Embedded MCUs and MPUs

Infineon · NXP · STMicroelectronics · Texas Instruments · Renesas · Microchip · GigaDevice

Infineon became the largest MCU supplier in 2024, with 21.3% of a $22.4 billion market and 32% of automotive MCUs. Its newest AURIX safety MCUs are made by TSMC in Taiwan, like NXP's and Renesas's, while Texas Instruments and Microchip still build most of their MCUs in their own US fabs.

Where the leading MCU makers build their chips: Texas Instruments in its own US fabs in Richardson, Lehi and Dallas; Microchip in its Tempe and Gresham fabs plus TSMC; Infineon, STMicroelectronics and Renesas in their own European and Japanese fabs plus TSMC; NXP and GigaDevice through foundries WHERE MCU MAKERS BUILD THEIR CHIPS OWN FABS, US OWN FABS, ABROAD FOUNDRY Infineon DRESDEN; TSMC FOR AURIX TC4X NXP TSMC FOR S32 STMicroelectronics CROLLES, AGRATE; TSMC Texas Instruments RICHARDSON, LEHI, DALLAS Renesas NAKA; TSMC FOR RH850/U2 Microchip TEMPE, GRESHAM; TSMC GigaDevice CHINESE FOUNDRIES Infineon: 21.3% of a $22.4 billion MCU market in 2024 and 32% of automotive MCUs; number one in both for the first time. SOURCES: OMDIA VIA INFINEON (MARCH 2025); TECHINSIGHTS (2025); COMPANY FAB DISCLOSURES.
MCU market, 2024
$22.4B
Leader
Infineon, 21.3%
Automotive MCU leader
Infineon, 32%
Typical nodes
22-180nm
MCUs per car
70-100
Hub
Chips

What an MCU is

One Small Chip Per Control Function

Microcontrollers (MCUs) are the most shipped chips by unit: tens of billions a year in engine and brake controllers, motor drives, appliances, meters and IoT nodes. Microprocessors (MPUs) are their larger cousins that run Linux or a real-time operating system.

An MCU puts the processor core, embedded flash, SRAM, timers and PWM, analog-to-digital converters and CAN, LIN and Ethernet interfaces on one die, with a hardware security module and lockstep safety core on automotive parts CPU core (Arm, TriCore, RH850) Safety core Embedded flash SRAM Security module Timers and PWM ADCs CAN, LIN, Ethernet Embedded flash sets the node EFLASH STOPS NEAR 28NM; NEWER PARTS USE MRAM OR PCM Mixed-signal on one die ADCS AND PWM NEED MATURE, STABLE PROCESSES, -40 TO 150 C ONE MCU RUNS ONE ECU; A MODERN CAR CARRIES 70 TO 100 OF THEM.

MCUs sell for $0.50 to $15 and are made at 22nm to 180nm, held back by embedded flash and by analog blocks that need mature, stable processes. Automotive parts must also pass AEC-Q100 qualification, so a car maker cannot switch a qualified MCU quickly even in a shortage. That trap is covered on Mature-Node MCUs.

Families

MCU and MPU Families, Products and Process

  • Made in own US fabs
MCU and MPU families, products and process
FamilyFlagship productsProcess and fabPosition
Infineon AURIX, TRAVEO, PSOCAURIX TC3xx and TC4xx (ASIL-D safety MCUs); TRAVEO T2G body MCUs; PSOC industrial and IoT40nm (TC3xx); 28nm at TSMC (TC4xx); Infineon DresdenNumber one MCU supplier in 2024 (21.3%) and in automotive MCUs (32%)
NXP S32K, S32G, MCX, i.MX RTS32K3 zone and body MCUs; S32G3 network processor; MCX general MCUs; i.MX RT crossover MCUsBuilt at TSMCLeading supplier for EV zone controllers and battery junction boxes
STMicroelectronics STM32, StellarSTM32H7, U5, G4; STM32MP2 MPUs; Stellar automotive MCUs with phase-change memory40nm to 90nm in ST fabs (Crolles, Agrate); 28nm FD-SOI; TSMCMost widely used 32-bit MCU family by design count; leads robot joint and motor control
Renesas RH850, RA, RXRH850/U2A and U2B (ASIL-D); RA8 (Cortex-M85); RX72N28nm at TSMC (RH850/U2); 40nm at Renesas Naka and TSMCStrong with Toyota, Honda and Nissan; leads industrial automation MCUs in Japan
Texas Instruments C2000, MSPM0, SitaraC2000 real-time control (inverters, chargers, drives); MSPM0 general-purpose; TMS570 safety MCUsTI fabs in Richardson and Dallas, Texas, and Lehi, UtahLargest MCU maker with its own US 300mm fabs; C2000 leads EV charging and solar inverter control
Microchip PIC, AVR, SAMPIC32, AVR DB, SAM E70 and SAME54Microchip fabs in Tempe, Arizona and Gresham, Oregon; TSMCBroadest legacy catalog; AVR anchors the Arduino ecosystem
Espressif ESP32ESP32-S3, C6, H2, P4TSMC and GlobalFoundries, 22nm to 40nmLowest-cost Wi-Fi and Bluetooth MCU; China-headquartered; not automotive qualified
GigaDevice GD32GD32 Arm and RISC-V MCUsFabless, Chinese foundriesLargest Chinese general-purpose MCU supplier; main domestic substitute for STM32

Single fabs

One Fab Fire Can Stop the World's Car Plants

The March 2021 fire at Renesas's Naka fab cut supply of automotive MCUs during the global chip shortage. Renesas restored output in about three months, but the effects on automakers lasted longer because no other fab was qualified for those parts. The February 2021 Texas freeze stopped NXP's and Samsung's Austin fabs at the same time.

The newest safety MCUs (Infineon AURIX TC4xx, NXP S32, Renesas RH850/U2) have moved to TSMC's 28nm line in Taiwan, which trades in-house fab risk for single-foundry risk. Texas Instruments and Microchip are the large MCU makers still building most of their parts in their own US fabs.

Bottlenecks

MCU Supply Chain Bottlenecks

MCU supply chain bottlenecks
BottleneckAffectsSeverity
AEC-Q100 qualification lock-inEvery automotive MCU socket; 12 to 24 months to requalify a changeStructural; see Mature-Node MCUs
TSMC 28nm and 40nmAURIX TC4xx, NXP S32, Renesas RH850/U2 all depend on TSMC Taiwan for their newest partsHigh: newest safety MCUs have moved from in-house fabs to one foundry
200mm and older 300mm capacityMost MCUs at 40nm to 180nmHigh in a demand surge; capacity added slowly
Chinese mature-node supplyLow-cost MCUs from GigaDevice and others; Chinese fabs add mature capacity fastestMedium: price pressure now, dependency risk later

Record

Page Record

Covers
MCU and MPU families, makers, fabs and nodes; single-fab events; bottlenecks
Sources
Omdia via Infineon (March 2025); TechInsights automotive MCU ranking (2025); Infineon, NXP, ST, TI, Renesas, Microchip, Espressif and GigaDevice disclosures; Renesas Naka fire recovery reports (2021)
Last verified
October 2026