Renesas Launches 28nm RH850/U2C Automotive Microcontroller, Expanding Vehicle Control and Safety Product Lineup

Beijing, China – March 4, 2026 – Renesas Electronics (TSE: 6723), a premier supplier of global semiconductor solutions, today announced the launch of its new 28nm 32-bit automotive microcontroller (MCU), the RH850/U2C. Featuring a rich set of communication interfaces and advanced information security capabilities, the MCU is ideal for applications including chassis and safety systems, battery management systems (BMS), body control, and other ASIL D scenarios.

As an entry-level addition to the RH850/U series, the RH850/U2C complements the high-end U2B and mid-range U2A devices. It integrates up to four 320MHz CPU cores (including two lockstep cores) and 8MB of on-chip flash memory. Developers using existing RH850/P1x or F1x series products can smoothly migrate to this new MCU to meet the requirements of next-generation E/E architectures.

The RH850/U2C supports next-generation interfaces such as 10BASE-T1S Ethernet, TSN (1Gbps), CAN-XL, and I3C, while also being compatible with widely-used legacy interfaces like CAN-FD, LIN, and others. This enables a smooth step-by-step transition from traditional ECUs to domain and zonal architectures.

For safety and security, the MCU complies with ISO 26262 ASIL D functional safety and ISO/SAE 21434 cybersecurity standards. It supports cryptographic algorithms including Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and mandatory national standards (e.g., China's national ciphers). A dedicated hardware accelerator offloads encryption tasks, reducing CPU load.

Built on a mature 28nm process, the RH850/U2C achieves significant power optimization in both active and standby modes. A dedicated standby mode further reduces deep sleep power consumption, improving power design margins and helping meet environmental regulations.