Driving the Future of Mobility.
The automotive industry is undergoing a significant evolution, driven by changing consumer demands and shifting expectations for personalization, connectivity, safety, electrification, and enhanced features and functionality. Underpinning this transformation is the design evolution of next-generation electrical/electronic (E/E) vehicle architectures which are unlocking a new era of smarter, safer and more convenient mobility along with more efficient manufacturing processes.
To address increasing expectations for functional sophistication and efficiency, next-gen E/E vehicle architectures leverage centralized control units and zonal designs. These innovations enable functional software-driven consolidation with over-the-air (OTA) updates, optimized data and power distribution, reduced wiring harness complexity and weight, as well as increased design flexibility and scalability for future innovation.
Below, we explore the pivotal trends and challenges – from autonomous driving and increased connectivity to electrification and the rise of shared mobility – that are shaping next-generation vehicle architectures, and the critical role connectivity plays in enabling this transformation.
Image 1: Today’s car buyers prioritize PACES – personalization, automated and autonomous, connectivity, electrification and sustainability features – demanding immersive, future-ready mobility experiences over traditional ownership models.
The Benefits of Zonal Architectures: Efficiency Meets Innovation
Traditional E/E architectures can no longer keep pace with the complex demands of modern vehicles. They rely on complex and vehicle-spanning wire harnesses, which often result in inefficiencies and increased weight. Next-gen architectures, characterized by zonal designs and centralized control, are setting a new standard.
Image 2: Vehicle Architecture Transformation
Zonal architectures feature centralized, more powerful control units that are organized into distinct zones, providing more modern computing structures that enable server-based software processes. This approach not only simplifies and reorganizes wire harnesses but also supports more efficient, higher-speed transmission and real-time processing of additional sensor and environmental data. The objective is fewer nodes/ECUs but significantly more connection opportunities (ports) per node — linked together by a high-speed data backbone. This approach not only streamlines the wiring harness, reducing its weight and complexity, but also paves the way for more scalable and flexible vehicle designs and functional deployment. Think of zonal architectures as cities with well-organized neighborhoods, each with its own utilities and services, all connected by a high-speed highway. The key benefits include the following:
- Simplified wiring: Zonal architectures have significant implications for vehicle design and manufacturing. As zone-based installation approaches replace unwieldy, vehicle-spanning harnesses, it becomes possible to use lighter cabling systems. This enhances electrical efficiency, reduces weight and simplifies harness installation and, due to better partitioning, makes automated harness production an option.
- Scalable design: Physical restructuring also makes it possible to pre-equip a car for future upgrades. Through over-the-air (OTA) updates, software-defined vehicles (SDVs) can continue to add — as paid subscription services — value and functionality long after leaving the production line, without needing to have any hardware installed or changed. Some examples of upgrades already being offered by select OEMs is the momentary activation of more performance, more battery range, or higher levels of autonomous driving.
- Enhanced efficiency: Centralized control units and better partitioning allow for improved energy management and facilitate the automated production of harnesses.
What Do Next-Gen E/E Architectures Mean for the Future of Mobility?
These architectures empower automakers to create vehicles that are flexible, future-proof, and cost-effective. Next-gen E/E architectures enable the integration of a growing number of innovative functions for design, performance, and functionality — from autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) to enhanced infotainment and battery management systems. High-speed data networks and modular connectivity solutions facilitate the seamless communication and control of these systems, ensuring efficient energy management and an improved driving experience. In addition, as power demands continue to rise, transitioning from traditional 12V systems to 48V architectures helps lower current levels, decrease heat loss in wiring, and enhance overall efficiency. The shift to 48V enables better thermal management and supports scalable, high-power computing platforms while aligning with the evolving needs of software-defined vehicle architectures.
Connectivity: The Backbone of Smarter Vehicles
As vehicles evolve into high-tech ecosystems, reliable and robust connectivity is essential to ensure seamless communication between zones and systems. Connectivity offerings will also need to provide space-saving solutions to serve the higher number of connections across fewer high-power control units while providing a greater level of modularity to support additional flexibility.
TE Connectivity (TE), a global industry technology leader, is at the forefront of this revolution, delivering cutting-edge automotive solutions designed with scalability, sustainability, and automation in mind. TE’s portfolio combines engineering excellence with practical innovation, ensuring automakers have the tools to build vehicles for generations to come.
TE’s connectivity innovations are specifically designed to enable next generation vehicle architecture transformation:
- High-speed data transmission: Advanced connectors like the GEMnet Multi-Gigabit Automotive Connectors and MATE-AX Miniaturized Coax Connector System supports ultra-fast communication, critical for real-time functions such as autonomous driving/ADAS and infotainment systems.
- Space-saving designs: TE’s Modular Hybrid System (MHS) features flexible plug and heard configurations and is scalable for any vehicle platform. It delivers up to a 40% reduction in both space and weight and utilizes the latest sustainable materials, recycling processes and is automation-ready. The GenY 68P Sealed Hybrid Inline Connector combines signal, power and data connectivity into a single hybrid solution, supporting OEMs by streamlining connector consolidation, minimize supply chain complexity, and achieve savings in cost, weight, and space.
- Automation-ready solutions: TE’s connectors are designed to simplify manufacturing and assembly, enhance reliability, accuracy and traceability.
- Power advancements: TE’s 48V-ready connectors are engineered to deliver safe, reliable and efficient power distribution, supporting the transition from 12V systems to meet the growing energy demands more effectively. This shift improves overall performance, reduces weight and cost, and facilitates great system automation.
- In-device connectivity: Inside device connectivity is essential for zonal controllers, facilitating communication between zones and connected subsystems as well as centralized processors. This enables a unified framework where a central processor can access data from all sensors and actuators.TE offers an expansive portfolio of automotive grade solutions including flex-to-board, board-to-board, wire-to-wire, and wire-to-board options.
- EMI Shielding: Next-gen E/E architectures include a wide range of electronics, many of which have a high risk of propagating Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). It is critical to consider EMI/RFI shielding solutions that effectively reduce susceptibility to electronic malfunctions by either blocking external electromagnetic waves or preventing the emission of internal electromagnetic waves that could interfere with surrounding circuits or devices. Such malfunctions could range from the innocuous, such as an odd noise on a car radio to more serious incidents, such as accidents resulting from the failure of safety equipment. As vehicles integrate more advanced electronics, effective EMI shielding to addresses vulnerabilities at all levels of design from the PCB layout to the enclosure ensuring signal integrity, reduces cross-talk, and maintains reliable operation of safety-critical functions. TE offers a broad portfolio of EMI shielding materials including conductive elastomers, connector gaskets, fabric-over-foam and conductive foams that are designed to optimize performance and compliance in advanced driver assistance and other critical automotive systems
The Importance of an Experienced Partner
With decades of expertise and a comprehensive range of connectivity solutions, TE is able to simplify complexity, enhance efficiency, and empower designs — ensuring OEMs and suppliers can navigate this evolving landscape with vehicles to meet the demands of today and tomorrow. Connect with TE today to see how our solutions and expertise are empowering the automotive industry to create smarter, safer, and more connected vehicles.
TE Connectivity: Providing cutting-edge connectivity products and technologies for next generation automotive applications.
