AutoTechInsight

Automotive chip market remains strong despite looming inventory correction and macroeconomic headwinds

In 2022, the car chip market exceeded USD52 billion—a new high-water mark. In the wake of the growing global chip shortage due to COVID-19, prices for automotive semiconductors are reset, resulting in higher revenue for car chips in 2021 and 2022. The chip content continues to increase in the next...

18-May-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly Pinned

Middleware software: The race to develop automotive operating system

Software now underpins virtually all elements of the vehicle, from basic cockpit functions to new safety features and powertrain management systems. The advances in vehicle software architectures and function developments are helping automakers to find new revenue, monetizing parts of the vehicle th...

06-May-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly Pinned

Growth of Li-ion battery manufacturing capacity in key EV markets

The future of the automotive industry lies in electrification is not a topic for a debate anymore. However, what is being debated is how quickly the world will be able to let go of its century-long dependence on fossil fuels and embrace electric-powered vehicles. Several factors will play a role in ...

20-May-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Automotive chip market remains strong despite looming inventory correction and macroeconomic headwinds

In 2022, the car chip market exceeded USD52 billion—a new high-water mark. In the wake of the growing global chip shortage due to COVID-19, prices for automotive semiconductors are reset, resulting in higher revenue for car chips in 2021 and 2022. The chip content continues to increase in the next...

18-May-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Demand for laser headlights will grow strongly over next five years

Lasers are used to complement LED high beams, which helps in increasing the range of headlights by up to 50%. That is why many premium OEMs are equipping laser diode headlights in their higher trim as an optional or standard feature. This article looks at the major factors that will drive demand ...

10-May-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Middleware software: The race to develop automotive operating system

Software now underpins virtually all elements of the vehicle, from basic cockpit functions to new safety features and powertrain management systems. The advances in vehicle software architectures and function developments are helping automakers to find new revenue, monetizing parts of the vehicle th...

06-May-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Front Cross-Traffic Alert safety system to gain traction in the coming years?

Front cross-traffic alert (FCTA) monitors vehicles approaching from the blind areas on the front left and right sides. When a vehicle begins to drive at an intersection or exits a small street/parking lot, FCTA identifies vehicles approaching from either side in a direction perpendicular to the...

06-May-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

A review of automotive marketplaces

Earlier this year, General Motors (GM) reportedly shut down its in-vehicle “Marketplace.” The service, launched in 2017, was the automotive industry’s first in-car e-commerce platform allowing customers to order food and beverages, pay for fuel, and reserve a table at a restaurant, among other...

27-Apr-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

How will ECHA’s proposal on the use of lead affect Europe’s net zero ambitions?

The proposal by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to include lead as one of the eight new substances of very high concern (SVHC) in the REACH Authorisation List can hurt the growth potential of manufacturers using lead metal, reduce the competitiveness of an existing supply chain and negatively i...

26-Apr-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Shanghai lockdown creates new supply chain concerns for OEMs

A dramatic surge in new COVID-19 infections and the breakout of a new sub-strain of the Omicron variant forced the mainland Chinese government to impose a full-scale lockdown in the country’s financial hub, Shanghai, from early April. Shanghai is a major automotive component manufacturing hub as w...

21-Apr-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Automotive applications for ultra-wideband wireless technology set to expand in the coming five years

UWB is a short-range wireless communication system that employs radio waves, similar to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. UWB can enable the very accurate measurement of time of flight (ToF) of the radio signal, leading to centimeter accuracy of distance and location calculations. In the United States, the Federa...

19-Apr-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Acquisition of AMLS provides Plastic Omnium with a new dimension for growth

On 25 March, Plastic Omnium announced the acquisition of Automotive Lighting Systems GmbH (AMLS), formerly a joint venture between ams Osram Group and Germany’s Continental. Plastic Omnium (EPA:POM market capitalization USD2.30 billion as on 12 April 2022) acquired 100% of ams Osram’s AMLS (SWX:...

18-Apr-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Will megacasting revolutionize the vehicle body manufacturing industry?

Over the last few decades, automakers increasingly gravitated toward multi-material, multi-gauge sheet metal-based body construction methods that allowed lightweighting through part optimizations. Off the back of Tesla’s much touted “Gigacasts”, a new trend of single piece megacast body parts ...

08-Apr-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Raw material supply chains affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Russian military forces initiated military operations in Ukraine on 24 February, creating logistical nightmares for automotive supply chains whose downstream ramifications are yet to reach the consumer market. Western governments, following the invasion, initiated broad-based financial and trade-bas...

