Kirin 9610A: Way to replace Qualcomm 8155?

While everyone was busy talking about the return of the Kirin 9000S chip, many failed to notice that Huawei had also launched their latest generation car-grade cockpit chip, the Kirin 9610A within a few days. At the Chengdu Auto Show, Jianghuai showcased their new plug-in hybrid MPV model, the Refine RF8, equipped with Huawei's Hongmeng cockpit and the Kirin 9610A chip, demonstrating its impressive computing power of 200kDMIPS, which is twice as powerful as the current mainstream car-grade chip, Qualcomm 8155.

The Kirin 9610A chip is produced by HiSilicon, offering exceptional performance despite being limited to the 14nm process. Comparing it to the Qualcomm 8155's 7nm process, one might think that the Kirin 9610A is not good enough . However, the fact that Huawei developed such a high-performing chip with a 14nm process only proves their superior chip design capabilities, which is already among the world's best. 

In terms of performance, the Kirin 9610A is comparable to Qualcomm's latest flagship car-grade chip, the 8295, which uses a 5nm process. For car-grade chips, seeking the ultimate craftsmanship is not necessary, as there is enough space in the car to accommodate larger chips. Pursuing more advanced processes to increase transistor density, as seen in mobile phone chips, is not practical for car-grade chips as it raises issues like higher costs, heat generation, and power consumption. 

Huawei's chip design capabilities are essential for China's new energy vehicle industry chain to continue healthily growing. Autonomous and controllable level chips are crucial in this field, and having a top company like Huawei taking the lead is fortunate for the industry. If Chinese car-grade chip companies face US-imposed bans and car companies cannot import American automotive chips, the market seems promising for Huawei to release the automotive chips.