Automotive ESC mkt attractive for MEMS suppliers

Automotive Electronics

Automotive ESC mkt attractive for MEMS suppliers

Global penetration of ESC technology in new cars will grow to 57 percent in 2012, up from 28 percent in 2006, according to iSuppli

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

EL SEGUNDO, USA: With car sales plunging, demand for automotive electronics is dropping as well, except for the key area of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems, whose sales are expected to continue to rise in the coming years. This will generate attractive opportunities for suppliers of Microelectromechanical Sensors (MEMS) used in these systems, according to iSuppli Corp.

ESC builds on Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) technology by correcting vehicle direction to help drivers maintain control of their vehicle during rapid steering and counter-steering changes, which may occur during events like sudden lane changes or swerves to avoid obstacles.

iSuppli recently reported that 2008 is expected to be the worst year in nearly a generation for the US car market, with shipments of just 13.3 million units, down 17.7 percent from 16.2 million in 2007. Western European auto sales are expected to decline to 15.4 million, down 8.2 percent from 16.9 million in 2007.

However, worldwide penetration of ESC technology in new cars will grow to 57 percent in 2012, up from 28 percent in 2006, according to research findings from iSuppli’s report entitled: Mandates Reshape the Market for Electronic Stability Control Systems.

“Based on industry input, iSuppli’s new report on ESC systems and components includes groundbreaking research on factors driving the market, and the competitive positions of suppliers of MEMS accelerometers, gyroscopes and pressure sensors,” said Richard Dixon, senior analyst, MEMS for iSuppli. “Among the major findings is that shipments of ESC systems and associated MEMS will continue to rise, despite the current downturn, due to government mandates requiring stability control in the United States and later in Europe. This provides opportunities for at least six players new to the ESC market, either in development or sampling gyroscopes, and likewise four companies developing product for accelerometers. We expect that the new offerings may begin in the truck market before attacking the large automotive OEMs.”

VTI leads in accelerometer share
MEMS accelerometers are a key component of ESC systems, measuring lateral slip, i.e., any sideways deviation from a car’s intended trajectory.

In this market, VTI Technologies was the leader in 2007 with a 53 percent share of industry revenue. VTI supplies all the MEMS accelerometers used by Continental Automotive Systems, the leading supplier of ESC systems.

Bosch is in second place, supplying accelerometers for its own systems and to Mobis. It held a 29 percent share of ESC accelerometer revenue in 2007.

Panasonic spins up in gyroscope market
The gyroscope in an ESC system measures a car’s yaw rate. Systron Donner was the market leader with a 44 percent share of market revenue in 2007. The company was the only supplier to Continental Automotive Systems, with its high-performance quartz tuning fork design.

Bosch was second last year with 30 percent of revenue due to sales of gyroscopes for its own ESC systems.

However, the company to watch in this segment is Panasonic, which held the No. 4 rank for ESC gyroscope revenue in 2007. The company managed to surpass Silicon Sensing Systems in terms of unit shipments in 2007, giving it the No.-3 ranking based on volume.

“Panasonic is on the rise in the ESC gyroscope market with a robust and inexpensive new gyroscope, and could jump several more places in the next five years,” Dixon said.

Bosch leads in pressure sensors
The pressure sensor modulates the braking of individual wheels to realize changes in trajectory calculated by the motion sensors of the ESC system. In 2007, Bosch led the market with 54 percent share of revenue. Sensata, a 2006 spin-off from Texas Instruments Inc., is the second major player with a 34 percent share of revenue, with Denso a distant third place.

©CIOL Bureau