Intelligent Vehicle E/E Architecture and Computing Platform Industry Research Report, 2021
E/E Architecture and Computing Platform Industry Research: Three Evolution Stages of Automakers’ E/E Architectures
Domain centralized architectures will gradually evolve to quasi-central and central computing architectures
The evolution of the brand-new automotive E/E architecture, which may take ten years, can be divided into three stages:
(1) Domain centralized architecture stage
At present, automakers mainly stay at the domain centralized architecture stage. For example, Volkswagen's E3 architecture, Great Wall’s GEEP3.0 architecture, BYD's E platform 3.0 architecture, Geely's SEA architecture, Xpeng's EE 2.0 architecture, etc. are all typical domain centralized architectures.
Automotive E/E architectures will inevitably develop towards centralized E/E architectures. From the perspective of mass-produced models, centralized E/E architectures prevail now, with domain control over power, chassis, body, intelligent driving and cockpit. However, it is difficult to fully realize standard domain architectures and central architectures due to technical thresholds, diversified configuration gradients, consumption habits and other factors, so the domain hybrid architecture of "distributed ECUs + domain controllers" will be common in the short term.
At present, Volkswagen, BMW, Geely ZEEKR, Huawei, Visteon, etc. adopt three-domain E/E architecture solutions which mainly include intelligent driving domain, intelligent cockpit domain, and vehicle controller domain.
Volkswagen has upgraded the MQB distributed E/E architecture to the MEB (E3) domain centralized E/E architecture which includes 3 domain controllers: vehicle control (ICAS1), intelligent driving (ICAS2), and intelligent cockpit (ICAS3). Modules such as chassis and airbags that do not have integration capabilities belong to ICAS1. At present, ICAS1 and ICAS3 have been developed and installed on ID.3, ID.4 and other models, while ICAS2 has not been developed yet.
In terms of the software architecture, E3 adopts a service-oriented architecture, using CP and AP service middleware to enable SOA communication; as for the communication architecture, E3's backbone network is Ethernet.
On the CC architecture, Huawei has launched three domain control platforms of intelligent cockpit (CDC), vehicle control (VDC), and intelligent driving (MDC) respectively, and released related open platforms and operating systems, such as the autonomous driving operating system AOS, the intelligent cockpit operating system HarmonyOS and the vehicle control operating system VOS.
In terms of communication architecture, the CC architecture has set up 3-5 VIUs (vehicle interface units). All actuators and sensors are connected to distributed gateways so as to form loops. Once a single loop fails to work, the other three loops maintain operation, hereby effectively improving safety.
(2) Quasi-central computing architecture stage
In the next step, automakers will work hard in the quasi-central architecture of “the central computing platform + regional controllers”. Through SOA, it shares the computing power of different domain controllers like a central computing platform. The GEEP 4.0 architecture to be launched by Great Wall in 2022 and the FEEA3.0 architecture (to be mass-produced in 2023) released by FAW Hongqi in 2021 are quasi-central architectures.
Tesla’s EEA architecture is the most advanced, at least 5 years ahead of that of traditional automakers. The E/E architecture of Model 3 has marked Tesla’s entry into the quasi-central architecture stage consisting of central computing module (CCM), Body Control Module Left (BCMLH) and Body Control Module Right (BCMRH), basically materializing the prototype of a centralized architecture with the self-developed Linux, FOTA of the whole vehicle and communication via the Ethernet backbone network.
Tesla's quasi-central E/E architecture has sparked a harness revolution. The wiring harness of Model S/Model X is as long as 3 kilometers, while Model 3 reduces the wiring harness length to 1.5 kilometers, and Model Y further shortens it to around 1 kilometer. Tesla's plans to make the length as short as 100 meters.
(3) Central computing architecture stage
From the perspective of development trends, the automotive E/E architecture will eventually evolve to the central computing architecture, concentrating the functional logic to a central controller. The OEM Great Wall plans to launch the central computing architecture GEEP 5.0 in 2024, and Changan also intends to complete the development of its central domain architecture in 2025.
Evolution of Automotive E/E Architecture

