As more vehicles are incorporating advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, automakers like Subaru are taking steps to improve their safety technology.

The Japanese automaker has partnered with technology company Infineon to improve its integrated electronic control unit with Infineon’s AURIX TC4x microcontroller.

“Collaboration at the early development stage likely enables tighter integration and lower latency—benefits that may become differentiators as OEMs compete on performance and safety rather than just hardware,” said data analytics and consulting company GlobalData.

Infineon said that it and Subaru “have collaborated already for Subaru’s current-generation ADAS. Both companies will deepen their collaboration around in-vehicle computing and networking in the future and will drive technology development and value creation toward safer and more secure mobility.”

The microcontroller “enhances the real-time capability” of Subaru’s integrated electronic control unit “compared to previous generations, supporting faster, more reliable processing of vehicle and sensor information.” The goal is to elevate Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, whose capabilities include traffic movement monitoring, lane-keep assist, and optimized cruise control.

Honda also plans to focus more attention on ADAS after ending its joint venture with Sony to launch Afeela brand electric vehicles. The automaker said this week that the two plan to instead collaborate on "software in anticipation of an era where advanced driver assistance systems become mainstream.”

The partnerships are timely as consumers seek more autonomous features in vehicles and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is tightening regulations. In April, the federal agency updated its regulations to make automatic emergency braking systems required in passenger vehicles by 2029.