Samsung Launches First 2Tbyte Automotive SSD

Samsung Electronics has made a significant breakthrough in the automotive technology sector by developing the industry’s first PCIe 4.0 solid-state disk (SSD) specifically designed for automotive use. This cutting-edge SSD is based on eighth-generation vertical NAND (V-NAND) technology and is set to revolutionize the automotive storage landscape. The 2-terabyte version of this innovative SSD is expected to hit the market in early 2025, marking a major milestone in automotive storage solutions.

The initial offering from Samsung, the 256GB AM9C1 automotive SSD, boasts impressive features that set it apart from previous Samsung SSDs. With a remarkable 50% increase in power efficiency, this SSD delivers exceptional performance with sequential read and write speeds reaching up to 4,400 megabytes per second (MB/s) and 400MB/s, respectively. These speeds are crucial for handling the demanding data requirements of modern automotive systems.

One of the key highlights of this automotive SSD is its utilization of a 5nm V-NAND triple-level cell (TLC) flash for data storage, coupled with a unique single-level cell (SLC) feature known as Namespace. By switching to SLC mode, users can experience even faster read and write speeds of up to 4,700MB/s and 1,400MB/s, respectively. This transition not only enhances performance but also adds an extra layer of reliability, albeit with a slightly lower storage density compared to TLC.

Looking ahead, Samsung has ambitious plans for the automotive SSD market, with a 2-terabyte version of the SSD slated to enter mass production in the near future. The increasing demand for high-density SSDs in software-defined vehicles and for managing vast amounts of image data underscores the importance of Samsung's latest innovation in the automotive storage arena.

With a strong focus on quality and reliability, Samsung has subjected its new auto SSD to rigorous board-level tests to meet the stringent automotive semiconductor quality standard AEC-Q100 Grade 2. This ensures consistent performance across a wide temperature range from -40°C to 105°C, making it ideal for the challenging automotive environment. Samsung's commitment to excellence is further underscored by its pursuit of certifications such as ASPICE CL3 and CSMS based on ISO/SAE 21434, reflecting the company's dedication to delivering top-notch automotive solutions.