Stellar G3 and G5 MCU platforms

Powering the software-defined vehicle

Integrated feature set for SDV applications, built for cost-optimized automotive gateways

As vehicles move to software-defined architectures, automakers need compact, cost-efficient MCUs that deliver performance, safety, and advanced communication. ST’s Stellar G3 and G5 simplify vehicle design and accelerate development of next-generation zonal, gateway, and intelligent control applications, while offering a scalable MCU family that supports evolving electrical and electronic architectures from communication-centric gateways to AI-enabled edge nodes.

Stellar G3 delivers advanced communication, flexible safety, and high integration for cost-efficient consolidation. Stellar G5 builds on that foundation with added performance and the integrated NeuralART NPU for edge AI workloads and more intelligent in-vehicle processing.

Key features: Integrated power, safety, and communication

	Key technical specifications & benefits
High-performance automotive processing	500 MHz Arm Cortex-R52® cores leveraging the extensive Arm ecosystem along with a complete suite of development boards and tools including StellarStudio.
Safety flexibility and task isolation	Flexible safety with 2 CPU modes: dual-lockstep or split-lock. HW accelerated freedom from interference enabling multiple isolated functions on one device, simplifying architecture and ensuring safety.
xMemory	Leveraging the industry’s densest non-volatile memory technology (PCM), Stellar with xMemory can extend storage for running complex applications and supporting continuous over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Advanced communication	Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Switch supporting TSN automotive standards with virtualized ports and new interfaces like 10BASE-T1S Ethernet and CAN-XL.
System cost savings	Integrated features enable Audio over Ethernet, achieving system-level savings by efficiently distributing audio over ethernet.
Space & integration	Features 50% more I/Os, leading to more compact designs and superior integration of multiple functions.

Applications: Designed for modern E/E vehicle architectures

Stellar G3 and Stellar G5 are well suited for the communication, consolidation, and scalability needs of software-defined vehicle architectures.
They are ideal for:

Zonal: aggregation hub and gateway modules

Managing multiple functions within a vehicle zone and handling data routing and domain bridging

Body and chassis control

Diagnostics, and telemetry modules

Safety companion MCU

Functions for ADAS processors

Edge AI-enabled gateway

And control applications with
Stellar G5

Stellar G3 helps reduce component count and improve system efficiency through its integrated switch, embedded audio features, and synchronization capabilities. This supports cost-effective Ethernet-based vehicle networks, simplifies audio distribution (native Audio-over-Ethernet support), and reduces eBOM by minimizing cables and connectors.

Stellar G5 extends these benefits with added performance and the NeuralART Neural Processing Unit, enabling edge AI workloads and more intelligent processing at the network edge.

Executive quote

“With Stellar G3 and Stellar G5, STMicroelectronics is expanding its automotive MCU portfolio to help customers accelerate their software-defined vehicle strategies with a balance of performance, integration, safety, and efficiency,” said Hakim Jaafar, Senior ST automotive executive. “Stellar G3 delivers advanced communication and cost-optimized consolidation, while Stellar G5 adds the NeuralART Neural Processing Unit to support edge AI workloads and more intelligent in-vehicle computing.”

FAQs

How do Stellar G3 and Stellar G5 differ from the STM32A platform?

Stellar G3 and G5 are automotive-focused zonal aggregation hubs, designed to move vehicle data efficiently and support gateway, zonal, and control applications. The STM32A platform is built around integration, bringing more functions together in a common product architecture for software-defined applications across automotive, industrial, and robotics markets. Select the option that best fits your system needs: data aggregation and routing, or broader functional integration.

How do Stellar G3 and G5 support native Audio over Ethernet?

Stellar G3 and G5 integrate a Gigabit Ethernet switch with automotive networking capabilities, enabling audio to be distributed natively over Ethernet. This can simplify vehicle audio architectures and support system-level savings by reducing the need for separate audio-networking components. Their communication features also support gateway and zonal applications that require efficient and deterministic data routing.

Which should I choose: Stellar G3 or Stellar G5?

Stellar G3 is ideal for cost-efficient consolidation, embedded automotive communication, flexible safety, and gateway or zonal control applications. Stellar G5 is more for when the application also needs additional compute performance and NeuralART NPU acceleration for edge AI workloads. Both support software-defined vehicle designs. Stellar G3 is available for sampling, Stellar G5 will be available later in 2026. Develop with StellarStudio and use the Unified ST Edge AI Suite to build AI workflows for the CPU or Neural-ART accelerator.