced driving experiences; MotionIQ/Dev, which enables rapid, no-code feature development; and MotionIQ/Health, providing AI-driven diagnostics and predictive maintenance for steering and chassis systems.
By combining advanced control, development, and monitoring tools, MotionIQ empowers automakers to own more of their software development while benefiting from Nexteer’s safety-critical expertise. AutoTech Breakthrough praised the platform for advancing software-defined chassis systems and accelerating innovation across mobility sectors.
MIPI Alliance SoundWire I3S Standard
The MIPI Alliance has introduced SoundWire I3S (MIPI SWI3S v1.0), a new audio interface specification that unifies control and data over a single, scalable, and power-efficient connection. Designed to replace legacy interfaces like I2S and TDM, SWI3S addresses the increasing demands of compact, high-performance consumer, automotive, and industrial devices where EMI, power, and space efficiency are critical.
Supporting data rates up to 76 Mbps over a two-pin interface, SWI3S delivers high bandwidth, low power consumption, and superior noise immunity through forwarded clock and differential low-voltage signaling modes. The interface supports flexible topologies with one manager and up to 12 peripherals per link, enabling integration of microphones, amplifiers, and other components.
Developed by the MIPI Audio Working Group, SWI3S is positioned to serve markets ranging from ultra-low-power edge devices to high-bandwidth, multi-channel systems. To assist developers, MIPI released a SWI3S visualizer tool for modeling and bandwidth planning and announced a three-part webinar series (Oct. 21–23) to explore SWI3S and future audio standards.