AutoTechInsight

Global chip famine, now or forever?

Ever since the pandemic hit last spring, there have been major inventory imbalances across the supply chain, specifically in the chip sector that has caused a global shortage of the component. It was a chain of events that started with the pandemic that forced people to operate from home, resulti...

02-Jun-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly Pinned

In-vehicle voice assistants and the need for seamlessness services

An important target in the growth of software heavy vehicles is consumer convenience. Like smartphones, smart televisions, and smart homes, voice assistants are one of the key technologies enabling user-friendly applications. Automakers incorporate these virtual personal assistants (VPAs) into their...

19-May-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly Pinned

Global chip famine, now or forever?

Ever since the pandemic hit last spring, there have been major inventory imbalances across the supply chain, specifically in the chip sector that has caused a global shortage of the component. It was a chain of events that started with the pandemic that forced people to operate from home, resulti...

02-Jun-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

In-vehicle voice assistants and the need for seamlessness services

An important target in the growth of software heavy vehicles is consumer convenience. Like smartphones, smart televisions, and smart homes, voice assistants are one of the key technologies enabling user-friendly applications. Automakers incorporate these virtual personal assistants (VPAs) into their...

19-May-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

An analysis on the risks and remedies of electric vehicle (EV) battery fires

There is no question that electromobility is the future for the automotive industry and the shift away from internal combustion engines (ICEs) is occurring at a tremendous speed. Many countries have set (or are in the process of setting) deadlines for the phasing out of vehicles driven by convention...

14-May-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Powertrain company spin-offs driven by global shift to electrification

The past few years have already seen intense competition and innovation in the automotive powertrain sector magnifying several times over due to challenging market conditions, ever stricter regulatory and environmental policies, and the disruptions in the form of electrification and new players ente...

12-May-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

UK Government adopts ALKS regulation

On 28 April 2021, the UK government announced the adoption of regulations for self-driving vehicle systems, known as the Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS). What is ALKS? Many of today's cars incorporate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as adaptive cruise control, lane ch...

05-May-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

The growth of the automotive apps industry

The era of the software-defined car is truly underway. A connected automobile in the market today contains around 20–30 million lines of codes. The majority of innovation in the automotive market is currently in the software segment. Crucial selling points for any automaker these days are driver c...

03-May-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Semiconductor suppliers - 2020 Overview

In the year 2020, the automotive semiconductor industry saw a series of unprecedented challenges that all started with the COVID-19 pandemic. Firstly, the decline in vehicle sales caused automakers to shut down production plants; then, suppliers canceled chip manufacturing orders, which later result...

28-Apr-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Automotive R&D investment to grow in 2021 despite COVID-19 setbacks

The survey results indicate that R&D spending is critical for medium- and long-term goals for companies within the industry, particularly to develop their market positioning. However, some companies are still cautious about planning a high-spending year until the market conditions for products h...

27-Apr-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Market challenges and outlook for automotive powertrain suppliers in 2021

The recent few years have seen progress and advancements being made at a blinding pace in the automotive powertrain sector. Faced with mounting pressure all over the world for lowering pollutants and increasingly more stringent emission norms, OEMs are making conventional powertrain systems as effic...

16-Apr-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Android’s grip tightens on automotive OS

Android Automotive has taken the automotive headunit by storm. From its initial introduction in early 2017 until now, six global automakers across more than 10 brands have signed on, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all vehicles once fully rolled out. The significance of Android Automotive lies wi...

07-Apr-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Use of recyclable materials increasing in automotive industry

Automotive has been considered one of the most resource-intensive manufacturing industries for several decades now. Be it the use of fossil fuel or raw materials that are not biodegradable, automotive is perceived to be an industry with a substantial environmental impact. This has made the automotiv...

05-Apr-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Elements collude against car chip production

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a major disruption just as the automotive industry was beginning to show signs of recovery. With demand for semiconductors growing across most markets, especially in consumer electronics, the auto industry has been facing a significant shortage of chips since the beginni...

26-Mar-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Is there a future for a battery-swapping business model globally?

So far battery swapping has been unable to make the transition from being a niche offering to a mass-market service. Battery swapping offers many advantages to customers, including the potential to overcome range anxiety and slow charging times. According to the IHS Markit Consumer Survey in 2019—...

