The global automotive electronic control unit (ecu) market was valued at $87.7 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $142.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2021 to 2030.
The automotive electronic control unit (ECU) is an embedded system used to control electrical systems in vehicles. It assists in collecting input from various sensors mounted on vehicle components and relying on actuators to manage the functionalities of automobiles. Using this data, it operates a wide range of functions, such as keyless entry, engine & steering control, power windows, heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC), and others. It also controls passive and active safety features, such as automatic emergency braking systems and airbags. Furthermore, more advanced ECUs also communicate to the cloud and even other vehicles and infrastructures using vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies.
In recent years, vehicles have been equipped with highly distributed control units. Each electronic control unit (ECU) has its functional requirements, providing entertainment and information for an enhanced in-vehicle experience. Thus, the significant growth of tangible luxury offerings in vehicles provides a high level of comfort & safety features, which drives the growth of the electronic control unit (ECU) market. For instance, in April 2021, DENSO Corporation developed its advanced driver assistance technology with Spatial Information Service Electronic Control Unit (SIS ECU) for accurately identifying the position of the vehicle and an Advanced Drive System Electronic Control Unit (ADS ECU) & Advanced Drive Extension Electronic Control Unit (ADX ECU) for high-speed processing of information delivered these products. Thus, the adoption of new technologies has witnessed an increase in electronic and software content in vehicles, consequently increasing the demand for electronic control units (ECU) during the forecast period.
Factors such as increase in demand for automobiles, stringent safety regulations set by the government, rise in demand for advanced features in vehicles, and development related to manufacturing low-cost ECUs are expected to drive the automotive electronic control unit (ECU) market during the forecast period. However, increase in complexity and number of the electronic control unit (ECUs) restrain the market growth. Furthermore, demand for electric & hybrid vehicles and the need for advanced driver assistance features provide lucrative growth opportunities for the market players.
The automotive electronic control unit market is segmented on the basis of technology, application, mode, ECU capacity, and region. By technology, the market is classified into powertrain, body, advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), infotainment, and chassis. By application, it is categorized into passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and electric vehicle. By mode, the market has been segmented into conventional and autonomous. By ECU capacity, the market has been segmented into 16 bit, 32 bit, and 64 bit. Region-wise, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
The key players operating in the global automotive electronic control unit (ECU) market are DENSO Corporation, Continental AG, Aptiv, HYUNDAI MOBIS, Lear, Panasonic Corporation, Hitachi Astemo, Ltd., Marelli Holdings Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, and Pektron.
Increase in Demand for Automotive
The automotive industry is racing toward a new world with growing sustainability, changing consumer behavior, encompassing electric vehicles, connected cars, mobility fleet sharing, and improving lifestyles. Developing countries such as India, China, and Brazil are the most promising countries for the automotive sector. Furthermore, demand for electric vehicles globally augments the demand for electronic control units (ECU) in these vehicles. For instance, China is the leading market for electric vehicles; hence, the development in electric vehicles can be correlated to the increase in the demand for ECU in the region, which currently holds the highest market share in terms of both revenue and volume.
Moreover, according to European Automobile Manufactures’ Association (ACEA), in June 2021, passenger car registrations in the European Union increased by 10% as compared to the previous year, owing to their hybrid nature and increased fuel efficiency. As a result, manufacturers of parts and components only of IC engine vehicles are now expanding their business into the electric vehicle domain. Thus, the increase in demand for the electric vehicle is anticipated to increase the demand for ECU in the near future.
Stringent Safety Regulations Set by Governments
The vehicle's safety plays a crucial role while introducing a safety feature or a safety system in a vehicle. Thus, the government of several countries implemented several protocols, such as the compulsion of airbags and anti-lock braking systems (ABS) among others in every vehicle. Hence, vehicles equipped with such safety standards are least likely to cause significant injury to the occupants. In developing countries, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) also provide airbags and ABS as standard features in vehicles supporting the government to improve safety. In India, according to Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) program, from April 2021, front passenger airbags have become mandatory for every vehicle sold in India. The driver and co-driver seat belt alarms must be active till the seats are occupied, and speed warning systems are activated at two levels; at the vehicle exceeding the speed of 80km/hr and 120km/hr. These safety systems need separate ECUs to function and communicate with other vehicle components to provide complete safety to passengers. Thus, the government's compulsion of stringent safety regulations anticipates the demand for electronic control units (ECUs) used in the vehicle’s safety systems.
