With the mandatory installation of the eCall system, it will be installed in 20 million new cars annually.

Daimler adopted Infineon's eSIM security controller for eCall.

Mercedes-Benz's 'Mercedes me Connect' system provides not only the mandatory eCall function (Mercedes-Benz eCall) but also accident management, breakdown and maintenance management, remote vehicle diagnostics, and remote customer service. The in-vehicle telematics control unit or connectivity module controls the voice and data connections for these telematics services.

Mercedes-Benz's latest connectivity module is based on a phone module capable of connecting to 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile networks. The vehicle establishes a mobile connection to the network and can access data on the Internet (such as road traffic data or infotainment services). In this process, a SIM card is required to identify the vehicle on the mobile network, and Infineon's embedded eSIM chip has been adopted.

The European Union will make it mandatory to install life-saving eCall (emergency call) systems in all new vehicles, including light commercial vehicles, starting March 31, 2018. Therefore, it is projected that 20 million new cars will be equipped with the eCall system every year going forward.

By introducing the eCall system, the goal is to reduce the time it takes for paramedics to arrive in the event of an accident anywhere in Europe by up to 50 percent and to reduce casualties from traffic accidents by up to 10 percent.

An eSIM performs the same function as a mobile device's SIM card, but is much smaller and more robust. In addition to the eCall feature, Infineon's eSIM provides various functions designed to enhance driving safety and convenience, such as Software Over-the-Air (SOTA) updates, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication, and onboard multimedia.

Infineon is currently supplying these chips to major global automotive companies. eSIM sales doubled in fiscal year 2017, and demand is expected to increase further in the current fiscal year. Infineon developed eSIM chips 10 years ago and is leading the integration of eSIM chips into vehicles. Only eSIMs can meet the specific quality requirements (AEC-Q100) of the automotive sector, offering superior robustness and durability against significant temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, once integrated into a vehicle, they can be managed remotely by the automaker. Another advantage is that neither the automaker nor the driver is tied to a specific mobile carrier.

Infineon's eSIM integrates the expertise Infineon has accumulated in the security, telecommunications, and automotive sectors. The SLI 97 security controller is suitable for use in harsh environmental conditions of automotive applications and meets the high quality requirements (AEC-Q100) of the automotive industry.

Therefore, it enables new Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solutions for automotive applications. The SLI 97 security controller family operates over an extended temperature range of -40° to 105°C and includes up to 1MB of SOLID FLASH™ memory. Additionally, a hardware-based cryptographic coprocessor provides the necessary security using standard encryption mechanisms. Click here for additional information.