KD Brings Optical Automotive Ethernet into Focus at VDI Conference

2026-06-25 · KD

KD took part in the VDI Automotive Data Communication Conference, one of the key industry gatherings focused on in-vehicle networking, bringing together experts across automotive Ethernet, zonal architectures, and next-generation communication systems. The event provided a valuable platform to exchange insights on the evolving requirements of software-defined vehicles and the growing complexity of data communication within modern automotive architectures.

At the exhibition area, Pablo Blázquez, BDM for Europe, represented KD at the company’s booth, where he presented a live demonstration of the LI-VENUS-ISX031-BASE-AU, which is the first automotive 10GBASE-AU camera to feature optical fiber connectivity. Developed by Leopard Imaging in partnership with KD and Corning, the system leverages optical transceivers to transmit data at up to 10 Gb/s over distances of up to 40 meters, showcasing the readiness of optical technology for real-world automotive applications.

During the conference, KD engaged with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and technology partners to discuss the role of high-speed, reliable connectivity in enabling future vehicle platforms. As bandwidth demands continue to increase, driven by advanced sensing, ADAS, and centralized compute, optical communication is emerging as a strong candidate to complement and extend traditional electrical networks.

KD’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to contributing to industry discussions beyond component level, focusing on system integration, validation, and real world implementation. The conference reinforced a clear trend: optical connectivity is moving from exploration into practical adoption, becoming an increasingly important part of the automotive communication landscape.

About KD

KD is a Spanish semiconductor company leading the market for high-speed data transmission through optical fiber in challenging environments. For 15 years, the company has been reinventing the way optical communications are made to make them robust and affordable enough for the automotive, consumer and industrial markets.