05-Apr-2022 Insights War In Ukraine

Automotive UI/UX technologies - startups driving the market

In the last decade, the automotive industry has seen a significant increase in the use of technologies, driving the advancement of autonomous mobility, e-mobility, and connectivity. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic denting cash flow of companies, an IHS Markit survey in 2021 revealed a 6.5% average inc...

04-Apr-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

How the new NHTSA ruling for autonomous cars impacts the wider chassis systems market

On 10 March, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the agency that develops and enforces the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) regulations relevant to vehicles sold in the United States, updated the 200-series occupant protection standards to account for autonomous...

30-Mar-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Lighting companies look to capitalize on industry megatrends through M&As and partnerships

Suppliers are taking the merger and acquisition (M&A) route to realign their product portfolio, boost their research and development capabilities, and expand their market reach to be better prepared to respond to any disruptions in the market driven by fast-evolving technology trends. This artic...

30-Mar-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Earthquake in Japan puts at risk a fragile recovery of automotive chip supply

Japan-based chipmaker Renesas Electronics halted some of its production on 17 March after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake caused a tsunami in the country's northeast, causing blackouts and disrupting transportation. Renesas has temporarily stopped production at two semiconductor plants and partially st...

17-Mar-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

The United States takes the lead in defining passenger safety rules for autonomous vehicles

In the United States, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are regulations specifying the design, construction, performance, and durability of vehicles. The FMVSS define the minimum standard for vehicle manufacturers and their equipment. As a result of these safety regulations, buyers ...

17-Mar-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Automotive industry megatrends to drive demand for smart surface solutions

The automotive interior industry has been rapidly progressing in recent years and is no longer just a basic aspect but rather a vital space for passenger comfort and aesthetics. The use of secondary capacitive touchscreens designed with hard coated films and holographic foils can be applied to all k...

14-Mar-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Data-driven services to drive future revenue streams for OEMs

Like every industry driven by technology, data has become central for the automotive industry. With the industry becoming increasingly software driven, the growth of connected and autonomous verticals, as well the shift to electrification, has brought in a change in the overall supply chain, with ma...

14-Mar-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Could semi-active suspensions hold the key to ultra-high ride comfort for the mass-market car?

Since the late 1990s, adaptive or semi-active suspension technology has emerged as the top method of improving the ride comfort and handling performance of a car, seeing application in segments ranging from mid-segment sedans to high-performance roadsters. This article will attempt to answer ques...

08-Mar-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Illuminating the neon supply impact on the semiconductor industry

Neon is used for the manufacturing of mature process nodes, which are already under supply chain pressure. The reduction in gas supply will likely lead to higher neon prices but will this cause any significant supply shortages of semiconductors? The supply chain and technology team of IHS Markit ...

03-Mar-2022 Insights War In Ukraine

Automotive biometric applications: What is in store?

One of the major problems facing the growing software-driven automotive industry is security compromise. On the consumer side, similar to the electronics industry, automotive companies are targeting the increased use of biometrics. It is essentially the transmission of data facilitated by the use of...

28-Feb-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Faurecia and HELLA to emerge a more capable supplier in interior and lighting space

On 31 January 2022, Faurecia announced that it completed the acquisition of a controlling interest in HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA; the deal was announced on 14 August 2021. Faurecia SE (PAR:EO, market capitalization USD6.46 billion as on 21 February 2022) acquired 79.5% HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA (XETR...

28-Feb-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Cars that watch you: Driver monitoring system

Driver monitoring systems (DMS) are high-tech safety features that detect driver drowsiness or distraction and issue a warning or alert to refocus the driver's attention on the task of driving. In most cases, a sensor mounted on the steering column or dashboard includes eye tracking software that...

24-Feb-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Special analysis: New battery electric vehicle entrants in China

The global automobile industry has experienced a huge change toward electrification in recent years. Startup battery-electric vehicle (BEV) manufacturers have played an essential role in this era and even led technical development in multiple segments. Aside from currently being the world’s larges...

21-Feb-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Demand for high-density, fast-charging batteries to drive adoption of immersion cooling technology

Increasing the demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries that can deliver longer driving range, faster charging capabilities, safety, and sustainability is not only leading to a rapid evolution in the battery chemistries but also the thermal management techniques to optimize the battery performance...

