According to Synopsys' blog post on June 4, Synopsys has expanded its long-standing collaboration with Arm to support the automotive industry’s rapid transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The partnership focuses on addressing the growing demand for smarter, AI-powered in-car experiences while tackling the rising complexity, cost and development challenges faced by automakers.
As vehicles become increasingly reliant on advanced computing capabilities, current architectures struggle to meet the real-time, multimodal demands of modern automotive systems. To overcome this, Synopsys and Arm are cooptimizing their technologies — combining Synopsys’ silicon-to-systems expertise with Arm’s new Zena Compute Subsystem (CSS), the first-generation CSS designed specifically for automotive use.
This collaboration aims to accelerate the development of SDV architectures through several key innovations:
Electronics digital twins (eDTs): Synopsys is enabling early architecture exploration and performance prediction using its Platform Architect and Virtualizer Development Kits for Arm’s Zena CSS. This allows developers to test and validate software in virtual environments, reducing reliance on physical hardware and helping deliver software faster and more reliably.
Cloud-to-car software deployment: The introduction of Virtualizer Native Execution enables automotive applications to be designed and tested on Arm-based server CPUs in the cloud, achieving speeds nearly 100 times faster than traditional simulators. This approach streamlines SDV development by enabling real-time software testing and debugging without emulation.
Functional safety and cybersecurity compliance: Synopsys’ AI-driven EDA tools, combined with its ISO 26262 and ISO/SAE 21434-compliant IP portfolio, support stringent automotive safety and security requirements. Its solutions also include ASIL-compliant IP that complements Arm’s Automotive Enhanced IP and Zena CSS for flexible and interoperable system designs.
Real-time monitoring and life-cycle management: Synopsys also offers Silicon Lifecycle Management IP, allowing original equipment manufacturers to monitor real-time metrics such as voltage, temperature and aging, enabling predictive maintenance and enhancing the longevity of vehicle systems.
By integrating their respective strengths, Synopsys and Arm aim to streamline hardware-software codesign, reduce time to market, and ease the complexity of building and maintaining SDVs. This collaboration opens new opportunities for OEMs and tier 1 suppliers to deliver differentiated, safer and more sustainable vehicles that meet future mobility demands.
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