STMicroelectronics (ST) was CARIAD’s announced partner for a planned Volkswagen Group automotive system-on-chip (SoC). In July 2022, the companies said they would co-develop a Stellar-based chip for CARIAD’s AU1 processor family. The announcement set out an intended design and supply arrangement—not a launched product—and the official sources reviewed do not confirm that the AU1 chip entered production.
Who is CARIAD’s partner for its next-generation car SoC?
It is STMicroelectronics. In a July 20, 2022 announcement, CARIAD and ST said they planned to develop an automotive SoC together, based on ST’s Stellar architecture. CARIAD intended to include the co-developed SoCs, alongside standard Stellar microcontrollers, in its AU1 processor family.
The companies also named TSMC as the intended wafer manufacturer for ST. CARIAD described the arrangement as part of a move toward direct cooperation with semiconductor suppliers at Tier 2 and Tier 3 levels. That describes the plan announced in 2022; it does not establish a current, confirmed supply arrangement.
What was the chip supposed to do?
The planned SoC was meant to complement ST’s Stellar automotive microcontrollers by extending their power-efficient real-time capabilities into service-oriented vehicle systems. CARIAD was to contribute requirements and functions specific to Volkswagen Group vehicles.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The companies described potential uses across vehicle networking, drivetrain, energy management, and comfort electronics. Examples included zone controllers and servers running VW.OS. The plan paired the SoCs with standard Stellar MCUs under a common hardware and software approach for electronic control units. The stated goals included supporting over-the-air feature extensions, reducing the number of ECUs, and lowering development complexity; these were objectives, not demonstrated production-vehicle results.
Has the CARIAD–ST chip entered production?
That has not been confirmed in the official sources reviewed. The July 2022 release said detailed cooperation agreements were still to be finalized, and it named neither a specific SoC model nor a launch date or Volkswagen vehicle application. Later official sources describe related Stellar products and other Volkswagen chip initiatives, but do not establish that the CARIAD–ST AU1 SoC entered production or was fitted to a vehicle.
ST does list individual Stellar microcontrollers. For example, its SR6G7C4 product page identifies that MCU as active and in volume production. That status applies to the listed microcontroller, not to the jointly planned AU1 SoC.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does the ST partnership differ from Volkswagen’s other chip programs?
Volkswagen has announced other semiconductor efforts that serve different purposes. They should not be treated as updates confirming the CARIAD–ST plan.
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| Program | Partner and geography | Purpose | Public timing and status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARIAD–ST / AU1 | STMicroelectronics; Volkswagen Group vehicles | Planned Stellar-based SoC for a broad range of vehicle electronics, complementing Stellar MCUs | Announced in July 2022; no public model or launch date, and production is unconfirmed in the official sources reviewed. CARIAD announcement |
| CARIZON | Horizon Robotics through CARIZON, a CARIAD–Horizon Robotics joint venture; China-focused | SoC for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving | Announced by Volkswagen Group China on November 5, 2025. Volkswagen projected delivery within three to five years and estimated around 500–700 TOPS for this separate chip. Those figures are not AU1 specifications. Volkswagen Group China announcement |
| Volkswagen–Qualcomm | Qualcomm Technologies; Western Hemisphere | Infotainment and connectivity SoCs for the Group’s zonal software-defined-vehicle architecture | Letter of intent announced January 8, 2026, with intended deployment beginning in 2027. This is a separate effort, not confirmation of AU1 production. Volkswagen Group announcement |
What to take from the announcement
- STMicroelectronics is the partner CARIAD named for the planned next-generation car SoC.
- The chip was intended for CARIAD’s AU1 family and a range of Volkswagen Group vehicle electronics, rather than as a consumer upgrade.
- The public announcement describes a co-development plan; it does not provide a chip model, launch date, or confirmed vehicle fitment.
- CARIZON’s China-focused ADAS chip and the Volkswagen–Qualcomm infotainment effort are separate programs.
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