Japanese research house predicts doubling in auto electronic systems market by 2022; massive opportunity for plastics

As diesel engine-powered cars become increasingly popular due to their solid environmental credentials, Fuji Chimera forecasts that 33.88 million diesel engine management systems will be required in 2022; 150% more than in 2012. Growth will be driven by production being stepped up in emerging economies and higher performance engines become commonplace in Europe.

Another high growth area where plastics will play a key role is fuel-conserving idle-stop systems. Fuji Chimera estimates 56.12 million such systems will be used in vehicles by 2022, representing a 9.8-fold increase compared with 2011 and valued at over $8.3 billion.

Advanced driver assistance systems are also set to come of age over the next 10 years as active safety systems also come to the fore. The research house estimate 24.44 million such systems will be in vehicles by 2022, or a 15.5-fold increase on 2011. Key components for such systems include stereo cameras and multi-functional sensors.

Accompanying smarter headlamps, seats and mirrors in cars, Fuji Chimera predicts almost 1.2 billion magnetic sensors will be required in 2022 by automakers. Adoption of touch sensors, meanwhile, will rocket by an incredible factor of 65 compared with 2011 driven primarily by European and US automakers. Around 36 million such sensors are expected to be installed in  automobiles in 2022 valued at $71.5 million.

The Fuji Chimera report, available in Japanese, covers 22 types of electronic systems, encompassing nine sensor types, nine types of modules/equipment,  10 types of display-related components, and six products specific to hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.