26-Mar-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Volkswagen reveals e-mobility strategy on its first Power Day

One of the most predominant trends in the global automotive industry of today is the relentless move toward electrification. Carmakers around the world are heeding the demand to shift away from inefficient propulsion methods and focus instead on hybridization and electrification. German automo...

22-Mar-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Electric parking brakes poised to become more prevalent in lower-segment cars

Electric parking brakes (EPBs), which were once a luxury feature made available only to buyers of premium and high-end vehicles, is set to make significant inroads into the lower vehicle segments over the short-to-medium term. This system replaces the traditional hand- or foot-operated brake lever w...

14-Mar-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Achieving the right mix of premium yet sustainable interior plastics to be a key challenge for automakers

The importance of advanced engineering plastics in making a vehicle safer, efficient, and feel more premium, cannot be overstated. Plastics is one of the most extensively used materials in a car. Plastics and polymer composites account for more than 50% of the total vehicle volume and contribute som...

26-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

In-vehicle payment industry primed for growth as touchless services gain foothold

The more software-heavy vehicles become, the more relevant data gets. There are multiple factors driving the growth of the automotive data market. Automakers have understood the massive scope for commercial utilization of this data. Global demand for telematics systems will likely rise from 45.2 mil...

25-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Heat pump demand to be driven by the global shift towards e-mobility

In conventional vehicles driven by internal combustion engines (ICEs), automotive OEMs could incorporate a myriad of comfort and convenience features. However, with the advent of electrified vehicles and an age where efficiency is quickly becoming an important criterion for carmakers across the glob...

24-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

UK’s 2030 ban on ICE vehicles puts spotlight on charging infrastructure readiness

The United Kingdom recently announced its plans to ban the sales of petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, superseding the previous goal to ban new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales by 2040. The sale of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars and vans that have zero-emission driving capability wil...

22-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

More prevalent vehicular autonomy could drive demand for magnetorheological damper systems

Automotive OEMs have and continue to invest significant amounts of time, money, and effort to make their vehicles more comfortable to drive, and a sizeable portion of attention is aimed particularly at the vehicles’ suspension systems. Automobile manufacturers have a wide variety of damper types t...

18-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

IHS Markit: Update of semiconductor supply issues on light vehicle production

Since late 2020, there has been disruption within the supply chain of semiconductors to the automotive sector. Pressure built as the industry recovered from the widespread lockdowns implemented in the first half of 2020. Furthermore, the recovery cycle clashed with increasing demand from the wider c...

16-Feb-2021 Insights Production Statistics & Forecasts

Drivers reveal exactly how fast they want EVs to charge – and these are the cars setting the pace

It comes as no surprise that the biggest setback for electric cars has been range anxiety and the ‘inconvenience’ of charging them. Earlier in 2021, the number of public charging stations surpassed 1 million plugs—more than half of these are in mainland China alone. Nevertheless, OEMs and g...

10-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Automotive electrification to drive demand for water-cooled charge air coolers

The world we live in today has a significantly heightened awareness of the problems posed by and the far-reaching repercussions of climate change, compared to even the turn of the century. As a result, higher levels of efficiency and optimization are demanded in every sector, and one industry where ...

02-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Expect more investments on recycle, reuse, and lightweighting projects in 2021

Throughout 2020, there were many advancements in the industry’s efforts on making vehicles more efficient and vehicle manufacturing more sustainable. These included use of recycled and recyclable materials, development of new materials for electric vehicles (EVs), and advancement in 3D printing te...

01-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

The case for OEM-made operating systems in the age of software-driven vehicles

By combining vehicle domains with the cloud and internet of things (IoT), future software architecture will have a common hardware layer at the vehicle level, a common middleware layer in the software level, and an operating system that will add different features in a scalable way. To sustain futur...

01-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

An analysis of EU’s connected vehicle data sharing regulation

From September 2020, a critical regulation related to connected vehicle data usage came into effect. The European Union’s Regulation (EU) 2018/858 contains specific requirements as to what type of vehicle data should be made available by automakers. Digitization over the last decade has arguably b...

01-Feb-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Chip supply constraints will likely persist until third quarter 2021

The semiconductor shortage crisis has hit the automotive industry at a time when the sector started to experience a moderate recovery in production levels following a pandemic-inflicted slowdown. The ramp up in demand of chips from the automotive industry started when the supply lines were already s...

29-Jan-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Brexit deal: What lies ahead for the UK automotive components industry?

