Tremendous Growth Expected in Global Electric Bus Market in Coming Years

Factors such as the increasing environmental concerns due to surging greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving operational efficiency of batteries and plunging battery costs are expected to propel the electric bus market at a vigorous CAGR of 14.9% during the forecast period (2021–2026). According to P&S Intelligence, 82,604 units of electric buses were sold in 2020. The burgeoning demand for these buses can also be ascribed to the long-term cost benefits offered by them.

The electric bus demand is being driven by the declining costs and improving operational efficiency of batteries. This energy storage device accounts for approximately 40% of the production cost of such buses. Moreover, the increasing battery capacity, on account of continuous technological advancements, will also propel the demand for electric buses, as such batteries assist in meeting the rising need for a longer driving range. Currently, market players are working toward achieving higher energy density and reducing reliance on cobalt, which is an expensive raw material used in batteries, to boost the sales of electric buses.

Globally, Asia-Pacific (APAC) accounted for the largest share in the electric bus market in 2020, due to the presence of favorable government policies, such as tax rebates and discounts for replacing fossil fuel-driven buses with alternative  fuel variants. For instance, the Government of China provides a subsidy of up to RMB 500,000 (around $72,500) for fuel cell electric buses. Furthermore, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Transport (MoT), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MoHURD), and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) promote the adoption of electric buses in China.

Whereas, the North American electric bus market is expected to demonstrate the fastest growth during the forecast period, owing to the presence of stringent emission norms in the region. In North America, the U.S. generates higher demand for electric buses, due to the enormous subsidies, tax credits, and financial incentives offered by the federal and state governments. Additionally, government initiatives such as exemption of such new energy buses from vehicle emission tests and toll charges also contribute to the market growth in the U.S.

Therefore, the lowering cost and improving efficiency of batteries and rising concerns being raised over GHG emissions are the prominent growth drivers of the market.  

Automated Valet Parking Technology Market Key Trends And Opportunity Areas by Leading Players

The mushrooming requirement for hassle-free, user-friendly, and more efficient parking systems is fueling the demand for automated valet parking technology. Because of the increasing road congestion, people are finding it very difficult to find proper parking spaces, which is consequently leading to increased cost, time, and distance of the parked vehicle from the destination point of the user. Owing to this factor, the popularity of the automated valet parking technology is surging, which is fueling the expansion of the global automated valet parking technology market.

Furthermore, the industry is predicted to exhibit rapid expansion from 2020 to 2030 (forecast period). Additionally, this technology assists in freeing up and optimizing the available parking space, which is enabling people to find proper vehicle parking spots. Presently, the automated valet parking technology is still in its development stage and there are various prerequisites for both parking spaces and vehicles for the allowing the use of the technology. The automobile must have a mostly automatic gearbox, steering assistant, electronic stability program (ESP), electric parking brake, communication unit, and start/stop functions.

Geographically, the demand for this technology will be the highest in North America in the coming years, as per the estimates of the market research company, P&S Intelligence. This will be because of the rapid development and manufacturing of connected cars and autonomous vehicles and the ballooning requirement for parking spaces equipped with advanced technologies, such as sensors and the internet of things (IoT). One of the major trends currently being witnessed in the AVP technology market is the increasing collaborations between vehicle manufacturers and technology developers.

Hence, it is safe to say that the demand for automated valet parking technology will soar in the coming years, primarily because of the increasing road congestion levels in major urban areas, rising requirements for proper parking spaces, and surging manufacturing of connected and autonomous vehicles all over the world.

What are Key Factors Causing Boom of Automotive Cockpit Electronics Market?

Cockpit electronics are integrated into vehicles to improve the driving experience, offer safety and better controls, and provide convenience. Vehicle cockpits include the human–machine interface (HMI), which has either analog (levers and knobs) or digital (touchscreen) controls. Wi-Fi, global positioning system (GPS), CD players, advanced parking support systems, in-car telephone, climate control, rear display, in-car lighting, and wireless interface are some of the controls that are directly accessible from the automotive cockpit. The increasing adoption of such controls owing to the surging public awareness on vehicle safety will fuel the integration of automotive cockpit electronics worldwide.

Moreover, the increasing implementation of government regulations on passenger safety will contribute to the progress of the automotive cockpit electronics market in the forthcoming years. For instance, the United Nations World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations lays down the safety standards for motor vehicles and offers a legal framework that member nations may implement voluntarily. Automobiles that comply with these regulations are less likely to be involved in road accidents.

According to P&S Intelligence, North America dominated the automotive cockpit electronics market in the recent past due to the mounting investments and technological advancements in its automobile industry. For instance, Select USA states that the total foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S. automotive sector reached $114.6 billion in 2018. The automobile sector of the country is one of the frontrunners in innovation. As per Auto Alliance, approximately $18 billion is spent on research and development (R&D) in the automobile sector in the U.S.

Thus, the surging global focus on vehicle and passenger safety and escalating customer demand for an enhanced driving experience will boost the adoption of automotive cockpit electronics in the foreseeable future.

Demand for Automotive LED Lighting Booming Globally

As per several research studies, light-emitting diode (LED) automotive lights are up to 85% more energy efficient than incandescent and halogen lights. For vehicles powered by gasoline (petrol) and diesel, they could lead to substantial savings in fuel expenses, while for electric vehicles (EVs), they could add up to 6 miles (9.5 km) of driving range. Thus, with the increasing focus on making automobiles fuel efficient, in the face of the rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector, the demand for LED lights could rise manifold.