Source: ENOVATE
In the next 3-5 years, OEMs will focus on R&D and layout of quasi-central architectures
As per the E/E architecture solutions of traditional automakers, most OEMs at home and abroad have transferred from distributed architectures to domain centralized architectures, and they have taken quasi-central architectures as the focus of R&D and layout in the next 3-5 years. Quasi-central and centralized architectures can effectively reduce the number of controllers and wiring harnesses, promote the further decoupling of automotive hardware and software, and drag down the cost further. In order to keep up with the upgrades of automotive technology, OEMs speed up the deployment of quasi-central architectures, introduce SOA architectures and make layout in central computing platforms, etc..
Features of Next-generation E/E Architectures of Some OEMs

Source: ResearchInChina
Great Wall has independently developed the GEEP E/E architecture which has evolved to the third-generation GEEP 3.0 so far. As the domain control architecture, it boasts 4 domain controllers. With integrated software and hardware and self-developed application software, it has been successfully applied to all models. At present, Great Wall is actively developing the fourth- and fifth-generation E/E architectures.
As “the central computing platform + regional controllers” architecture, the fourth-generation E/E architecture of Great Wall comprises three large computing platforms for central computing, intelligent cockpit, and optional advanced autonomous driving respectively. The central computing platform integrates body, gateways, air conditioning, EV, power chassis and ADAS, featuring cross-domain integration. It is scheduled to be launched in 2022. The fifth-generation E/E architecture is to highly concentrate the entire automotive software in a central brain to achieve 100% SOA, and it will be available in 2024.
Evolution of Great Wall’s E/E Architecture

Source: ResearchInChina
The FEEA2.0E/E architecture developed by FAW Hongqi independently is a domain control architecture consisting of a new energy vehicle controller, a L3/L4 autopilot controller, and a central gateway controller. It has been mass-produced for E-HS9. FEEA3.0, a next-generation E/E architecture, was released in April 2021 as a quasi-central architecture of “the central computing platform + regional controllers”, reducing the number of controllers and the total length of the wiring harness by more than 50%, as well as adding. It is planned to be deployed on Hongqi EV-Concept in 2023.
Trends under new E/E architectures
As automotive E/E architectures gradually develop toward central architectures, the centralization of computing power, software services, and peripheralization of sensors and actuators tend to be more obvious; the industrial chain structure has been reshaped, and the business model has undergone significant changes.
(1) The supply chain system is reshaped
Under the traditional distributed E/E architecture, the hardware and algorithms of controllers are provided by Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs coordinate different suppliers, so that the collaboration is extremely inefficient.
Under the new E/E architecture, OEMs enjoy the dominance. Based on their own software and hardware platforms, they directly convey their demand to suppliers, among which Tier 1 suppliers are no longer dominant while Tier 0.5 suppliers emerge to provide algorithms and software for autonomous driving.

(2) The traditional "turnkey" model transfers to the "full stack" development model
OEMs manipulate the development of software platforms (covering functions integrated, suppliers, etc.) to accomplish deeper development. With the development of autonomous driving technology, OEMs are more inclined to carry out "full-stack" development: they gradually master E/E architectures, operating systems, core algorithms, cloud big data, chips and other capabilities, then provide sustainable and iterative product experience and services with a focus on smart scenarios and consumer experience.
(3) Business models are innovated, and the vehicle OTA sees the completed closed loop of business models
In addition, with the evolution of E/E architectures and the rapid development of vehicle OTA, the sales models of automobiles have altered accordingly. Automakers have turned from one-time product providers to “products + full life cycle services” providers. Around smart scenarios and consumer experience, they provide sustainable and iterative product experience and services. Emerging automakers represented by Tesla update software to iterate and upgrade vehicles.
In addition to vehicle sales, OEMs may charge software updates via OTA in the future. For example, the leader Tesla has earned more than USD1.2 billion from software updates.

