NXP and FalconEye join hands to accelerate the development of China's automotive radar and autonomous driving market

NXP and 77Ghz radar leader Falcon Eye Electronics sign investment and strategic cooperation agreement to jointly promote innovation in safe autonomous driving technology

NXP continues to invest in China, deepens cooperation with the Chinese automotive electronics industry, and accelerates the development of China's autonomous driving market

NXP Semiconductors NV (NASDAQ: NXPI), the world's largest supplier of automotive electronic solutions, today announced that it has signed an investment and strategic cooperation agreement with Nanjing Falcon Eye Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Falcon Eye"), a leader in China's automotive radar field. Relying on the State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves of Southeast University, Falcon Eye has deep expertise and high-quality engineering talents in the field of 77Ghz radar. Combined with NXP's deep technical experience in the radar market, the two parties will provide customers with reference design solutions based on NXP's radar products and system-level technical support and services, helping Chinese local Tier 1s cope with complex and changing technical challenges and accelerate the vigorous development of China's automotive radar and autonomous driving markets.

IHS Markit predicts that China will become the world’s largest automotive radar market by 20231, and based on analysis of current automotive market data, up to 50% of new cars will use radar technology by 20202. This growth is also driven by the China New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP), which requires greater adoption and innovation of radar in automotive safety-related applications such as blind spot detection, automatic emergency braking, front and rear cross traffic detection, and precise environmental mapping.

NXP is a leader in RFCMOS-based 77Ghz automotive radar sensors. This technology will play a key role in the next stage of ADAS development. This cutting-edge technology will enable the detection and classification of vulnerable road users, panoramic and surround applications, and its ultimate solution: imaging radar, and will eventually replace other expensive and bulky technologies. By working with top partners in China's automotive electronics industry, NXP is constantly consolidating its product and solution portfolio in the field of radar sensors and processors and promoting the implementation of large-scale commercial use.

Kurt Sievers, president of NXP Semiconductors, said: "The cooperation with Hawkeye once again demonstrates our confidence in the Chinese market and our determination to continue to invest. Technology innovators like Hawkeye and Southeast University have become important drivers of change in China's automotive industry. We are very pleased to work with these excellent partners to leverage NXP's leading advantages in the radar market and jointly safeguard the era of autonomous driving."

Zheng Li, NXP's global senior vice president and president of Greater China, said: "NXP's strategic investment in local Chinese ecological partners not only reflects the development of the semiconductor industry's business model in the new economic era, but also will create favorable conditions for China's local industries to move towards internationalization. NXP has been deeply rooted in China for more than 30 years. By combining our deep understanding of the Chinese market with our global resources and technological advantages, we can provide development and innovation momentum for local Chinese ecological partners such as Falcon Eye."

Professor Hong Wei, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves at Southeast University and IEEE Fellow, said: "Southeast University and Falcon Eye have established a joint research center to focus on the research of vehicle-mounted millimeter wave radar technology. At the same time, we have carried out long-term research in the fields of millimeter wave multi-system radar imaging, new millimeter wave antenna arrays, and new millimeter wave circuit structures. The latest research results will continue to be applied to Falcon Eye's future designs and radar products."

Mr. Shi Xuesong, CEO of FalconEye, said: "The rapid development of ADAS and autonomous driving technologies has put forward new technical requirements for automotive millimeter-wave radar. Through long-term cooperation with the State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves of Southeast University, FalconEye has accumulated excellent engineering talents and rich product experience in the manufacturability and reliability design of automotive electronic products. Through cooperation with NXP, FalconEye will be committed to providing advanced millimeter-wave radar system-level solutions and comprehensive technical support for Tier 1."

Details of the investment were not disclosed.