Increasing Awareness of Enhanced Comfort and Safety Features in Cars Boosts Demand for Automotive Software

Increasing Awareness of Enhanced Comfort and Safety Features in Cars Boosts Demand for Automotive Software

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Wednesday, November 08, 2006 — The North American passenger car industry has grown tremendously over the past few years, with its fashion-conscious consumers not merely looking for a smooth ride, but also for the latest technology, which will provide a pleasant in-vehicle experience. Demand for enhanced comfort, safety and entertainment features has increased the need for automotive software. Greater consumer awareness of technical and luxury advancements is likely to translate into rapid growth in the automotive software market.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (www.semiconductors.frost.com), North American Embedded Software Market for Passenger Cars, reveals that the market accrued revenues of $1,800 million in 2005 and is likely to reach $3,700.2 million in 2009.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the North American Embedded Software Market for Passenger Cars, send an e-mail to Samantha Unnikrishnan-Corporate Communications at sunnikrishnan {at} frost(.)com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

With the rise in comfort and safety features, the North American automotive software market is witnessing growth in a number of applications such as diagnostic routines and digital audio and speech recognition. Moreover, there is an increasing need to monitor more parameters in systems such as automatic transmission and antilock braking systems.

“Application software dominates the total software market for passenger cars in North America and this is likely to continue with the emergence of more applications,” observes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Aravind T. Seshagiri. “The convergence of consumer electronics on the automotive telematics platform is also driving the growth of application software in vehicles.”

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are keen on replacing current multiple sub-systems within each electronic control unit with software components to increase performance levels. The use of software allows the mapping of many functions within the same control unit from one sub-system.

“This not only enables OEMs to cut costs on discrete components, but also reduces the size of the control units,” notes Seshagiri. “Replacement of mechanical components with function-rich yet lightweight electronic control units have resulted in low exhaust emissions, low fuel consumption and low noise in passenger cars thereby driving the automotive software market.”

Consumers’ increasing demand for higher levels of safety and driver information, has caused integration of intelligence features such as electronic stability program, adaptive cruise control, lane detection, pedestrian protection, night vision and telematics in vehicles.

OEMs are also trying to integrate braking, steering and suspension systems in vehicles. The incorporation of communication systems such as mobile phones and the Internet within vehicles is currently made possible with the use of software.

However, the lack of standardization and usage of quasi-standard solutions make it difficult for different types of software to penetrate passenger car applications. Adopting a platform that eliminates the need for developing a separate module can save much time and effort. Setting software standards equally contributes to cost reduction. The emergence of open standards can create new opportunities for software suppliers to expand their product portfolio.

As software is more susceptible to faults and breakdowns when compared to electromechanical solutions, it challenges the penetration of software. Due to government emission regulations and safety critical active and passive features, OEMs are investing in research and development (R&D) to increase the performance level of passenger cars.

The North American Embedded Software Market for Passenger Cars is part of the Semiconductors subscription. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends, evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Analyst interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company’s industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit www.frost.com.

Media contact details

Samantha Unnikrishnan ,Corporate Communications – South Asia & Middle East,
Frost & Sullivan,
+ 91 (044) 4204 4667,
sunnikrishnan {at} frost(.)com

Tori Foster, Corporate Communications – North America,
Frost & Sullivan,
+ 1 210 477 8448,
tori.foster {at} frost(.)com

Chiara Carella, Corporate Communications – Europe,
Frost & Sullivan,
+ 44 (0) 20 7343 8314,
chiara.carella {at} frost(.)com

Donna Jeremiah, Corporate Communications – Southeast Asia & ANZ,
Frost & Sullivan,
+ 603 6304 5832,
djeremiah {at} frost(.)com