Automotive gateway research: integrated gateways have become an important trend in zonal architecture.
Automotive gateway is a core component in the automotive electronic/electrical architecture. As the hub of in-vehicle networks, it enables such functions as data transmission, security prevention and control, and remote diagnostics.
As E/E architecture evolves from the distributed to the centralized domain architecture, gateway also changes accordingly. Its evolution route is as follows:
Phase I: Conventional CAN gateway in distributed architecture
Phase II: Central gateway in domain-centralized architecture
Phase III: Distributed gateway in zonal architecture
1. Conventional CAN gateway in distributed architecture
Phase I: the distributed ECU architecture means that many single functional ECUs provide hardware/software solutions. These functional ECU clusters (e.g. power, chassis, body, safety and IVI systems) are combined together and connected via conventional bus systems such as CAN, LIN or FlexRay?. While sensors and actuators are directly connected to the ECUs, the interaction between domains is realized through CAN gateways.
2. Central gateway in domain-centralized architecture
Phase II: the "domain" of a domain controller generally refers to functional domains which fall into: Powertrain, Chassis Control, Body Control, Entertainment System (Cockpit), and ADAS. Systems in these domains are interconnected still using CAN and FlexRay communication buses. For inter-domain communication, the Ethernet with higher performance serves as the backbone network for information exchange. In such architecture, a central gateway is needed for inter-domain communication. This gateway allows for data exchange with OEM vehicle clouds, and is thus regarded as a "service gateway".
3. Distributed gateway in zonal architecture
Phase III: in the zonal architecture, the central gateway will evolve into a HPC or a central computer, while the domain gateways will evolve into zonal gateways. The gateway is not only responsible for routing of in-vehicle network communication buses, but also takes charge of more complex functions, for example, data association and processing between safety and functional domains (e.g., powertrain, chassis and safety, body control, IVI and ADAS) via the MCU+SoC computing platform. The biggest benefit offered by this architecture is to greatly reduce wiring harnesses and thus cut down the weight and cost by about 30%.
Currently, gateways are in a transitional phase from centralized gateways in domain centralized architecture to distributed gateways in zonal architecture.
In response to the major trend for cross-domain integration, many gateway chip vendors propose their solutions. For example, NXP S32G3 network processors released at the end of 2021 feature real-time processing capability, service-oriented high-performance computing power, cross-domain integration, and high-performance safety processing, and also provide complete software development tools, which can meet the development requirements of various new automotive E/E architectures: service-oriented gateways, vehicle computers, domain controllers, zonal processors, and safety processors.
NXP S32G3 network processors were mass-produced in February 2023, and were first installed in GAC Hyper GT in April 2023.
The G9H chip SemiDrive unveiled in July 2022 is mainly used in such scenarios as next-generation high-performance central gateways, vehicle computing units, and cross-domain controllers. In addition to body network interfaces, G9H also supports video input/output interfaces, including 1-channel MIPI DSI and 2-channel MIPI CSIs. Coupled with PowerVR’s high-performance 3D GPU, G9H can integrate 3D cluster, DMS and other features into the central gateway, further lowering the BOM cost of the system.
Gateway suppliers make a gradual shift to integrated gateways from independent gateways. The main integration modes include integration between gateways and body domains, between gateways and zone controllers, and between gateways and central computer. In 2023, quite a few suppliers have announced integrated gateway solutions.
Examples include the cross-domain central computing platform product for next-generation E/E architectures, released by UAES in April 2023. This solution integrates central gateway, body control, power and other functional domains, and Neusoft Reach provides underlying software and middleware development support.
Another example is the physical zone control unit (ZCU) and the central computing platform (CCP), released by Jingwei HiRain in May 2023:
ZCU: Integrates vehicle power distribution function, zonal gateway routing function (100M Ethernet, CANFD, LIN, etc.), body comfort domain, new energy power domain, and partial chassis domain, as well as input/output signal acquisition and control for air conditioner and thermal management.
CCP: Integrates centralized gateway, body and comfort control, new energy vehicle power control, air conditioner and thermal management, vehicle management, full-volume data acquisition, OTA update, SOA service and other functions.
At present the above two products have been developed, tested and produced in small volume. They will be spawned and delivered by the end of 2023. Wherein, the CCP has been mass-produced to support four cooperative mainstream automakers in China.
As gateway chip and integrated gateway technologies mature, OEMs race to implement their "quasi-centralized" architecture solutions on production models, most of which will be rolled out during 2022-2024.
OEMs and Tier1s’ Intelligent Cockpit Platform (Hardware and Software) Innovation Strategy Research Report, 2026
Intelligent Cockpit Platform Research: multi-dimensional cockpit system architecture reconstruction for multi-agent collaboration and proactive intelligent services
The intelligent cockpit software s...
