Demand for automotive MEMS grows

Electronic stability systems in vehicles will drive MEMS use in 2012 and beyond

02/03/2012

The global automotive MEMS market will rise through 2015 when it reaches $3.1 billion.The global market for automotive microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors and actuators grew 16 percent to $2.2 billion and will grow another 7 percent in 2012, according to researcher IHS.

The researcher reported that the MEMS market in 2011 was aided by the disasters in Thailand and Japan. Automotive electronics system manufacturers expanded their supply chain to reduce the risk of supply shortages as a result of the earthquake in Japan and flooding in Thailand.

In addition, automotive system manufacturers learned the lessons of the 2009 downturn well, according to Richard Dixon, senior analyst for MEMS and sensors at IHS. “After suffering short supplies of parts during that year, the companies expanded the number of sources for components, including MEMS sensors," he said. "When supply chain disruptions appeared in 2011, in some instances, these companies were able to re-qualify parts from new sources. This helped MEMS sensor sales stay on track for the year.”

The 17 percent growth in 2011 followed 28 percent growth for MEMS sensors and actuators in 2010. The growth rates for 2010 and 2011 were higher than the 7 to 9 percent annual growth in sensor sales that took place before the last recession, according to IHS.

MEMS grow will continue over the next several years. The compound annual growth rate for automotive MEMS will be 10 percent. By 2015, the automotive MEMS market will surpass $3 billion, reported IHS.

A key driver for automotive MEMS growth will be the use of MEMS sensors in government-mandated electronic stability systems (ESC) and tire-pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).

This year, Japan is expected to adopt a mandate on ESC within its shores in October, similar to a timeline projected for Europe. In Europe, new vehicle models will be equipped with ESC to detect any discrepancy between the driver’s intention and the motion of the vehicle with the ESC system automatically intervening if needed to prevent dangerous skidding.

By 2014, all existing vehicles in Japan will be outfitted with ESC. The ESC mandate in Japan is expected to impact a total of 5 million vehicles in 2012, according to IHS.

Four devices account for the majority of automotive MEMS revenue: pressure sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes and flow sensors. Together, these four devices account for 21 out of 24 identified applications for MEMS in the automotive space, and represent nearly 99 percent of the entire value of the automotive MEMS market, IHS reported.