Porsche and Burmester to Adopt GaN Technology for Production Models by 2027

Porsche has filed multiple patent applications for in-car audio upgrades, with its new Burmester 3D High-End Surround Sound System set to become the first automotive audio system to incorporate gallium nitride (GaN) technology and meet mass-production requirements. The technology will initially be applied to a 400W subwoofer amplifier, with plans to integrate it into future production vehicles starting in 2027. Gallium nitride generates significantly less heat than traditional silicon chips during voltage conversion, enables faster transistor switching speeds, and reduces energy losses. By adopting this technology, the amplifier’s heatsink volume can be reduced by approximately 20%, and passive components such as capacitors and inductors can also be further miniaturized while maintaining the same output performance. Reduced aluminum usage lowers resource consumption during manufacturing. The system was co-developed by Porsche, Burmester, and the Institute for Robust Power Semiconductor Systems at the University of Stuttgart, with the project originating from a prototype amplifier built in spring 2024. Existing Porsche models will not receive this hardware upgrade.