14
STATISTICS
Automotive
MEMS sensor
market to
nearly double
by 2012
D
riven by new government mandates,
global shipments of automotive micro
electro mechanical systems (MEMS)
sensors are expected to nearly double from 2006 to
2012, according to iSuppli Corp.
Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17 percent from 61.6
iSuppli forecasts worldwide automotive MEMS million units in 2006.
sensor shipments will grow to 935.7 million units
in 2012, rising at a compound annual growth rate “These applications will allow the automotive
(CAGR) of 12 percent from 474.2 million units in MEMS sensor market to outgrow the automotive
2006. Global auto MEMS sensor revenue will and car electronics segments over the next few
increase to $2.1 billion in 2012, increasing at a years,” Dixon said. “The U.S. has led in the
CAGR of 8 percent from $1.3 billion in 2006. implementation of TPMS and ESC systems,”
Dixon noted. “However, considerable lobbying by
The automotive MEMS sensor segment consists of interest groups in Europe was recently rewarded by
26 established and emerging applications in wide sweeping proposals on safety features,
chassis, power train and body electronics. Major including ESC and TPMS. This will lead to
product areas for automotive MEMS are inertial considerable upside for suppliers because mandates
sensors, pressure sensors, flow sensors, infrared support systems that require several MEMS
sensors and emerging sensors. These tiny devices sensors, four TPMS pressure sensors per car, a
perform a variety of safety, control and gyroscope with one of two low-g accelerometers in
environmental functions, from airbag collision a cluster, and one or more brake pressure sensor
detection, to tire pressure monitoring, to engine per ESC system on average. For accelerometers
management to name a few. and gyroscopes, mandates will more than double
the number of sensors required.”
MEMS use many processes common in the silicon
IC industry, but have either small moving parts or A second substantial market driver will emerge in
regions that sense different physical parameters. 2009, when Europe’s stringent new emission
The figure above right presents iSuppli’s global control regulations go into effect. This will boost
forecast of automotive MEMS sensor unit demand for power train pressure sensors, which are
shipments until 2012. used for applications including optimising engine
operation and reducing particle emissions in
“Driving the rapid growth of the automotive diesels. Other healthy MEMS markets include
MEMS sensor market in the United States and high-g accelerometers for airbags. The fast growth
Europe is a set of chassis safety related mandates of the Chinese market also is benefiting sensors.
that makes compulsory the implementation of
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems and tire “Mandates are reshaping the supply chain,” said
pressure monitors,” said Richard Dixon, senior Jeremie Bouchaud, principal analyst for MEMS at
analyst for the MEMS market at iSuppli. “Both iSuppli. “In the case of ESC systems, transitioning
applications significantly contribute to saving lives rapidly from an expensive option to a standard
on the roads, and tire pressure monitors also lower function in just a few years will create a space for
fuel consumption.” newcomers and threaten established second tier
suppliers.” Bouchaud added that the market
Shipments of MEMS pressure sensors for Tire transparency brought by government mandates
Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMSs) are may herald greater commoditisation and price
expected to reach 179 million units in 2012, up erosion in MEMS sensor products, as all
from 43.1 million six years earlier in 2006. suppliers provide products that conform to
Shipments of MEMS inertial and pressure sensors government specifications, and accommodate a
used in ESC systems will increase to 158 million range from the most expensive to the cheapest All information kindly
units in 2012, increasing at a Compound Annual available vehicle. supplied by iSupply
www.euroasiasemiconductor.com October 2008
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