Murata has started mass production of seven new AEC‑Q200 automotive MLCCs that claim world‑leading capacitance for their rated voltage and case size.
These Murata MLCC capacitors target space‑constrained ADAS, autonomous driving ECUs and in‑vehicle power lines, where higher capacitance and miniaturization are increasingly critical for stable operation.
Key features and benefits
Murata’s new lineup consists of five low‑voltage GCM series MLCCs rated at 2.5–4 Vdc for IC peripheral circuits, and two 25 Vdc types for automotive power line decoupling. The common theme is maximum capacitance in the smallest possible case, directly addressing PCB area limitations in modern vehicles.
Key characteristics:
- AEC‑Q200 qualified for automotive use.
- X7T/X7S‑class high‑capacitance dielectrics (per GCM D7/C7 coding) for broad operating temperature coverage and stable performance versus voltage and frequency, according to the manufacturer’s datasheet.
- Capacitance values up to 220 µF at 4 Vdc in 1210 size and up to 100 µF at 2.5–4 Vdc in 1206 size.
- Industry‑leading capacitance density in tiny 0201 and 0402 case sizes for local decoupling and power integrity.
Practical benefits for design engineers:
- Space savings on dense ADAS/AD PCBs by replacing larger case sizes or parallel MLCC arrays.
- Improved supply voltage stability on high‑speed SoCs and sensors through higher local bulk capacitance.
- Potential reduction of component count, which simplifies placement, improves assembly yield and can reduce overall BOM cost.
- Lower environmental impact by reducing PCB material usage and power consumption during manufacturing.
Typical applications
The new MLCCs are tailored for modern in‑vehicle electronics where both logic rails and power lines are under stress from dynamic loads.
Typical application areas:
- ADAS and autonomous driving ECUs: local decoupling around SoCs, CPUs, GPUs and high‑speed memory.
- Camera and radar modules: stabilization of low‑voltage rails powering image sensors, radar front ends and serializers.
- In‑vehicle infotainment and connected gateways: bulk capacitance near communication processors and high‑speed interfaces.
- Automotive power lines (25 Vdc parts): filtering and decoupling on 12 V or 24 V derived rails inside ECUs.
- Electric powertrain and body electronics: space‑constrained control boards requiring high capacitance density on low‑voltage domains.
In many of these positions, higher capacitance in a smaller footprint allows engineers to shorten supply paths, improve transient response and free PCB area for additional functions.
Technical highlights
Murata highlights several “world’s largest capacitance” points for given voltage and size classes, based on its own research as of April 7, 2026. The lineup covers both ultra‑small 0201 chips and larger 1206/1210 sizes used as local bulk capacitors.
Low‑voltage MLCCs for IC peripheral circuits (2.5–4 Vdc)
These parts target core and I/O rails around digital ICs in ADAS and autonomous driving systems.
| Murata part number | Rated voltage (Vdc) | Capacitance (µF) | Case size (inch) | Approx. size (mm) | Target use | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCM035D70E225ME02 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 0201 | 0.6 × 0.3 | Local decoupling at IC pins | World’s largest capacitance for this V/size |
| GCM31CD70E107ME36 | 2.5 | 100 | 1206 | 3.2 × 1.6 | Bulk decoupling on low‑voltage rails | World’s largest capacitance for this V/size |
| GCM035D70G225MEC2 | 4 | 2.2 | 0201 | 0.6 × 0.3 | High‑density decoupling in tight spaces | World’s largest capacitance for this V/size |
| GCM31CD70G107ME36 | 4 | 100 | 1206 | 3.2 × 1.6 | Bulk decoupling around digital ICs | World’s largest capacitance for this V/size |
| GCM32ED70G227MEC4 | 4 | 220 | 1210 | 3.2 × 2.5 | Local bulk capacitance for ADAS/autonomous ECUs | World’s largest capacitance for this V/size |
The D7/C7 dielectric codes indicate high‑capacitance temperature‑stable materials suitable for automotive temperature ranges; exact limits and capacitance change versus temperature and DC bias should be taken from the manufacturer datasheet.
Medium‑voltage MLCCs for power lines (25 Vdc)
Two additional parts address in‑vehicle power line filtering and decoupling.
| Murata part number | Rated voltage (Vdc) | Capacitance (µF) | Case size (inch) | Approx. size (mm) | Target use | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCM155D71E105KE36 | 25 | 1 | 0402 | 1.0 × 0.5 | High‑frequency decoupling on 12/24 V rails | World’s largest capacitance for this V/size |
| GCM31CC71E226ME36 | 25 | 22 | 1206 | 3.2 × 1.6 | Bulk decoupling on in‑vehicle power lines | World’s largest capacitance for this V/size |
For power line applications, designers should verify ripple current, temperature rise, DC‑bias derating and AC impedance behavior versus frequency in the Murata impedance plots.
Murata provides a consolidated product information page listing these part numbers for detailed parametric search, datasheet access and stocking information. Exact tolerances, temperature characteristics, derating curves and reliability data should be taken from the respective datasheets.
Design‑in notes for engineers
For ADAS and autonomous driving ECUs, power integrity is becoming one of the key bottlenecks as SoCs and sensors scale in complexity. These new MLCCs allow engineers to place more effective capacitance closer to critical IC pins without expanding board area.
Practical design‑in considerations:
- DC bias derating: high‑capacitance MLCCs in small sizes can show significant capacitance reduction under rated DC voltage. Always design to the effective capacitance under operating conditions rather than the nominal value and consult Murata’s C‑V characteristics.
- Case size versus mechanical stress: 0201 and 0402 parts are attractive for density but demand precise assembly and careful PCB layout to avoid cracking due to bending. For mechanically stressed boards (large modules, connectors at edges), 1206/1210 types may offer better robustness when combined with suitable pad design.
- ESR/ESL and frequency behavior: one 100 µF MLCC does not behave identically to an array of smaller capacitors. Check impedance versus frequency; an optimized mix of a high‑value bulk capacitor and a few smaller values in parallel sometimes offers better broadband decoupling.
- Thermal environment: in engine bay or powertrain locations, capacitor temperature can approach the upper specification limit. Combine these MLCCs with realistic thermal simulations and derating policies, and verify self‑heating under ripple conditions.
- Qualification and sourcing: all parts are AEC‑Q200 qualified according to Murata, but OEM‑specific validation procedures still apply. Early coordination with purchasing on availability, lifecycle and second‑source strategy is recommended.
For power line decoupling at 25 Vdc, pay particular attention to surge and transient conditions versus rated voltage. In some cases, designers may combine these MLCCs with other technologies such as aluminum electrolytic or polymer capacitors to handle longer‑duration load steps or to meet specific EMC standards.
Source
This article is based on information published by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in its April 8, 2026 product and event news release on new automotive MLCCs, supplemented by the official product information page and associated datasheet resources.
References
- Murata press release: Murata begins mass production of seven automotive MLCCs with world‑leading capacitance for their rated voltage and size
- Murata product information: MLCCs GCM035D70E225ME02, GCM31CD70E107ME36, GCM035D70G225MEC2, GCM31CD70G107ME36, GCM32ED70G227MEC4, GCM155D71E105KE36, GCM31CC71E226ME36