Automotive AIOS Research Report, 2026
Automotive AIOS Research: Mass Production Solutions Are Implemented
Mass Production Solutions Are Implemented on A Small Scale.
In 2026, AIOS starts small-scale implementation, helping to improve v...
Automotive Telematics Service Provider (TSP) Research Report, 2026
TSP Research: Leading providers collectively turn to AI agents to provide all-scenario active services
Telematics Service Providers (TSPs) are the core hub of the telematics industry chain, connectin...
Automotive Smart Interior Research Report, 2026
Smart Interior Research: As Technologies like Interactive Starlight Headliner, Hidden Display and Surface Projection Are Launched, Automotive Interiors Become Ever More Intelligent
The Automotive Sma...
Research Report on AI Applications in Cockpits, 2026
AI Application in Cockpits: AI Services Become More Comprehensive, Convenient, and Refined.
In the first half of 2026, cockpit AI functions underwent initial upgrades across multiple dimensions, inc...
Software-Defined Vehicles in 2026: OEM Software Development and Supply Chain Deployment Strategy Research Report
Research on OEMs’ Software Strategies: R&D Focus, Development Strategies and Supplier Building Models of 30 OEMs
In this paper, we adopt a research framework covering 13 subsystems and 48 sub-di...
Passenger Car Chassis Domain Control and Chassis Cross-Domain Integration Research Report, 2026
Chassis Control Research: Mass Production of Full Chassis-by-Wire Solutions Starts
1. A Cluster of Full Chassis-by-Wire Solutions Make Their Debut, and EMB Enters Mass Production and Adoption for the...
Central Domain Control (Powertrain, Chassis, Body) and Motion Controller Research Report, 2026
Central Domain Control and Motion Control Research: XYZ Coordinated Control and Full X-by-Wire Actuation System
With the gradual penetration of L3+ autonomous driving, the chassis control system is ...
48V Low-voltage Power Distribution Network (PDN) Architecture and Supply Chain Panorama Research Report, 2026
Research on 48V Low-Voltage Power Distribution Network （PDN): An Active 48V Supply Chain, with Priority Deployment in High-Power Scenarios Such as Steer-by-Wire Chassis
The automotive 48V low-voltage...
AI-Defined Vehicle (AIDV) OEMs' Deployment Strategies Research Report, 2026
AIDV Research: Deployment Strategies of 22 OEMs
The AI-Defined Vehicle (AIDV) OEMs' Deployment Strategies Research Report, 2026, released by ResearchInChina, analyzes the AI deployment strategies of ...
OEMs’ Passenger Car Model Planning Research Report, 2026
Vehicle Model Planning Research: Chinese OEMs Launch Sub-Brands Intensively, While Multinational OEMs Apply the Brakes to Electrification Strategies
ResearchInChina released the OEMs’ Passenger Car M...
Autonomous Driving Simulation and World Model Research Report, 2026
Autonomous driving simulation research: "Simulation test + world model"-driven test system has become R&D infrastructure.
The "Autonomous Driving Simulation and World Model Research Report, 2026"...
Cockpit-Driving Integration Central Domain Controller SoC and AI Supercomputing Architecture Research Report, 2026
Cockpit-Driving integration and AI supercomputing research: The One Chip solution is rapidly installed in vehicles, and AI supercomputing architectures are moving towards full-domain integration.
AI ...
Intelligent Driving End-to-End Large Model Research Report, 2026
Research on Intelligent Driving Large Models: A Critical Period for Technological Competition and Paradigm Integration
As autonomous driving technology rapidly iterates from L2 to L3?L4, intelligent...
Automotive Digital Key Industry Trend Report, 2026
Digital Key Research: Automotive BLE, UWB and SLE Hardware Layout
The Automotive Digital Key Industry Trend Report, 2026, released by ResearchInChina, analyzes and predicts the digital key market, co...
Monthly Report on Automotive New Technology (May 2026)
UHD gaze technology, full-color LiDAR, UWB, etc. promote the upgrade of intelligent driving perception capabilities
This report is published once a month and is available for annual subscription.The...
In-Cabin Monitoring Systems (DMS, OMS, etc.) Research Report, 2026
In-Cabin Monitoring System Research: DMS to Become Mandatory in 2027, Expected to be Installed in Over 14 Million Vehicles
ResearchInChina released the In-Cabin Monitoring Systems (DMS, OMS, etc.) Re...
Automotive Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Cross-Domain Middleware Industry Report, 2026
Research on automotive SOA and cross-domain middleware: The era of AI atomic services and AI cross-domain fusion agents is coming.
Automotive SOA evolves towards AI + full SOA servitization Driv...