In an unprecedented time, where world governments are divided between increasing efforts toward providing economic stimuli and protection from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the outlook for the UK Brexit deal is in a state of ambiguity. The UK government will observe the newly formed trade agreement...

29-Jan-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

The E-mobility industry will deepen its roots in 2021

The year gone by was unlike anything expected at the start of the year. The COVID-19 pandemic, which became a potential concern around February, soon metamorphosed into an outright global disaster. Many sectors were impacted by the restrictions and lockdowns on a global scale; in fact some are still...

28-Jan-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

First quantitative assessment of the impact of the integrated circuit (IC) shortage on light vehicle production

In December 2020, IHS Markit published a comprehensive update on the impact of the semiconductor supply shortage on the automotive market, the link for which can be found here. Toward the end of 2020, it was evident that a shortage in the supply of semiconductors would disrupt the automotive indu...

18-Jan-2021 Insights Production Statistics & Forecasts

The big challenge around battery raw materials sourcing

Electromobility is completely changing the landscape of the transportation sector around the globe. While customers have the option of adopting electric vehicles (EV) gradually, the automakers have to transition to electrified or fully electric vehicles in a more hurried manner owing to stricter emi...

31-Dec-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

ABS and ESC fitment to be driven by emerging markets and affordable vehicle segments

Having a high safety ranking is a unique value proposition (UVP) for any carmaker, coupled with the fact that safety norms worldwide are becoming increasingly stringent, and the number of vehicles on the roads are increasing globally at very high rates, the requirement to improve overall vehicular s...

29-Dec-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

The role of motorsport in developing future powertrain technology

Motorsport provides a competitive platform for automakers and component suppliers to develop future-generation technologies. It offers them the platform to experiment, intricately test, and showcase breakthrough achievements in their respective fields. Some of the most popular motorsport series in t...

23-Dec-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Demand for electric power steering systems to remain strong

While the basic fundamentals of steering a vehicle have changed very little, new technology and innovations have taken huge strides in modernizing automotive steering systems. One such development that has raised the bar, and enabled autonomous driving, is the electric power steering system. While t...

23-Dec-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

External transmission oil coolers to remain in demand despite rising electrification

The power output of automobiles covers a broad spectrum, but the power and torque outputs of the engine do not matter if it cannot be transmitted to the wheels efficiently and with minimal losses. This is where a well-engineered transmission unit comes into effect. As with the case of other componen...

18-Dec-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Electrically driven water pump market poised for robust growth

An internal combustion (IC) engine generates a significant amount of heat during its operation. This excess heat needs to be dissipated or removed to keep the vehicle’s components at their optimum operating temperature, so as to maximize overall efficiency. Since the introduction of the water-cool...

18-Dec-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Semiconductor supply constraints expected to resolve by second half of fiscal year 2021

With demand falling for most part of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, carmakers and tier-1 suppliers have reduced their inventory. Automotive semiconductor vendors have canceled orders to external foundries, while internal capacity was halted or slowed either intentionally or as a result of reduce...

16-Dec-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

OEMs launching 5G-enabled cars years before the technology goes mainstream

The introduction of 5G telecommunication services is going to be a game-changer for the automotive industry. Its low latency properties will drive growth in connected and autonomous vehicle markets while enabling data and signal sharing in real time, which is crucial for maintaining safety in t...

16-Dec-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Vehicle electrification will be strong growth driver for magnetic sensors market

The automotive industry has witnessed a sharp deceleration in vehicle sales over the last couple of years. While the trend was expected to reverse by the second half of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic will certainly sustain the slump. Despite the temporary setback, the industry is entering a crucial per...

26-Nov-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

C- and D-segment vehicles to drive demand for semi-active damping systems

The focus on ride quality is increasing and so is the demand for advanced, cost-effective suspension systems. Automotive suspension systems range from simple, passive spring-based systems to cutting-edge active systems that can independently raise or lower the height of vehicle at each wheel in resp...

16-Nov-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Heat recovery system fitment to be driven by D-segment vehicles in the medium-term

Automotive OEMs need to make more effort to improve the overall efficiency of their model range, and this fact is more emphatic in the case of electric vehicles because of their limited driving range. Automobiles have always had the necessity to dissipate excess heat, and the A/C heater core was one...