Intelligent Vehicle E/E Architecture and Computing Platform Industry Research Report 2021 by ResearchInChina mainly studies the following:
Overview, technology evolution trends, reform trends, market size, etc. of automotive E/E architectures;
Status quo, evolution trends, etc. of E/E architectures of major OEMs (emerging brands, independent brands, foreign brands);
Status quo, planning, etc. of E/E architectures of major Tier 1 enterprises;
Status quo of main E/E architectures (including computing architecture, software architecture, communication architecture, power management architecture, etc.);
Solutions of major manufacturers; evolution of new E/E architectures.
China Automotive Fragrance and Air Purification Systems Research Report, 2023
Automotive fragrance and air purification systems: together to create a comfortable and healthy cockpitTechnology trend: intelligence of fragrance system and integration of air purification system
In...
Global and China Solid State Battery Industry Report, 2023
Solid state battery research: semi-solid state battery has come out, is all-solid state battery still far away?In recent years, the new energy vehicle market has been booming, and the penetration of n...
Global and China Passenger Car T-Box Market Report, 2023
T-Box industry research: the market will be worth RMB10 billion and the integration trend is increasingly clear.
ResearchInChina released "Global and China Passenger Car T-Box Market Report, 2023", w...
Analysis Report on Auto Shanghai 2023
Analysis on 75 Trends at Auto Shanghai 2023: Unprecedented Prosperity of Intelligent Cockpits and Intelligent Driving Ecology
After analyzing the intelligent innovation trends at the Auto Shanghai 20...
Chinese Emerging Carmakers’ Telematics System and Entertainment Ecosystem Research Report, 2022-2023
Telematics service research (III): emerging carmakers work on UI design, interaction, and entertainment ecosystem to improve user cockpit experience.
ResearchInChina released Chinese Emerging Carmake...
China Passenger Car Cockpit-Parking Industry Report, 2023
Cockpit-parking integration research: cockpit-parking vs. driving-parking, which one is the optimal solution for cockpit-driving integration?Cockpit-parking vs. driving-parking, which one is the optim...
Automotive Sensor Chip Industry Report, 2023
Sensor chip industry research: driven by the "more weight on perception" route, sensor chips are entering a new stage of rapid iterative evolution.
At the Auto Shanghai 2023, "more weight on percepti...
Automotive Electronics OEM/ODM/EMS Industry Report, 2023
Automotive electronics OEM/ODM/EMS research: amid the disruption in the division of labor mode in the supply chain, which auto parts will be covered by OEM/ODM/EMS mode? Consumer electronic manu...
China Automotive Smart Glass Research Report, 2023
Smart glass research: the automotive smart dimming canopy market valued at RMB127 million in 2022 has a promising future.Smart dimming glass is a new type of special optoelectronic glass formed by com...
Automotive Ultrasonic Radar and OEM Parking Roadmap Development Research Report, 2023
Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Research: as a single vehicle is expected to carry 7 units in 2025, ultrasonic radars will evolve to the second generation.
As a single vehicle is expec...
Autonomous Driving SoC Research Report, 2023
Research on autonomous driving SoC: driving-parking integration boosts the industry, and computing in memory (CIM) and chiplet bring technological disruption.
“Autonomous Driving SoC Research ...
China ADAS Redundant System Strategy Research Report, 2023
Redundant System Research: The Last Line of Safety for Intelligent VehiclesRedundant design refers to a technology adding more than one set of functional channels, components or parts that enable the ...
Intelligent Steering Key Components Report, 2023
Research on intelligent steering key components: four development trends of intelligent steering
The automotive chassis consists of four major systems: transmission system, steering system, driving ...
Automotive Digital Instrument Cluster Operating System Report, 2023
Digital Instrument Cluster Operating System Report: QNX commanded 71% of the Chinese intelligent vehicle cluster operating system market.
Amid the trend for the integration of digital cluster and cen...
800V High Voltage Platform Research Report, 2023
How to realize the commercialization of 800V will play a crucial part in the strategy of OEMs.
As new energy vehicles and battery technology boom, charging and battery swapping in the new energy vehi...
Automotive Intelligent Cockpit Platform Research Report, 2023
Intelligent cockpit platform research: the boundaries between vehicles and PCs are blurring, and there are several feasible paths for cockpit platforms.
Automotive Intelligent Cockpit Platform Resea...
Global and China Automotive Wireless Communication Module Industry Report,2023
Vehicle communication module research: 5G R16+C-V2X module, smart SiP module and other new products spring up.
In 2022, 4G modules swept 84.3% of the vehicle communication module market....
Intelligent Vehicle Cockpit-Driving Integration Research Report, 2023
Cockpit-Driving Integration Research: many companies are making layout and may implement it during 2024-2025.
1. What is the real cockpit-driving integration?
At present, automotive electroni...