Demand for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
The demand for electric and hybrid vehicles is expected to offer a lucrative growth opportunity to automotive manufacturers. Due to growing environmental concerns and increase in fuel prices, major luxury car manufacturers are launching electric variants of their vehicles. In addition, governments are offering attractive incentives and policies to encourage sales of electric vehicles (EVs), which is likely to boost the growth of the electronic control unit (ECU) market. Such transformation in the automotive industry is expected to impact the automakers, electronic component manufacturers, aftermarkets, and supply chain of the industry itself. Moreover, the conventional diagnostic systems are anticipated to be replaced entirely by the onboard diagnostic systems that continually monitor the health of all the electric and mechanical components of the vehicle. Hence, demand for and increase in the sales of electric & hybrid vehicles are anticipated to create lucrative opportunities for the automotive electronic control unit (ECU) market.
Number of Electronic Control Unit (ECUs) Used Increases Complexity
The electronic control units (ECUs) are embedded systems with embedded software for a particular function. This embedded software is responsible for increasing ECU's line count, complexity, and sophistication. The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) using ECUs have to manage the increasing complexity leading to the failure of services in vehicles. Similarly, the number of ECUs implemented results in the complex structure of network and communication problems within ECUs. These complexities generated while using multiple ECUs hamper the application of ECU in vehicles, mostly in low-cost vehicles. This situation is expected to hinder the growth of the automotive ECU market in the near future.
Key Benefits For Stakeholders
- This study presents the analytical depiction of the global Automotive Electronic Control Unit (ECU) market analysis along with the current trends and future estimations to depict imminent investment pockets.
- The overall market opportunity is determined by understanding profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold.
- The report presents detailed impact analysis information related to the key drivers, restraints, and market opportunities.
- The current market is quantitatively analyzed from 2021 to 2030 to benchmark financial competency.
- Porter’s five forces analysis illustrates the potency of the buyers and suppliers in the industry.
Automotive Electronic Control Unit (ECU) Market Report Highlights
| Aspects | Details |
 By Technology |
|
 By Application |
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 By Mode |
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 By ECU Capacity |
|
 By Region |
|
 Key Market Players | robert bosch gmbh, Panasonic Corporation, Marelli Holdings Co., Ltd, Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd, DENSO CORPORATION, continental ag, Lear Corporation, , Hitachi Astemo, Ltd, Aptiv, pektron |
Analyst Review
Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the automotive electronic control unit (ECU) market, owing to rise in demand for in-vehicle infotainment and communication applications in passenger vehicles, increase in disposable income, and rise in automobile production in the region. The current business scenario of the automotive electronic control unit (ECU) market witnessed significant growth during the forecast period owing to technological advancements in the automotive sector, increase in demand for vehicles such as hybrid cars in the developed and developing countries, and rise in focus on the production of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles. In addition, the surge in emphasis on providing luxury and comfort features by leading automotive manufacturers present in European countries, including Germany, Italy, and others, is also generating prospects for the development of the automotive electronic control unit market.
Governing authorities of numerous countries mandate the incorporation of safety systems in a vehicle, including an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and adaptive front lighting system (AFS), to increase road safety. This, coupled with the increase in adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in vehicles to reduce vehicular accidents and fatalities, escalates the demand for automotive ECU globally. Moreover, companies’ globally are adopting various innovative technologies and investing in R&D projects. For instance, in September 2021, Continental AG announced a joint venture contract with Beijing Horizon Robotics Technology R&D Co. Ltd. (Horizon Robotics), which focuses on providing hardware and software integrated solutions for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving. Thus, technological innovation and explosion of automation initiatives significantly increase the popularity of safety systems in vehicles, consequently escalating the demand for automotive electronic control units (ECUs) globally.
Factors such as increase in demand for automobiles, stringent safety regulations set by the government, rise in demand for advanced features in vehicles, and development related to manufacturing low-cost ECUs are expected to drive the automotive electronic control unit (ECU) market. However, increase in complexity and number of the electronic control unit (ECUs) used restrain the market growth. Furthermore, demand for electric & hybrid vehicles and the need for advanced driver assistance features provide lucrative growth opportunities for the market players.
Among the analyzed regions, North America is the highest revenue contributor, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. On the basis of forecast analysis, Asia-Pacific is expected to maintain its lead during the forecast period, owing to increased production & sales of vehicles across the region.
The global automotive electronic control unit (ECU) market was valued at $87.68 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $142.20 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.1% from 2021 to 2030.
Companies such as DENSO, Continental AG, HYUNDAI MOBIS, Lear, Panasonic Corporation, Hitachi Astemo, Ltd., and others holds majority of market share in the global market.
The report sample for global automotive electronic control unit (ECU) market report can be obtained on demand from the website
The key segments includes Technology, Application, Mode, ECU Capacity an region
Different capacity ECUs are there such as 16 bit, 32 bit, 64 bit which are used in automotive industry
The company profiles of the top players of the market can be obtained from the company profile section mentioned in the report. This section includes analysis of top player’s operating in the industry along with their last three-year revenue, segmental revenue, product offerings, key strategies adopted, and geographical revenue generated.
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