International automotive supplier FORVIA HELLA has announced a new collaboration with NXP Semiconductors to advance high-resolution radar technology for automated driving systems.
The partnership was revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas and centres on FORVIA HELLA’s latest high-definition radar platform, ForWave7HD.
The ForWave7HD radar represents a significant step forward in sensing capability, featuring up to 32 transmit and 32 receive channels.
This increased resolution allows the system to detect smaller objects more precisely while offering a detection range of up to 400 metres, a wider field of view and improved near-range sensing.
Such performance is considered essential for reliable and safe operation of automated driving functions at SAE Level 2+ and Level 3.
Why it Matters
Developments such as this highlight the accelerating complexity of vehicle safety and assistance systems.
As radar technology becomes more sophisticated and more deeply integrated into vehicle control systems, accurate diagnosis, repair and calibration will become increasingly critical, reinforcing the need for workshops to stay informed as advanced driver-assistance systems continue to evolve.
FORVIA HELLA says the new radar technology is designed to meet the growing demands placed on driver-assistance systems as vehicles take on a greater share of driving tasks.
At higher automation levels, radar sensors must deliver far more detailed and accurate environmental data to support functions such as advanced adaptive cruise control, lane assistance and automated driving in defined conditions.
Under the collaboration, FORVIA HELLA will take overall responsibility for the radar product, drawing on more than 25 years of experience in radar sensor hardware, software development and industrialisation.
NXP contributes its semiconductor expertise, including its third-generation imaging radar chipset, with the S32R47 radar processor forming a key part of the system.
Semiconductors play a crucial role in radar operation by transmitting high-frequency signals and receiving their echoes, allowing the system to calculate an object’s distance, speed and direction.
NXP’s high-performance chips are therefore a decisive factor in enabling the advanced detection capabilities required for next-generation driver-assistance systems.
FORVIA HELLA plans to bring its first company-wide high-resolution radar into series production from mid-2028, following a nomination from a global premium vehicle manufacturer.
The order volume for the project is reported to be in the three-digit million-euro range, underlining the scale of investment now being directed towards automated driving technologies.
