SST and UMC Launch Automotive-Grade 28nm SuperFlash Platform for Next-Gen Vehicle Controllers

Silicon Storage Technology (SST), a subsidiary of Microchip Technology Inc., and global semiconductor foundry United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) have announced the full qualification and production release of SST’s embedded SuperFlash Gen 4 (ESF4) non-volatile memory on UMC’s 28HPC+ process platform, now certified to Automotive Grade 1 (AG1) standards.

This marks a significant advancement for the automotive semiconductor ecosystem, as the new ESF4 platform is engineered to meet the rising performance and reliability demands of modern vehicle controllers—covering everything from electrified powertrains to connected, autonomous and software-defined systems.

Developed through a deep technology partnership between SST and UMC, the ESF4 solution offers enhanced performance and long-term reliability while delivering a major cost advantage. Unlike traditional 28nm High-k/Metal-Gate (HKMG) eFlash solutions that require multiple additional masking steps, ESF4 dramatically reduces process complexity, allowing faster manufacturing and improved economics for customers.

The companies are encouraging automotive customers currently producing controllers on 40nm ESF3 AG1 platforms to evaluate the new 28nm ESF4 AG1 node as they plan their next-generation designs. The shift promises higher performance, lower power consumption, and greater firmware update flexibility—including over-the-air (OTA) update capability for increasingly software-centric vehicles.

“As automotive requirements accelerate, developers need solutions that drive efficiency, speed time to market, and meet stringent global standards,” said Mr. Mark Reiten, Vice President of Microchip’s licensing business unit. He noted that the 28nm AG1 platform is now ready for full-scale production of customer designs, reinforcing the long-standing collaboration between SST and UMC.

UMC’s Mr. Steven Hsu, Vice President of Technology Development, highlighted industry trends driving the shift: “With vehicles becoming more connected, autonomous and data-intensive, the demand for highly reliable storage and high-capacity updates is growing. Our collaboration with SST has enabled the successful launch of ESF4 on the widely adopted 28HPC+ platform, giving customers a strong foundation to scale into advanced applications.”

With automotive controller shipments rising sharply each year, embedded non-volatile memory has become a critical requirement for handling large, complex firmware and frequent OTA updates. The ESF4 solution is positioned to meet these needs, providing a highly reliable, scalable and cost-optimised platform for the next wave of intelligent, software-defined vehicles.