16-Nov-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Rising engine downsizing trend to propel demand for turbochargers in the medium term

Automobile manufacturers (OEMs) across the globe are facing immense pressure to improve efficiency, lower emissions, and fuel consumption, while increasing power and torque outputs from their vehicles. OEMs have already incorporated various methods in order to achieve these targets, including lightw...

16-Nov-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

OEMs seek environment friendly advanced coatings solutions

Due to the major transformation in the automotive industry, lightweighting, electrification, and autonomy, coatings are required to offer a much higher performance. Coatings can be primarily classified as appearance coating, anti-corrosion coating, thermal coating, and anti-friction coating. They ar...

10-Nov-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Fastener technologies need to advance to support new vehicle architectures

Fasteners may be among the smallest components in a vehicle, but they perform some of the most critical functions. Fasteners are used to join two or more parts in a vehicle, either temporarily or permanently. They have always been important in ensuring safety and reducing noise, vibration, and harsh...

14-Oct-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Automotive semiconductor demand running ahead of 2020 expectations

IHS Markit conducted a survey in July that asked 30 automotive semiconductor suppliers about the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) viral pandemic. According to the survey, most respondents saw demand for automotive semiconductors rebounding faster than expected compared to a previous...

06-Oct-2020 Insights Production Statistics & Forecasts

Advanced semiconductors key to efficient EV inverters

In terms of consumer demand, electric vehicles (EVs) are still far away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. There is a constant and increasing push from automakers, suppliers, and technology companies to make EVs more efficient on performance and range to make them a viable alternative t...

01-Oct-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Assessing Biden’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure ambitions

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30-Sep-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Will Tesla’s thrust on expanding its in-house expertise pay off?

On 22 September, Tesla hosted an announcement-packed ‘Battery Day”, showcasing its vision on where it wants to be in terms of battery cell technology and production capacities within the next three years, as well as what some of the innovation in the works could mean for end customers of its ele...

24-Sep-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

E-axle demand forecast to more than double within next two years

Electrification is by far one of the most active areas of automotive innovation these days. Vehicle manufacturers are being faced with constantly evolving and strengthening emission norms and standards, while simultaneously having to make their models more responsive to drive so as to keep up the ap...

24-Sep-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Increased electrification to drive demand for newer types of A/C condensers

Comfort almost always ranks quite high in the list of criteria for customers looking to purchase a new vehicle, and carmakers have always invested significant time, effort, and money in making sure their vehicles’ A/C or climate control systems function as best as possible. In addition to heating ...

24-Sep-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Electrohydraulic brake actuation to see high adoption in the short-to-medium term

The brakes of an automobile are unquestionably one of the first lines of safety in motoring, and for this reason, vehicle manufacturers have invested and will certainly continue to dedicate significant investments in order to upgrade vehicle braking systems. Automotive brakes functioned through mech...

21-Sep-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Cyber security set to take center stage in vehicle development process

The amount of data shared by a vehicle and its surrounding ecosystem is increasing at a rapid pace, thus presenting higher risks in automotive cyber security. It is no longer the automakers’ responsibility to solely handle cyber security but also that of third-party suppliers, such as Wejo and Oto...

03-Sep-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Panoramic sunroof to lead growth of glass in automotive

Automotive glass is considered by many as one of those components that have not undergone a lot of technological change over the years, especially in terms of its applications. This perception is all set to change in the next decade, as glass is expected to play a key role in improving the user inte...

01-Sep-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Mainland China shifts policy stance to offer OEMs more flexibility on NEV strategy

Globally, Mainland China has among the most dynamic new energy vehicle (NEV) policy, which is being updated regularly to be in sync with the economic conditions, market demand, and technology developments. The initial heavy subsidies given by the central government are seen to have largely done the ...

17-Aug-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Impact of 48V technology on automotive thermal management systems

One of the most significant developments in recent times in the automotive field is the emergence of 48V electrical architecture. Steadily increasing levels of electrification in vehicles, from the introduction of electric power steering to large infotainment system displays, are placing heavie...

16-Aug-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Is there a safe haven for diesel powertrain technology?

The push for environmentally friendly vehicles has been increasing drastically over the past few years, and vehicles powered by diesel have always been bearing the brunt of it. This friction has become even more apparent after various diesel emissions scandals that hit the industry, which have resul...

