Toshiba adds 80 GB Serial-ATA HDD to automotive storage line

Toshiba Storage Device Division has introduced an 80 GB Serial-ATA (SATA) automotive-grade hard disk drive for in-car navigation and infotainment applications.

The MK8057GSC is Toshiba's first to offer a SATA interface, complementing the company's existing line of Parallel-ATA (PATA) products in 40 GB, 60 GB and 80 GB capacities. Migration to the SATA interface enables automotive in-dash system designers to integrate with the latest automotive chipset technologies. The SATA storage interface allows automotive systems designers to reduce signal-line complexity while supporting faster top-end data transfer rates versus Parallel-ATA (PATA)-based HDDs.

Toshiba said it has shipped more than nine million automotive-grade HDDs and claims an 84% market share, according to research firm Techno Systems Research (TSR) Co., Ltd..