MediaTek platform powers in-vehicle infotainment in Tata Punch EV, Skoda Slavia

Taiwanese semiconductor giant MediaTek, which is a renowned brand in India's smartphone market as one of the leading chip suppliers on the millions of Android smartphones being used in the country, is also betting big on the country's automotive sector.

With its MediaTek Dimensity Auto platform, the company is eyeing a strong growth opportunity in the Indian automobile market which is showing an accelerated transition towards software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and electric vehicles (EVs), which require more processing power as well as software integration, compared to traditional vehicles. 

To begin with, a MediaTek platform powers the in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems on two popular models – the Tata Punch EV and the Skoda Slavia – on sale in the Indian market. The chipsets, under the Dimensity Auto platform deployed in these vehicles, are optimised for natural user interface, as well as enhanced audio and visual outputs, owing to the integrated digital signal processors (DSPs).

The Visteon-sourced 10.25-inch infotainment system on the Tata Punch EV gets multimedia interface from MediaTek. The high-quality graphics allow the screen to relay the 360-degree camera feed while also allowing Tata Motors to offer the 'Arcade.ev' gaming app suite.

Tata Punch EV’s high-definition 10.25-inch display
The Visteon-sourced 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the Tata Punch EV, which was introduced in the market in January 2024, is one of the key highlights of the car and elevates the overall cabin experience. The system packs in several infotainment features, vehicle settings, as well as safety-related functionalities that are driven by MediaTek's chip in the background. 

For instance, the high-definition IVI system offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity functionalities by leveraging the chipset’s support for high interoperability as well as co-existence of multiple wireless network standards such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and 5G. Moreover, the infotainment doubles as the display for the automatic climate-control system of the car and the screen also leverages the MediaTek chipset's edge processing capabilities for faster touch responses, as well as displaying the complex feed from the 360-degree surround-view cameras on the Tata Punch EV.

Furthermore, the Dimensity Auto platform enables the Indian-origin OEM to offer AAA-gaming and video entertainment functionalities under its 'Arcade.ev' application suite that allows streaming of content and playing of games when the car is stationary. As per various studies, EV OEMs foresee the usage of these features by occupants particularly when the car is being recharged at a fast-charging station. 

The 10-inch Skoda Play infotainment system on the Skoda Slavia sedan is replete with modern features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi hotspot and built-in GPS tuner for precise navigation.

Slavia sedan’s feature-laden 10-inch Skoda Play
The 10-inch 'Skoda Play' infotainment system in the Skoda Slavia is also powered by MediaTek's Dimensity Auto platform and gets a host of features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as the 'Skoda Play' suite of on-board and downloadable applications. The infotainment also supports high-definition video playback (only in vehicle-stationary conditions) and drives high-quality sound output from the 380W, 8-speaker and 1-sub-woofer setup in the Skoda Slavia by leveraging the in-built DSP in the MediaTek chip.

The touchscreen unit relies on connectivity through WiFi and leverages the chipset’s cutting-edge automotive communication technologies based on 3GPP standards. As a result, users are allowed to access navigation with the ‘MySkoda Connect’ smartphone application that leverages a built-in GPS tuner inside the infotainment system which benefits from the MediaTek chipset’s comprehensive GNSS coverage for more accurate location.

Furthermore, by using the controller area network or CAN bus protocol, the system also taps into various ECUs, and transmits vital vehicle information, including the fuel consumption, driving range, average speed, trip distance, as well as door ajar status on the 10-inch display. It also allows ESC activation / deactivation, light settings, mirrors, and wiper controls, as well as tweaking of the instrument cluster functionalities.

MediaTek bets big on Dimensity Auto platform, India market potential
The Dimensity Auto platform, which is a comprehensive portfolio that includes Dimensity Auto Cockpit, Dimensity Auto Connect, Dimensity Auto Drive, and Dimensity Auto Components, aims to cater to the growing needs of connectivity, faster computing, and interoperability with multiple standards, inside vehicles. As per the company, the platform represents MediaTek's expertise in performance, power efficiency, and SoC integration. 

According to Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India, “We have multiple solutions for the automotive industry under the MediaTek Dimensity Auto platform, which offers an entire gamut of chipsets catering to different requirements. The in-vehicle-infotainment space is witnessing a strong traction in India, and the multimedia interface in the Tata Punch EV and Skoda Slavia is being powered by MediaTek.”

Other than the IVI, MediaTek, with its strong foothold in the Internet modem space, is also focusing on IoT and vehicle telematics. While it is already a major player in the 2G telematics space which sees scores of connected vehicles (mandated under the AIS-140 regulations) plying in the commercial fleets in India, the company has already made the transition to MediaTek-based 4G telematics suite. In July 2024, MediaTek partnered JioThings to introduce a localised, smart digital cluster and smart module, targeted at the two-wheeler segment in India.

“We see India as a growing market and we want to penetrate deeper and participate in the growth story. Our expertise lies in providing extremely efficient chipsets for very specific use cases. We are working with our Indian partners to ensure these global offerings work well in Indian conditions,” Jain pointed out.

Come 2025, and MediaTek envisions a strong offtake for 5G telematics in India, given the growing implementation of ADAS and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2X) systems. The company is also geared to offer chipsets for vision-based ADAS solutions that are increasingly gaining popularity in the Indian market.

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