12-Aug-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Aluminum brake calipers to experience increased demand after 2025

Over many years of automotive innovation, vehicle safety has experienced many innovations and developments in order to keep occupants safe under almost all circumstances. Tracing back, the very first automotive safety feature is the braking system. Automotive brakes have also gone through their fair...

12-Aug-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Development of new-generation DSRC technologies will be key to its survival in V2X applications

Along with the push for utilizing environmentally friendly resources, the automotive industry is also taking giant leaps in autonomous driving and connectivity. The basis for this push lies in a technology called vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, with subsets vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehic...

05-Aug-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Range-extended EVs face cost, complexity hurdles toward higher adoption

The automotive industry has experimented with several forms of electrification, trying to find the right balance between development, vehicle cost, customer needs, and the operability in the real world. While the vehicles with the most basic level of electrification are deemed mild-hybrids, whereby ...

17-Jul-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Emerging markets set to become more aggressive on exhaust emissions legislations

An area where automotive OEMs and suppliers witness the greatest amount of pressure to effect change is in the realm of efficiency. The dangerously rising levels of noxious gases and accelerating climate change have resulted in governments across the world drawing up regulations in an attempt to cur...

16-Jul-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Combi cabin air filters to gain larger foothold in the global market

One of the most important criteria when purchasing a new car is passenger comfort. Carmakers heavily invest in making their vehicles as comfortable as possible, and the A/C or climate control unit has been a focus area for advancement for a very long time. The pollution we face on our daily commutes...

15-Jul-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Growth of ceramic matrix composites in automotive may remain flat in the short- to mid-term

Ceramic is used in several applications in the automotive industry, from spark plugs to the many sensors that are being equipped in a vehicle nowadays. Although ceramic has excellent thermal and electrical properties, it is known to be very brittle with limited ductility, thus limiting the number of...

14-Jul-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Connected intelligent tire: The next big push for connected mobility

In order to create a vision of automated and accident-free driving, all parts of the vehicle need to be intelligent and connected. As such, dummy tire that provides no information about the tire itself and the road surfaces can be a barrier. Therefore, an inevitable evolution is a connected intellig...

08-Jul-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

AEB to become more prevalent by 2025 owing to increasing focus on autonomy and safety

In a world where automotive manufacturers are coming under increasing regulatory pressure to improve safety features in their vehicles, and where autonomy is being steadily integrated into nearly every operational aspect of the vehicle, certain technologies are poised to become ubiquitous in cars in...

07-Jul-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Is Tesla’s application of LFP cathode technology indicative of price over performance?

A recent development has got the automotive industry talking about a battery chemistry which, over the last half-a-decade, has been steadily losing market share in the electric vehicle (EV) segment—lithium iron phosphate (LFP). Tesla recently received an approval from the Mainland Chinese governme...

02-Jul-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

New alloys and additive manufacturing could dictate the future role of powder metallurgy in the automotive industry

PM components have been an integral part of the automotive industry for decades now, playing a major role in mass-scale manufacturing of complex and lightweight components. Today, the automotive industry is the biggest customer for the PM industry. According to reports, over 80% of PM components man...

19-Jun-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Luxury and high-performance segments to drive demand of active damper control systems

Ride comfort is one of the most important criteria for any new car buyer, especially considering that road infrastructure in many countries and regions across the globe may not be up to the mark. Automotive OEMs have and continue to invest significant amounts of time, money, and effort to make their...

11-Jun-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Growing EV market to drive demand for battery heating systems

Keeping the lithium-ion batteries in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) within optimum temperature levels plays a key role in the efficiency of these vehicles, as temperatures that are too low or too high can degrade the ability of these batteries to store charge and deliver optimal voltages and ampera...

03-Jun-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Technology advancements and government support to determine fate of fuel cell vehicles

It is a known fact that an increasing number of vehicles are becoming electrified. What is uncertain is which electrification technology will gain the upper hand in the long run. The conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) is expected to feature in more than 80% of the light duty vehicles unti...

01-Jun-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Impact of COVID-19 on Automotive UI/ UX Market

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly disrupted all aspects of the automotive supply chain. Global efforts to control the spread of the virus have impacted both demand and supply, and in turn the industry cumulating in a sharp decline in production. Both automakers and auto...

29-May-2020 Insights COVID-19

Is water injection technology ready for mass-market adoption?

Automotive OEMs across the globe are faced with the challenge of making their vehicles increasingly more efficient by cutting fuel consumption and emissions. A wide variety of measures exist for car manufacturers to employ and refine in order to achieve these desired effects, including improving the...

