At the 2026 Munich Shanghai Electronica, ADI (Analog Devices, Inc.) showcased five cutting-edge solutions for the automotive electronics sector. Ranging from the A²B 2.0 audio bus and GMSL3 SerDes connectivity solutions supporting next-generation intelligent cockpits, to the E²B (Ethernet Edge Bus) targeting zonal control architectures, and the EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) BMS solution revolutionizing battery management concepts, the five core technologies and demos presented by ADI all point to a core logic: in the era of software-defined vehicles, the "servitization" of hardware and the "openness" of interfaces are critical to determining industry influence.
At the exhibition, Zhang Yuantao, Senior Marketing Manager for Automotive Business at ADI China, provided a detailed interpretation of the technical logic and industry insights behind these solutions. He told the media, "What we see is not only the enhancement of chip performance, but also how to provide automakers with solutions that deliver greater system value during the evolution of the vehicle's electrical and electronic (E/E) architecture from distributed to centralized."
Opening Up the GMSL Protocol
When asked about the strategic considerations behind transitioning the originally proprietary GMSL SerDes technology to an "open-source" strategy, Zhang Yuantao gave a clear answer: "We hope to see more manufacturers join in and expand the entire ecosystem." He emphasized that openness does not mean ADI is giving up its own advantages; rather, it elevates the dimension of competition from "compatibility" to "performance and innovation."
"Ultimately, whether end customers choose ADI's products or those of other alliance members depends on their specific needs. But the key point is that, regardless of the choice, they can achieve seamless interoperability with ADI's products on the host side," Zhang pointed out. This is actually a brilliant "staking a claim" strategy—by defining the underlying interconnection standards, ADI ensures the benchmark status of its GMSL protocol in the field of high-speed video transmission. As the number of alliance members grows, GMSL is expected to become the de facto industry-standard interface, and as the creator and most senior player of the protocol, ADI will naturally secure the largest share of the market.
Embracing "Vehicle-Wide Ethernet"
Regarding the industry's hot discussion on the trend of "vehicle-wide Ethernet," ADI's attitude appears pragmatic and clear. The A²B 2.0 exhibited this time adds support for 10BASE-T1S Ethernet data tunneling technology, while E²B is directly based on the Ethernet physical layer. Does this mean ADI believes all nodes will eventually be unified on an Ethernet backbone?
Answering reporters' questions, Zhang Yuantao made it clear that he does not view GMSL, A²B, and Ethernet as purely competitive. "What we currently see in vehicles is the coexistence of various buses," he pointed out. The advantage of Ethernet lies in serving as the backbone network, responsible for the interconnection of signals, control signaling, and data among various modules.
Meanwhile, ADI's bus products focus on their own "areas of expertise." For example, A²B focuses on low-latency and deterministic latency transmission, which is critical for active noise cancellation and road noise cancellation systems that require strict synchronization; GMSL focuses on deterministic latency transmission for high-definition cameras, demanding ultimate stability and high bandwidth (GMSL3 supports 12Gbps). ADI's strategy is to let specialized buses handle specialized tasks, while smoothly integrating into future zonal architectures through Ethernet tunneling technology (such as A²B 2.0) or direct compatibility with the Ethernet physical layer (such as E²B). It neither goes against the trend nor blindly follows it, but uses the most cost-effective physical layer to achieve the most efficient functions.
The Next-Level Battle for BMS
The Battery Management System (BMS) was another major focus of this communication session. ADI highlighted its BMS solution based on Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and revealed that domestic manufacturers (such as XPeng) have already adopted this technology.
When asked about the "progress and challenges in EIS promotion," Zhang Yuantao frankly admitted that the biggest pain point is not the hardware, but the "parameter tuning" during deployment. "Electrochemical impedance itself is an inherent property of the battery cell. Batteries of different brands and different chemistries (such as LFP and NCM) have different impedance spectra, requiring a massive amount of parameter adjustment and calibration work."
Despite the complex algorithms and the heavy workload for early-stage adaptation, OEMs' enthusiasm for EIS is growing steadily. The fundamental driving force comes from the stringent requirements of the new national battery standard for safety warning times. Traditional BMS indirectly infers battery status through voltage, current, and temperature, which has a lag. EIS, on the other hand, is equivalent to performing an "MRI" on the battery, capable of directly detecting the electrochemical characteristics of the materials inside the cell and identifying thermal runaway risks in advance.
Zhang Yuantao used a vivid metaphor: "A traditional BMS is like a blood pressure monitor, while EIS is like an MRI." Although adding EIS functionality will lead to a certain increase in costs, for automakers, the benefits in terms of safety and the accuracy of range estimation far outweigh the incremental hardware costs. This is also driving EIS technology to evolve rapidly from an early-adopter novelty to a standard feature in mid-to-high-end vehicles.
Conclusion
From the opening up of GMSL, to the comprehensive compatibility of A²B and E²B with Ethernet, and further to the leap of BMS from physical parameter measurement to electrochemical essential analysis, what ADI has demonstrated at this Munich Shanghai Electronica is the firm determination of an analog chip giant to transform into a system-level solution provider. In an automotive market characterized by intense competition with growing volumes but stagnant pricing, ADI is attempting to create true differentiated value for customers by redefining the underlying logic of hardware interconnection and perception.