21-Feb-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Today's chip shortage is accelerating tomorrow's investment

In 2021, chip technology has strategic geopolitical significance as every regional government announced billions of dollars in support of semiconductor industry. Now, semiconductors are at the center of major geostrategic interests as well as the global technological race. Automakers are eager to...

17-Feb-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Cobalt in future EV supply chains: Addressing long-term demands through strategic investments

1. Introduction – Cobalt and the EV revolution Driven primarily by emission-based legislations and mandatory electrification-targets worldwide, the electric vehicle (EV) industry has grown exponentially over the last few years with the demand for EVs nearly doubling between 2020 and 2021, from ...

11-Feb-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

UI/UX technologies from CES 2022

The latest edition of the Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, was marred by physical cancelations from major companies such as Harman, Continental, and BMW owing to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. However, eventually, around 400,000 people participated in one of the biggest global electr...

09-Feb-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Leather sourcing and processing set to become more environmentally friendly

Stringent government regulations and policies are enforcing responsible extraction methods to meet consumers’ changing lifestyle choices. An increasing trend is seen with car buyers opting for products and materials with least impact on the environment. This carbon-neutral initiative has led to gr...

08-Feb-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Outlook for LED projector and reflector headlamp production in Asian markets

Headlamps are increasingly being used to differentiate vehicles and as a style statement. The market for light emitting diode (LED)-based headlamps is strong in Europe and North America, but demand for such headlamps is now growing rapidly even in markets such as South Asia where halogen-based headl...

27-Jan-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Analog chips – poised to become the next big threat to automakers?

The automotive semiconductor supply tightness will likely ease in 2022 and in the first half of 2023. However, there is a risk of pressure points building up again at the end of 2023 or early 2024. According to IHS Markit’s analysis, new concerns are emerging over the supply of analog chips. After...

27-Jan-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

The braking system industry in 2022 – Level 3 autonomy and beyond

In the early 2010s, with the launch of the very first “driving assistance” systems, automakers began to rely on the braking system’s electronic stability control (ESC) unit, originally designed to improve driving stability, to decelerate the vehicle without driver input, in emergencies. Since ...

18-Jan-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Auto parts to software ecosystem: Does Aptiv and Wind River merger make sense?

Well-known auto parts maker Aptiv acquired automotive and IoT software developer Wind River on 11 January 2022. This is the first automotive acquisition of this year. This deal is the biggest since 2017 and the divergence of Delphi by Aptiv. Aptiv Aptiv PLC, formerly known as Delphi Automotive...

14-Jan-2022 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Stellantis’ push for multi-billion software revenues rests on customer-centric offerings

Earlier this month, Stellantis chalked out its software strategy for the decade, validating the paradigm shift in the automotive industry as more OEMs begin to focus on software-driven revenues. The Netherlands-based automaker forecast that its software-enabled products and subscriptions would gener...

30-Dec-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Evolving vehicle safety norms and consumer preference to push demand for airbags globally

For suppliers and automakers working with technology development and viability of airbags, regulatory developments can have a substantial impact on planning and deployment—especially production volume. Stricter regulations and mandates being enforced by NCAP bodies are expected to increase in the ...

21-Dec-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Chip shortage: Automakers’ plan to ensure supply of chips and guide their design

Ford Motor took a step toward in addressing the chip shortage challenge in November, announcing a collaboration that will allow GlobalFoundries (GF) to increase supplies of semiconductors for Ford for its current vehicle lineup, as well as research and development (R&D) purposes. Ford already pu...

17-Dec-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Special Report: Foxconn's preparedness to redefine EV value chain

Taiwan-based Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Technology Group, is promoting a new electric vehicle (EV) business model that has the potential to drive extensive collaboration in the industry, reduce research and development (R&D) cost, and shorten the development cycle for new EV products. Ov...

15-Dec-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Electrical steel: Another temporary supply chain shortage or a threat to OEMs’ electrification plans?

This report has contributions from xEL Mobility and Metals Technology Consulting. As the automotive industry battles the semiconductor shortages, which have prevented the production of 9.3 million units to date, the rapid expansion in growth of EV sales raises questions about the future availabil...

13-Dec-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Software operating system development cost analysis: In Vehicle-Infotainment

This is pushing the development of vehicles with integrated infotainment systems that provide a combination of entertainment, connected features and marketplace, and information for enhanced in-vehicle experience. Modern in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems connect with all the smart automotive tec...