28-May-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

How COVID-19 will fast-track health and wellness features in the automotive industry

As the world is adapting to live the “new normal,” the widespread economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus is becoming clearer by the day. For industries across the world, the key challenge is not just to fight the pandemic but also to manage its social and economic conse...

26-May-2020 Insights COVID-19

Vehicle electrification trend to drive adoption of GaN devices

The rise in connected and autonomous services along with the growth in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) has led to the adoption of various new technologies in the automotive industry over the last decade. This trend has led to a broader use of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor materials. While s...

21-May-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

5G in-vehicle deployment forecast expected to drop in stages due to COVID-19 pandemic

The utilization of 5G is just getting to a nascent stage, but the disruption caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across the supply chain has already begun to impede its progress. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), an organization setting global mobile network stand...

19-May-2020 Insights COVID-19

The next decade will be the most crucial and opportune for magnesium in the automotive industry

For OEMs, lightweighting is one of the most value-for-money solutions to achieve better fuel efficiency and lower emissions in a vehicle. There is almost no component in a vehicle which is not under the scanner for lightweighting―right from seats, chassis, powertrain parts, the entire body-in-whit...

05-May-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Steer-by-wire power steering system demand to surge within five years

Automotive steering systems have experienced occasional changes in terms of their design and complexity. While the basic technology has endured for generations, innovation has sporadically made noteworthy advancements to the way we steer our vehicles. After the advent of steering systems that used r...

01-May-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

COVID-19 pandemic: EV charging industry wrestles with a new magnitude of underutilization

As several countries around the world impose complete lockdowns because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, global light vehicle sales are expected to witness a fall of more than 22% year on year (y/y) in demand to 70.3 million units in 2020, according to April I...

01-May-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

B-segment vehicles to see major rear seat HVAC fitment growth within five years

Automakers are on a constant quest to innovate amenities and convenience features to improve passenger comfort. The general trend with such technology is that they are initially introduced into the upper segments. However, over time, many such concepts and features trickle down to the more affordabl...

29-Apr-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Leather expected to see increasing competition from synthetic alternatives in automotive interior segment

Sustainability is no more just a tool for automakers to meet the government’s regulations and policies. Sustainability is now a necessity to be able to meet the changing lifestyle choices and eco-friendly preferences of customers. An increasing number of car buyers want their purchase to have the ...

31-Mar-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

e-Turbos and e-Boosters to register increased adoption in the near future

Automobile owners of today demand more features, more comfort, more safety, and more value for their money. A significant section of people want to drive the cars they own faster, a requirement that can be attributed to rapidly improving road infrastructure available in many countries today. However...

31-Mar-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Key takeaways from the Automotive Ethernet Congress 2020

With the growing number of connected, autonomous, and electric vehicles on the road, ethernet in automotive is inevitable and will become crucial. The sixth edition of the annual Automotive Ethernet Congress was held in Munich on 12 and 13 February 2020. During the event, industry leaders and expert...

31-Mar-2020 Insights Corporate developments

V2G could become a necessity in an EV-dominated landscape

The current global electricity production of more than 26,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) just about meets the global demand. The demand is mostly from the industrial segment and the transportation segment’s contribution is negligible. However, the demand from the transportation segment is certainly goin...

30-Mar-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Weekly

Tire pressure monitoring systems to become an increasingly prevalent feature in automobiles

Safety has become an incredibly important priority for today’s automotive manufacturers. Vehicles are becoming increasingly powerful and more complex, and when that is coupled with improving road infrastructure in many parts of the world and a steadily rising density of automobiles, it has the pot...

26-Mar-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Heated steering wheels to become more prevalent in mass-market vehicles

Automobiles are no longer seen as luxuries, and passenger cabin comfort is no different. Car buyers all over the globe are ready to spend an increasing proportion of their income on vehicles, which is leading to greater acceptance of features that were once relegated only to luxury and high-end cars...

17-Mar-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Electric parking brakes set to become more prevalent in lower-segment cars

Electric parking brakes (EPBs), once seen as a luxury feature that was available only to buyers of high-end and premium vehicles, are poised to make significant inroads into lower vehicle segments. This technology replaces the conventional hand-operated brake lever with a switch that operates the br...

