onsemi and Valens Semiconductor Join Forces to Bring MIPI A-PHY Into the High-Volume Automotive Camera Mainstream

Valens Semiconductor and onsemi are combining their respective strengths in automotive connectivity and imaging to develop an integrated sensor targeting the 3-megapixel camera segment, with the MIPI A-PHY standard serving as the technical backbone of the joint effort. The collaboration, announced September 22, 2026, positions both companies to address what they describe as a critical inflection point in automotive camera adoption.

What the Two Companies Are Building Together

The agreement centers on embedding a cost-optimized A-PHY solution directly into onsemi's image sensors, producing an integrated component aimed at high-volume automotive camera deployments. Rather than treating connectivity and sensing as separate design considerations, the partnership pursues a combined architecture that the companies say reduces component count and simplifies camera system design for automakers and their Tier 1 suppliers.

Valens Semiconductor, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker VLN and is headquartered in Hod Hasharon, Israel, brings chipset expertise in high-performance connectivity to the arrangement. onsemi contributes its established position in automotive imaging technologies.

Together, the companies frame the offering as complementary to Valens' existing product lineup while extending A-PHY into a broader set of automotive use cases than the company's current portfolio has historically reached. The announcement did not disclose financial terms of the agreement or specify a timeline for when a commercially available product resulting from the collaboration might reach the market.

The Case for Targeting 3 Megapixels

The decision to center the collaboration on 3-megapixel sensors reflects where the bulk of the automotive imaging market currently concentrates. Both companies note that the majority of automotive image sensors sold today fall within the 1-to-3-megapixel range, making that resolution tier the dominant volume segment across vehicle platforms.

As OEMs pursue higher camera resolutions across their lineups, a 3MP product sits at what the companies describe as both a large established market and a meaningful upgrade opportunity. The positioning is explicitly aimed at moving MIPI A-PHY beyond premium applications and advanced driver assistance system deployments into mainstream, high-volume vehicles,a shift that requires price points and integration simplicity that prior A-PHY implementations have not always offered. The integrated sensor approach is presented as a direct response to that requirement.

Supplier Diversity as a Strategic Argument

Yoram Salinger, chief executive officer of Valens Semiconductor, framed the agreement as significant not only for his company but for the wider A-PHY ecosystem. He described the integrated 3MP offering as complementing Valens' existing solutions while opening A-PHY deployment to a much broader range of use cases.

Salinger also drew attention to what he characterized as a supply ecosystem dimension of the deal. "Just as importantly, by collaborating with onsemi, another major supplier of A-PHY silicon, we are strengthening the ecosystem and giving automakers the supplier choice they expect from an industry standard," he said in the announcement. The implicit argument is that a standard's commercial viability depends on multiple suppliers being able to offer compliant products, and the collaboration reinforces that dynamic for A-PHY.

Ahmed Salem, Vice President and General Manager of the Intelligent Sensing Group at onsemi, cited direct signals from customers as motivation for the effort. Salem said the level of interest from OEM customers and partners has made clear that MIPI A-PHY represents a significant business opportunity.

He added that as automotive imaging systems grow in scale and sophistication, customers are seeking solutions that simplify design without sacrificing performance, and that the Valens collaboration is aimed at delivering a camera architecture that meets those requirements while supporting industry standards.

MIPI A-PHY and Its Position in Automotive Connectivity

MIPI A-PHY carries the distinction of being the first standard developed specifically for high-speed sensor connectivity in the automotive industry. The standard has gained traction alongside the broader industry shift toward vehicles equipped with larger numbers of cameras and sensors supporting advanced driver assistance functions and autonomous driving capabilities. Valens has staked a leadership position in A-PHY since the standard's earliest stages.

The company claims to have been first to market with MIPI A-PHY-compliant chipsets and first to secure design wins with multiple OEMs. The onsemi collaboration is presented as an extension of that market development work, with the specific goal of driving adoption at higher volumes and more accessible price points than early A-PHY deployments have typically represented.

Valens Semiconductor's Broader Technology Footprint

Beyond automotive applications, Valens Semiconductor describes its high-performance connectivity chipsets as serving audio-video installations and videoconferencing systems. The company's technology also underpins the HDBaseT industry standard, alongside its role in MIPI A-PHY. The partnership with onsemi represents the automotive segment of that broader connectivity portfolio, directed specifically at the accelerating demand for camera-based sensing in modern vehicles.