Infineon launches AWS-powered cloud platform for virtual automotive MCU evaluation

• Quick Mode — A streamlined, guided workflow designed for rapid initial evaluation of MCU features and performance. Engineers can quickly assess basic functionality without deep configuration.
• Expert Mode — A full-featured environment that provides deeper access to configure registers, run custom test sequences, and perform detailed debugging.

The precise mechanics of how each mode operates internally have not yet been published in the available sources .

Powered by AWS

The platform runs as an AWS-native cloud service, described as "powered by Amazon Web Services" . It is based on the Virtual Engineering Workbench, an AWS open-source offering used by automotive and manufacturing customers for digital toolchains, hardware virtualization, and infrastructure management . The platform leverages AWS compute and virtualization infrastructure to deliver real-time MCU emulation in the browser.

Availability timeline

Announced on June 22, 2026, the platform will first be made available to selected customers later in 2026, with broader availability expected to follow .

Next-generation RISC-V architecture already included

The platform already includes virtual models of Infineon's next-generation RISC-V based MCUs . This builds on Infineon's earlier work: in March 2026, Infineon expanded its DRIVECORE portfolio with a RISC-V Virtual development bundle, signaling that RISC-V architecture is a key target for virtual evaluation . Infineon had previously announced a virtual prototype of its next-generation RISC-V MCU as early as 2024, in partnership with Synopsys .

Automation and usage tracking for new MCU variants

The platform enables product teams to package and release new MCU variants through automated build and deployment pipelines running on AWS . It includes usage tracking and analytics so teams can monitor how engineers interact with each virtual MCU variant. This data helps prioritize which variants to release next and track early adoption patterns .

Industry shift-left trend

The platform reflects the automotive industry's broader "shift-left" development trend, where hardware and software validation moves earlier in the design cycle — away from physical prototypes and into virtual or cloud environments . This approach cuts development time, reduces reliance on scarce physical samples, and enables parallel hardware-software development. AWS and other industry players have been advocating for this methodology, with AWS noting that shift-left techniques allow testing to occur earlier and at scale in the cloud, catching defects when they are cheaper to fix .