Where The Electronics Market Will Soar - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Automotive Industries,  August, 1999  by Marjorie Sorge

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The amount of electronics used in cars and trucks will continue to rise. But that doesn't mean the dollar volume will grow proportionately, warns Morris Kindig, president of Tier One, a semiconductor research firm in Palo Alto, Calif. What will expand is the electronics content used in systems.

Tier One expects great growth in three areas -- adaptive cruise control, brake-by-wire and occupant sensors, Kindig says. The worldwide market for anti-trap power windows for example, will increase from 15.6 million to 75 million by 2006. The least growth is expected in North America because of product liability concerns uncertainty about compliance with safety regulations, lack of demand and cost.

Europe is the leading developer of this anti-pinch technology, followed closely by Japan. Automakers in both these regions are rapidly adding this system to vehicles of all sizes and types.

Meanwhile, the European and Japanese markets will also lead in brake-by-wire and adaptive cruise control installations over the next five to six years, says Tier One.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Vehicle Production (in thousands)

               1999     2000     2001     2002

N. America   15,884   15,710   15,064   15,858
Europe       19,619   20,036   20,763   21,768
Japan        10,268   10,488   10,460   10,006
Other         8,528    9,621   10,725   10,584

               2003     2004     2005     2006

N. America   15,896   15,980   15,832   16,002
Europe       22,126   22,175   22,425   22,797
Japan         9,762    9,179    9,500    9,116
Other        11,234   11,945   12,533   12,843

COPYRIGHT 1999 Cahners Publishing Company
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group