Renesas Expands Automotive MCU Lineup with RH850/U2C – A 28nm MCU for Vehicle Control and Safety
Renesas Electronics RH850/U2C, a new 32-bit automotive microcontroller built on a 28nm process.
This latest addition to the popular RH850 family backed by over 4 billion units shipped since 2013 brings rich connectivity, advanced security, and support for next-gen electrical/electronics (E/E) architectures.
The 28nm MCU – RH850/U2C targets a wide range of automotive applications, from chassis and safety systems in cars and motorcycles to battery management (BMS), body controls like lighting and motors, and other ASIL D-certified uses.
It slots in as a cost-effective low-end option alongside the high-end RH850/U2B and mid-range RH850/U2A, featuring up to four RH850 CPU cores running at 320 MHz (including two lockstep cores) and as much as 8 MB of on-chip flash. Developers migrating from older RH850/P1x or F1x devices will find a smooth path forward.
Connectivity for Modern and Future Vehicles
The MCU supports cutting-edge interfaces like 10base-T1S Ethernet, Ethernet TSN (1Gbps/100Mbps), CAN-XL, and I3C, while remaining fully compatible with staples such as CAN-FD, LIN, UART, CXPI, I²C, I²S, and PSI5.
This mix enables seamless integration with existing ECUs during phased migrations to domain- and zone-based architectures, simplifying network design and boosting scalability.
Top-Tier Safety and Security
Certified for functional safety up to ASIL D (ISO 26262), the RH850/U2C also meets the latest ISO/SAE 21434 cybersecurity standard.
It handles everything from post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to regulations in China and beyond, with dedicated hardware accelerators that offload crypto tasks for high throughput and lighter CPU loads.
Power Efficiency Meets Performance
Leveraging a reliable 28nm process, the MCU cuts power consumption in both active and standby modes.
A specialized deep-stop standby further slashes usage during intermittent operation, helping systems stay compliant amid tightening environmental rules while easing thermal management.
Leadership Comment
“Modern ECUs evolve constantly through software updates and new features, so robustness and efficiency must go hand-in-hand,” said Satoshi Yoshida, Vice President of the High-Performance Computing MCU Division at Renesas. “The RH850/U2C delivers the performance, features, and standards compliance customers need for reliable, scalable next-gen automotive systems.”
“Renesas’ RH850 family has reliably powered our systems for years,” noted Christoph Wenger, Chief Expert Semiconductor at Vehicle Motion at Bosch. “We welcome the RH850/U2C as it strengthens their lineup with 28nm performance and quality—we look forward to deeper collaboration.”
Full Development Ecosystem
Renesas provides a complete toolkit to speed time-to-market, including modern compilers, IDEs, and automotive-qualified software from Renesas and partners all meeting ASIL D standards. A dedicated RH850/U2C Starter Kit makes evaluation and prototyping straightforward.
Catch a live demo at embedded world 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany (March 10–12), Renesas booth 1-234 (Hall 1, Stand 234).
Availability
The RH850/U2C is available now.
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