Automotive & Mobility

POWERING THE MOBILITY JOURNEY IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Passenger cars, buses and trains are being joined by new mobility devices such as e-bikes, robotic vehicles, and even unmanned aerial vehicles. All systems are using more and more semiconductor devices for electric propulsion, for safety features like ADAS, for more autonomous capabilities but also for entertainment and communication. And each of these mobility devices is utilizing the power of semiconductors to create functionalities but also improve power efficiency, increase safety and provide better user experience. These new trends – and other novel functionalities – are propelling the automotive and mobility industry forward. They are not only getting humans and goods from point A to point B with lower environmental impact, lower risks and increased experience.

The silicon supply chain in motion

The breadth of systems for the automotive market and mobility industry requires a wide variety of semiconductors. They all present requirements that differ from those traditionally served by chipmakers. Semiconductors used in transportation systems must retain functionality in more extreme environments for longer periods of time than typical consumer electronics.  A vehicle has to move between cold and hot climates throughout its average lifespan of more than 10 years, and that’s just for the basic model.

ADAS, smart lighting, electric traction chain, increased in car entertainment, ability to detect obstacles long before seeing them… are driving new systems in cars like vehicle to vehicle communications, LiDAR, inverter and converter, front lighting pixelization… and the use of image sensors, RF modules,  data processing, memories, LED and lasers, power electronics, photonic systems, inducing deep changes in the supply chain with the emergence of SiC and GaN replacing Silicon based power devices, integration of complex photonic on chip devices…  

Users might opt for more advanced mobility electronics – think in-seat entertainment or smart window tinting. And given the safety issues involved, automotive manufacturers expect semiconductors in their systems to have failure rate of zero parts per billion for 15 years. On the automotive supply chain side, guidelines call for up to 30 years’ worth of replacement parts on hand.

Keeping a hand on all these issues requires a deep understanding of available automotive electronics, a solid grasp on supply chain developments, and the consequences on the global mobility market – issues that are all new for car makers.

All aboard the innovation express: ADAS market trends

Whether surface or air, personal or public – transportation is currently facing five major challenges: increase pedestrian safety, offer better public transportation efficiency and cost, avoid vehicle congestion and decrease cost of ownership, upgrade air transportation and city connectivity and of course, lower overall CO2 emissions.

These five trends explain the incredible changes that the automotive – and, more generally, the mobility industry – are facing. After all, they all rely on semiconductor devices to be implemented in your car, bicycle, or train.

In addition to getting a foothold in the electric and autonomous vehicle market, OEMs must contend with a new “Mobility as a Service” paradigm based on robotic vehicles, shuttles and aircraft. The robotization of this entire sector is giving rise to a number of challenges. Semiconductor players are perfectly ready to meet a lot of new needs. While a conventional vehicle contains an average of $330 worth of semiconductor content, that value goes up to $3,500 for an electric vehicle. And with an average of 100 million vehicles produced every year, this represents a true revolution across the automotive market.

The very structure of the automotive industry is also experiencing a shift, with major investments from traditional players such as Toyota and Volkswagen being rivaled by those of new electric-vehicle natives such as Tesla, Nio, and Riviant. Consumer electronics companies like Apple, Sony and Huawei are also attempting to join the fray.

Our Vision

The engine of your automotive supply chain and electronics success

This is an industry that is experiencing its deepest revolution since its creation. From cars to buses, shuttles to trains, Vertical Takeoff And Landing Airplane (VTOL) drones to planes… At Yole Group, we are closely watching and analyzing these systems and their electronics to anticipate the changes brought on by new uses and technology breakthroughs. Most new vehicles now include some level of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and parking assist, all of which are paving the way for fully autonomous vehicles.

Yole Group’s teams are at the heart of mobility usage developments and related impact on the semiconductor and electronics industry. The only way to understand what is happening in the automotive and mobility industry is to translate the needs created by this industry evolution into functions that could be satisfied by semiconductor devices and modules.

Cosequently, we look at new trends, innovations and disruptions coming from the semiconductor industry and see how they can be implemented in the automotive supply chain, at an adapted cost.

Making the links between markets trends, existing and emerging applications, adaptation of the manufacturing capacities and production organization as well as new technologies and their implementation in the supply chain are the day to day investigations of Yole Group’s analysts.

Motoring you through autonomous car systems

At Yole Group, we combine top-down and bottom-up methodologies, developing a unique understanding of the impact of the mega trends on the automotive industry. Our aim is to forecast its evolutions in term of functionalities, units, and value, while in parallel, determine what is possible at semiconductor device and module levels, at which manufacturing costs – and if the supply chain is in place to support tens of millions of units to be produced. This is the only way to understand if a new function can be implemented.
We are also taking a deep look into the competitive landscape, providing automotive semiconductor market shares along the numerous business models including foundries, packaging, IDM, and modules, as well as electric vehicle supply chain, teardown and reverse engineering of automotive modules and semiconductor devices. Every day, we make links between what is implemented now in cars, what is under development, and the market needs.