05-Mar-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Can the price gap between palladium and platinum pave a way for the latter’s comeback?

While electrified vehicles are growing in popularity and numbers in many major automotive markets in the world, there is a consensus that internal combustion engines (ICE) will continue to feature in a majority of vehicles that are mated to mild-hybrid, full-hybrid, or plug-in hybrid technologies. H...

02-Mar-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Market outlook for automotive sensors as electrification expands

The automotive industry experienced one of its most sluggish periods over the last couple of years. Macroeconomic factors such as the US–China trade war and a weak Chinese manufacturing output led to dented consumer sentiment across most verticals, but the automotive industry bore one of the bigge...

02-Mar-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Demand for charge air coolers forecast to accelerate between 2021 and 2025

The world of today is highly aware of the problems posed, and the far-reaching ramifications, of climate change. As a result, increased levels of efficiency and optimization are demanded in every sphere, and one area where this is felt more strongly than anywhere else, is in the automotive sector. A...

27-Feb-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

The battery electric vehicle: Why mass adoption is inevitable, yet elusive

When will battery electric vehicles (BEVs) reach the tipping point and overtake the internal combustion engine (ICE) as the power source of choice? This question is already agreed by most industry observers one that defines the modern automotive era. Some industry analysts claim that retail ...

21-Feb-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

BorgWarner looks to future-proof powertrain business with acquisition of Delphi Technologies

The fast-paced technology developments in the automotive industry have made consolidation almost a necessity in order to keep pace with the changes, not just in the powertrain domain, but across the industry. We have witnessed a number of consolidations in the form of mergers and acquisiti...

10-Feb-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Airbag technology for autonomous vehicles

Automotive industry’s focus on active safety technologies―such as antilock-braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control system (TCS)―has increased significantly in the past two decades. Automakers are also offering new vehicles with rising number of advanced dr...

05-Feb-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Outlook for automotive electronics in 2020

The growth in electrification, connected car and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), along with the strict regulatory emphasis on emission norms in the automotive industry, have set the ball rolling for changes that are expected to continue well into this decade. Multiple macro-economic facto...

04-Feb-2020 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Thermal sector wrap-up 2019

The automotive thermal sector witnessed a wide range of innovations and developments, from improving vehicle efficiency to making vehicle occupants more comfortable. Irrespective of whether automobiles are being powered by conventional forms of drive such as internal combustion engines, or by n...

31-Dec-2019 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Powertrain sector wrap-up 2019

The response to climate change has been the defining aspect of this year for car makers and component manufacturers with regard to the powertrain sector. Car markets across the globe witnessed the creation and implementation of more stringent emission norms, forcing OEMs and ancillary companies...

29-Dec-2019 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Chassis sector wrap-up 2019 – Market analysis

The buzzword for the automotive chassis sector in 2019 was “consolidation”. Ever increasing competition, falling demands and spiraling costs meant that different companies have felt the need to work together in order to outperform the competition and market standards, and reduce their exposure t...

24-Dec-2019 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

New chassis technologies in ADAS and autonomous vehicles

The global chassis systems market is currently undergoing a sea change, and strategies of both OEMs and suppliers are, above all, being molded by the emergence of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles. A growing number of chassis systems are being designed to be intellige...

04-Dec-2019 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

New emission norms to drive demand for fuel-efficient clutch technologies

New developments and technological advancements in the automotive powertrain sector are taking place at an unprecedented pace. The focus is on ramping up power and torque levels delivered to the wheels from powertrain units that are increasingly more efficient, in addition to being lighter in weight...

02-Dec-2019 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Market outlook for AC condensers

Overview A key component of any automotive air conditioning system is the condenser. The condenser is a heat exchange system that condenses the refrigerant from a vapor state to a liquid state, thereby transferring latent heat to the surroundings and lowering the temperature of the air that is ci...

25-Nov-2019 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Cabin air filter sector and technology

World Health Organization (WHO) statistics estimate that ambient air pollution accounts for an estimated 4.2 million deaths per year due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. Air pollution can be defined as the presence of foreign substances in the air that do not ...

21-Nov-2019 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Outlook for HVAC HMI systems

Automotive manufacturers across the globe are investing ever increasing amounts of time, effort and money in order to make the interiors of their vehicles better. Vehicle owners are spending longer durations in their cars than ever before in history, particularly due to longer commute times. Studies...

30-Oct-2019 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly