Porsche is bringing gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology to automotive audio for the first time, developing what it calls the world’s first production-ready high-end car audio system built around the material.
Gallium nitride offers significantly greater efficiency and power density than conventional silicon, letting electronics deliver more performance from a smaller, lighter package.
Developed with the University of Stuttgart under the project name “Driven by GaN,” the technology debuts in Porsche’s Burmester 3D High-End Surround Sound System, where a GaN-based chip now handles voltage conversion for the system’s 400-watt subwoofer amplifier. Series production begins in 2027, with Porsche already evaluating further uses for GaN elsewhere in the vehicle and filing multiple patents to protect the underlying innovations.
Why Gallium Nitride Matters
GaN first saw wider use in blue LEDs during the 1990s and now shows up in applications ranging from compact USB chargers to satellites. GaN-based transistors switch at higher frequencies than silicon equivalents while generating far less switching loss, which cuts heat output, improves voltage-conversion efficiency, and allows smaller, lighter components like capacitors and inductors.
Applied to the Burmester system, that efficiency translates directly into hardware benefits: reduced cooling needs let Porsche trim the amplifier’s heat sink by around 20% while also shrinking its passive components, making the whole unit lighter and more compact. Less aluminum in the heat sink also means lower CO2 emissions from its energy-intensive production.
Steffen Burosch, who leads audio system innovation at Porsche‘s Weissach Development Centre, said a powerful bass foundation is central to the emotional experience Porsche customers expect, and that GaN lets the brand deliver that same confident, dynamic sound alongside genuinely cutting-edge engineering.
From Concept to Production-Ready Hardware
Porsche first considered applying gallium nitride to a sports car’s demanding conditions in mid-2023, and starting in spring 2024, a team spanning audio, semiconductor and sustainability expertise worked with the University of Stuttgart’s Institute for Robust Power Semiconductor Systems to build the first prototype GaN-based subwoofer amplifier.
Dr. Lars Heuken, who oversees Strategic Semiconductor Management at Porsche, said the team focused on solving the core technical challenges of efficient voltage conversion, since efficiency and weight are both critical in a sports car, and framed Porsche’s direct involvement in developing the technology as a reflection of its ambitions as a technology leader. Working alongside a major international chip manufacturer and an audio development partner, the team ultimately turned the concept into a production-ready amplifier.
Looking Beyond Audio
Heuken sees the audio application as just the starting point, noting that GaN is well suited to any situation involving power conversion and that Porsche is already investigating other potential uses within its sports cars — including power conversion in high-voltage systems, which could make the technology particularly relevant for electric sports cars’ high-voltage architecture. Burosch added that Porsche also sees further opportunities specifically within automotive audio and is already defining what comes next.