13-Dec-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

E/E architectures: Move to centralized architecture

Over the coming years, the automotive industry will be significantly affected by the confluence of autonomous driving, electrification, connectivity, and shared mobility. There has been rapid growth in the volume of data flowing in the vehicle, as more cameras, radar, and lidar systems provide huge ...

01-Dec-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Evolving role of AI and machine learning — primarily for autonomous vehicles

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are designed to assist a driver in the process of driving, making the experience safer, more comfortable, simpler, and even more efficient. There are several types of ADAS functionality available, and they may be offered as standard equipment or made availab...

01-Dec-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Are infotainment and ADAS features among the biggest misses due to the semiconductor shortage?

The ongoing global semiconductor shortage shows no signs of easing. Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced industry shutdowns, automakers have been grappling with vehicle productions caused by the unavailability of key car chips. According to the IHS Markit October light vehicle production forecast, tot...

30-Nov-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

How MicroLEDs can create higher penetration for smart, intelligent automotive lighting

The lighting domain within the automotive industry has been rapidly progressing in recent years and is no longer just a basic aspect but rather a very important component for safety and aesthetics. As lighting advances, MicroLED is the point of focus owing to its capabilities and flexible build stru...

26-Nov-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Rapid vehicle electrification to drive uptake of integrated thermal management systems

Electrification of vehicles is fast emerging as the central strategy for mostly all vehicle manufacturers globally in an attempt to cut down carbon emissions from the transportation ecosystem, which is roughly contributes one-third of global carbon emissions. As all major automakers rush to invest i...

12-Nov-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Electrification impact on Sensor Market

For many years, growth in automotive sensors had been driven by improvements in safety, comfort, and propulsion efficiency, often spurred by local market regulations on emissions or key safety systems. While advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have led to new suites of sensors, such as radar, ...

02-Nov-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Analysis of software R&D growth in the automotive industry

R&D spending by the automotive industry is growing again after a steep decline in 2020. April data from the IHS Markit global automotive R&D survey show automotive companies are increasing their R&D spending by 6.5% compared with 2020. Greater China and Chinese automotive companies are l...

01-Nov-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

General Motors' Ultra Cruise: An advanced version of the Super Cruise

On 10 October 2021, General Motors has announced a new driver-assist system called Ultra Cruise. Going beyond the first of its kind and the currently available Level 2+ hands-free highway driving Super Cruise system, Ultra Cruise promises “door-to-door hands-free driving” capabilities in 95% of ...

01-Nov-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Magnesium shortage in context: A real threat or just a price spike?

As the automotive sector struggles to sustain production in light of semiconductor shortages, new concerns emerge around the stability of the supply for magnesium, which is key to aluminum production, and is heavily sourced from Mainland China. The price of the raw material has recorded a three-fold...

28-Oct-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

How the upcoming ESC regulation will revolutionize the Indian driving assistance system market

The importance of active safety systems in India came into focus in 2020 when consultancy Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) published a report that outlined the costs and benefits of electronic stability control (ESC) systems in G20 countries. While final dates have not been officially announced y...

25-Oct-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Major revision for global light vehicle production forecast – what it means for OEMs’ technology deployment

The IHS Markit light vehicle production forecast has been cut by 6.2% or 5.02 million units in 2021, and by 9.3% or 8.45 million units in 2022, to stand at 75.8 million units and 82.6 million units, respectively. For 2023, we have reduced the forecast by 1.05 million units or 1.1% to 92 million unit...

05-Oct-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Germany autonomous vehicle development advancing at lightning speed

The Bundestag, Germany's lower house, approved a new autonomous driving law in May, allowing shuttle services as well as services that involve dual-mode vehicles with automated valet parking. With the implementation of the new law, Germany has opened its doors—and its roads—to a bright autono...

01-Oct-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Hybrid, battery electric vehicles to drive the demand for brushless DC motors

While electric motors are used in almost every aspect in a car where motion control applications are required, direct current (DC) motors, in comparison to alternate current (AC) motors, offer more flexibility when it comes to quick start-and-stop functionality, operating at variable speeds, and con...

30-Sep-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Automakers and suppliers to reinvent supply chain amid chip shortage

Despite chip plants effectively running on full capacity, the global chip-shortage crisis may not be resolved next year, warned executives from German automotive companies during the IAA Mobility 2021 show in Munich. Top executives from several companies have publicly stated that they do not know...

