The new single-chip automotive processor combines analog radio, AI-enabled audio processing and software-defined capabilities, helping automakers simplify infotainment system design while delivering scalable, intelligent and future-ready in-car audio experiences.
NXP Semiconductors has introduced the SAF9800, a new automotive audio and radio processor that combines analog radio reception and AI-powered audio processing into a single chip. The company said the solution is designed to simplify infotainment architectures while enabling automakers to build scalable, software-defined platforms for next-generation vehicles.
The processor integrates AM and FM radio functionality with advanced audio processing capabilities, allowing manufacturers to replace multiple discrete radio and audio components with a single device. By reducing system complexity, the solution is expected to streamline vehicle development and support feature consistency across global vehicle platforms.
The SAF9800 also incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to enhance in-cabin audio experiences. Using AI-driven acoustic source separation, the processor can distinguish critical sounds—including voice commands, emergency sirens and mechanical anomalies—from surrounding background noise. According to the company, this enables more accurate real-time audio analysis than conventional filtering techniques in complex vehicle environments.
John van den Braak, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Infotainment and Audio Systems product line at NXP Semiconductors, said, "The industry is moving away from fragmented, hardware-driven infotainment systems toward more integrated, software-defined architectures. With SAF9800, we are combining the long-lifecycle building blocks of infotainment—such as broadcast radio and digital audio—with new AI/ML-powered audio capabilities that enhance the in-car experience, enable in-cabin audio sensing, and support functional audio use-cases. By delivering these capabilities in a flexible, single-chip solution that meets stringent global RF and audio requirements, we help automakers simplify development and scale their platforms to meet evolving market needs."
Designed for software-defined vehicles
The processor features a HiFi 5 audio DSP with integrated neural-network processing and hardware-based biquad accelerators, enabling significantly higher audio processing performance than earlier generations. This architecture supports advanced capabilities such as real-time noise suppression, voice and sound classification, and adaptive in-cabin listening experiences powered by AI-based algorithms.
NXP said the processor has been designed to support software-defined vehicle architectures, enabling automakers to add, configure and upgrade radio and audio features through software without requiring hardware modifications. This approach provides greater flexibility for feature differentiation across vehicle models.
The launch comes as automakers navigate evolving regulatory requirements for broadcast radio, particularly around continued AM radio support, while addressing signal interference challenges introduced by electric vehicles. To help mitigate these issues, the SAF9800 includes NXP's latest EVAM-lite AM denoising technology, designed to improve AM radio reception in EV environments.
The SAF9800 automotive radio and audio processor has been available since May 2026, with accompanying development tools and software support intended to accelerate customer product development.
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