The Taiwanese chipmaker leads automotive innovation by committing to Google's program, promising four years of free updates to cut costs and boost vehicle safety.
On August 6, 2025, in Hsinchu, Taiwan, MediaTek announced it is the first company to adopt Google’s Project Treble for the automotive sector. This initiative, led by MediaTek's automotive division, will deliver at least four years of firmware upgrades for its MT8678 and MT8676 chips, aiming to enhance support for automakers, reduce expenses, and extend vehicle lifecycles while prioritizing data security.
Project Treble, originally developed by Google for Android devices, is being adapted for automotive applications to streamline software updates and ensure long-term compatibility. MediaTek's adoption involves integrating the program into its MT8678 and MT8676 system-on-chip (SoC) products, which are designed for in-vehicle infotainment and connectivity. The move addresses the growing demand for over-the-air (OTA) updates in cars, where outdated software can pose safety risks. By eliminating additional fees for major upgrades and maintenance patches, MediaTek enables automakers to deploy the latest features—such as advanced driver assistance systems and AI-enhanced interfaces—without escalating production costs. This partnership with Google leverages MediaTek's expertise in fabless semiconductor design to make high-tech automotive solutions more accessible and efficient.
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Mike Chang, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of MediaTek's Automotive Business, emphasized the strategic benefits in a statement: “We’ve enjoyed a long history of working together with Google in many product categories, and we’re looking forward to extending our collaborative relationships to strengthen our automotive product portfolio. Through Project Treble, we will be able to affordably provide automakers with the latest technology features over the life of the car, ensuring drivers will have everything they need to stay informed, focused, and safe on the road.”
The adoption is expected to have a significant impact on the automotive market by lowering the total cost of ownership for manufacturers, potentially accelerating the rollout of connected vehicles. For consumers, it means safer, more reliable cars with prolonged software support, reducing the risk of cyber threats and enhancing features like real-time navigation and voice assistants. On a broader policy level, this could encourage industry standards for software longevity, aligning with global regulations on vehicle data privacy and emissions monitoring, as seen in initiatives from the EU and U.S. auto safety agencies.
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MediaTek has a longstanding partnership with Google, spanning mobile, IoT, and entertainment sectors, where they've co-developed power-efficient chips for devices like smartphones and smart TVs. Project Treble itself debuted in 2017 as part of Android updates to simplify device customization and upgrades, but its extension to automotive is a newer development amid the rise of software-defined vehicles. This announcement builds on MediaTek's growing presence in automotive tech, including their contributions to 5G-enabled cars and wearables, following similar collaborations in the consumer electronics space.
The MT8678 and MT8676 chips are already available on the market, marking an immediate step in MediaTek's commitment to Project Treble. Looking ahead, experts anticipate broader adoption by other manufacturers, potentially leading to more standardized automotive ecosystems. As Mike Chang noted, this could set a new benchmark for innovation, ensuring that drivers benefit from cutting-edge technology throughout a vehicle's lifespan, with MediaTek and Google poised to expand their joint efforts in emerging areas like autonomous driving.
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