30-Sep-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Gaming: The future of the in-vehicle experience

In-vehicle experience is more than just buzz words. With the automotive industry becoming software-driven, OEMs are not just relying on horsepower or mileage as key selling points, but also infotainment services, smart cockpits, as well as large screens are becoming increasingly important. The growt...

29-Sep-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

How Amazon and Google are scaling up their automotive ecosystems

The increasing use of software in cars has led to the rise of a separate ecosystem of companies focused on technologies, such as automotive cloud platforms, autonomous driving, vehicle telematics, vehicle-to-everything (V2X), data management, and automotive cybersecurity. With the growing emphasis o...

29-Sep-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Circular Economy: The road to material circularity in the automotive industry

The importance of the automotive industry’s role in the global economy’s path toward complete material circularity came into focus this month when the IAA Mobility 2021 Auto Show chose to include sustainability as one of its product themes. This article provides a brief overview of how the �...

23-Sep-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

4D imaging radar: a reliable eye for autonomous vehicles

The growing use of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) capabilities has been beneficial to the radar industry. It is a boon that will continue, not only because the market will grow, but also because of the rapid pace of innovation. The use of radar sensors for in-cabin sensing applications...

06-Sep-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Qualcomm continues to advance in automotive sector

Qualcomm, headquartered in California, is a semiconductor company best known for its efforts in smartphone connectivity through its popular Snapdragon brand of modems, application processors, and now radio frequency (RF). While smartphones are undoubtedly the company's bread and butter, Qualcomm als...

31-Aug-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Center stack display market outlook

The growth of connectivity across the automotive industry has led to an increase in consumer-centric software-based services and solutions provided by the automaker. While large display units were initially only offered in high-end vehicles, vehicles across most trims in multiple European and North ...

23-Aug-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Special Report: Impact analysis of COVID-19 and the chip shortage crisis

Compared to the previous light vehicle production forecast, almost 1.5 million fewer vehicles are forecast to be produced in 2021, which translates to a growth of 11.7% over 2020. Another 1 million more cars are now forecast to be produced in 2022 followed by a 700,000-unit increase in 2023. These v...

19-Aug-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

V2X-based safety applications to benefit from 5G technology

The aptly termed vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication is the backbone of a safe and secure driving ecosystem. V2X is a communications technology that allows a vehicle to share information with other vehicles, roadside infrastructure, and pedestrians to create a system that informs users of what...

28-Jul-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Geopolitics and the push for domestic semiconductor manufacturing

The ongoing global semiconductor shortage is causing major problems for many industries worldwide. The shortage has been going on for a while, triggered first by the pandemic slowing production and exacerbated by a variety of factors ranging from changing market dynamics to geopolitical tensions. ...

27-Jul-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Battery cell chemistry and design would be key to BEV lightweighting

As the automotive industry progresses toward electrification, the advancement of the lithium-ion (li-ion) battery will be the most important development that all stakeholders would be keen to follow. There are several challenges that li-ion batt...

01-Jul-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Gasoline particulate filters to remain in demand this decade owing to hybridization

Carmakers all over the world are working numerous angles to make their vehicles as efficient as possible, owing to the prevalent eco-friendly sales strategy along with governments across the globe making environmental policies progressively more stringent every few years. A significant component of ...

01-Jul-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Managing the chip shortage: Strategies ahead

Semiconductor chips are critical components in new automobiles spanning from advanced infotainment systems to basic equipment such as power steering and brakes. Vehicles have thousands of semiconductors worth hundreds of US dollars, depending on the car and its options. Therefore, the semiconductor ...

29-Jun-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

A look at highly precise positioning systems for the automotive market

The growth of the autonomous and connected vehicle market has led to the increasing need for high-precision positioning technologies. This is especially important as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in Level 3 and Level 4 vehicles need real-time, centimeter-level precision for convenience a...

24-Jun-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Increasing engine downsizing to propel demand for charge air coolers in the short term

The problems posed and the far-reaching ramifications of climate change are becoming more critical with each passing year, and as a result, increased levels of efficiency and optimization are being demanded by policymakers in every sphere. One domain where this is felt more strongly than almost ever...

22-Jun-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

Premium segments to drive global demand for steer-by-wire technology

Vehicular technology is recording consistent advancements evolving from conventional hydraulic systems to electronic and now mechanical technologies. One of the most talked-about turnkey technologies in the automotive chassis sector today is the steer-by-wire (SBW) system. While there was an issue o...

17-Jun-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly

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 profit analysis

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 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...

11-Jan-2021 Insights AutotechInsight Analysis Monthly