including chassis and safety systems for cars and motorcycles, battery management systems (BMS), body control functions such as lighting and motor control, as well as other general ASIL D applications.
The new device expands Renesas' popular RH850 line as an entry-level option, complementing the high-end RH850/U2B and mid-range RH850/U2A products. The RH850/U2C combines four RH850 CPU cores operating at up to 320 MHz (including two lockstep cores), with up to 8 MB of integrated flash memory. Developers currently using RH850/P1x or RH850/F1x devices can seamlessly transition to the new MCU to meet the requirements of the latest E/E architectures.
Communication Interfaces for Current and Next-Generation Systems:
The RH850/U2C operates with interfaces designed for modern E/E architectures, such as 10Base-T1S Ethernet, TSN Ethernet (1 Gbps/100 Mbps), CAN-XL, and I3C. It also maintains full compatibility with commonly used interfaces such as CAN-FD, LIN, UART, CXPI, I²C, I²S, and PSI5. This comprehensive support enables mixed operation with existing ECUs and facilitates a smooth migration between generations. As vehicle networks evolve toward domain- and zone-based architectures, the RH850/U2C offers flexible configuration and scalability, reducing network design complexity.
Robust Functional Security and Cybersecurity:
The MCU supports functional security up to ASIL D, in accordance with ISO 26262. To meet modern cybersecurity requirements, the device complies with the ISO/SAE 21434 standard and supports cryptographic algorithms including post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and current international regulations. Its dedicated hardware accelerators provide high performance, offloading cryptographic processing from the CPU.
Optimized architecture for low power consumption.
Manufactured using a proven 28nm process, the RH850/U2C consumes significantly less power in active and standby modes. A dedicated standby mode further reduces consumption during intermittent operation or deep rest. These low-power modes increase energy design margins and reduce thermal demands, while maintaining compliance with stringent environmental regulations.
Satoshi Yoshida, Vice President of the MCU Division at Renesas High Performance Computing, commented:
"With modern ECUs constantly evolving through software updates and new features, it is essential that system robustness and operational efficiency coexist seamlessly. The RH850/U2C combines performance, a comprehensive feature set, and compliance with key industry standards, providing the platform our customers need to build reliable and scalable automotive systems."
Christoph Wenger, Principal Semiconductor Expert for Vehicle Motion at Bosch, added:
“The Renesas RH850 MCU family has long supported our systems with proven reliability, and we are pleased to see the RH850/U2C further strengthen the automotive lineup. Renesas’ 28nm MCUs offer high performance and quality, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration.”
Comprehensive Development Support:
The RH850/U2C features a comprehensive development environment designed to reduce time to market. Developers can utilize state-of-the-art compilers and integrated development environments (IDEs), along with automotive software packages certified by Renesas and its ecosystem partners. These solutions meet the highest functional safety requirements and support ISO 26262 through ASIL D. For rapid evaluation and project initiation, Renesas offers the RH850/U2C Starter Kit.