Therefore, P&S Intelligence expects the automotive LED lighting market value to grow significantly during 2021–2030. The key reason here would be the rising vehicle sales as a result of the economic prosperity in developing and developed countries. The improving financial health is also driving the interest, especially of the youth, in fancy car interiors, such as those made popular by the depictions of the drag racing culture in movies and TV shows. As the sleek design of LED lights and their high illumination make them perfect for setting the ambiance, their usage in vehicle interiors is surging.

Presently, the automotive LED lighting market is dominated by Asia-Pacific (APAC), which accounts for the highest production and sale of vehicles. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are the largest auto markets in the world, with Vietnam and other developing countries also becoming significant. As owning a car is considered a status symbol, youths are retrofitting theirs with innovative and dazzling LED lights, especially those inspired by the Fast and the Furious series. Moreover, with the growing shared mobility culture, even fleet operators are installing such lights in their luxury cars.

Thus, with the rising automotive sales, coupled with the strong focus on energy efficiency and GHG emission reduction, the usage of LED lights in vehicles will increase.

Automotive Diagnostic Scan Tools Market its Future Outlook and Trends

With the surging sales of automobiles, enactment of strict emission norms, and increasing complexities associated with automotive electronics, particularly in connected cars, the demand for automotive diagnostic scan tools is rising sharply. The rising urbanization rate, especially in developing countries such as India, Indonesia, and China, is propelling the requirement for automobiles. As diagnostic scan tools are critical for the efficient and smooth operation of automobiles, their demand is soaring, owing to the expansion of the automobile industry.

Automotive Diagnostic Scan Tools Market

In addition, the governments of many countries have made maintenance and inspection checks mandatory in order to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases from vehicles, which is also pushing up the demand for automotive diagnostic tools. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted the Clean Air Act and amended it in 2001, which made the administration of vehicle maintenance and inspection programs mandatory for 33 local regions and states in order to curb vehicular emissions and meet the required air quality standards via the use of on-board diagnostics (OBD) technology.

Therefore, in order to resolve any issues associated with these automotive electronics, automotive diagnostic scan tools are required. Due to these factors, the automotive diagnostic scan tools market is exhibiting huge expansion. Automotive diagnostic scan tools are required for maintaining and repairing both commercial and passenger vehicles. Between these, the usage of these tools is predicted to rise rapidly in passenger vehicles in the coming years. This is ascribed to the growing deployment of passenger cars across the globe. Apart from this, the mushrooming requirement for greater vehicle safety is also pushing up the requirement for these tools, as per the observations of the market research company, P&S Intelligence.

Hence, it can be said with confidence that the demand for automotive diagnostic scan tools will surge sharply in the forthcoming years, primarily because of the growing sales of automobiles and increasing complexities associated with various automotive electronics.

How Could ADAS Sensors Help in Solving Road Crash Problem?

Bosch claims that its fourth-generation long-range radar (LRR) for automobiles has a detection range of up to 250 meters, while Continental’s fifth-generation LRR is claimed to have a range of 300 meters. Many more automotive technology companies are bringing innovations in their radar, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), ultrasonic, and camera sensors considering the rising demand for autonomous vehicles. This is because autonomous vehicles require advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to drive on their own, which, in turn, require all these kinds of sensors to function.

Therefore, with the increasing popularity of self-driving vehicles, P&S Intelligence expects the ADAS sensor market value to escalate to $40.8 billion by 2030 from $11.5 billion in 2019, at an 11.7% CAGR between 2020 and 2030. The demand for autonomous vehicles is itself being driven by the rising number of road accidents, which already kill more than 1.3 million people each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since human error is the cause of most such mishaps, not letting humans have the driving control could help lower the road accident and mortality rates.

As a result, Europe and North America have been among the largest contributors to the ADAS sensor market till now. Moreover, the regions are home to numerous semiconductor and automotive technology companies, as well as automakers, who are all working together on the enhancement of the autonomous driving technology and making it a reality. For instance, in its pilot program conducted in 2019, Waymo ferried 6,299 passengers in its robotaxis across California. Similarly, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Spain have modified their road transportation laws to encourage the testing and future adoption of self-driving vehicles.

Hence, with efforts being made on a global level to make roads safer, the integration rate of ADAS sensors in vehicles will boom. 

Demand for E-Bike Booming Globally

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), electric bike (e-bike) sales in the U.S. grew by 145% during 2019–2020. The organization further predicts that annual e-bike sales in Europe could surge from 3.7 million in 2019 to 17 million by 2030. The increasing adoption of the new-energy-based two-wheelers can be attributed to the surging government subsidies and financial incentives being offered to manufacturers and consumers of the e-bikes. For instance, the Government of Sweden will offer a subsidy of 25% (up to $1,119) on each e-bike purchased by its citizens, till the end of 2021.

Moreover, the rising deployment of such two-wheelers in shared mobility fleets, owing to the mounting environmental concerns, will also help the e-bike market to advance at 10.3% CAGR during the forecast period (2020–2025). According to P&S Intelligence, the market revenue will increase from $14.4 billion in 2019 to $25.9 billion by 2025. Furthermore, governments of several nations are putting various efforts and introducing targets to integrate e-bikes into public and private bike-sharing services. For example, Mexico City aims to deploy 30% e-bikes in the bike sharing system by 2030.

Geographically, Asia-Pacific (APAC) led the e-bike market during the historical period (2014–2019), and it is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period as well. This is due to the mounting sales of low-speed electric two-wheelers in Indonesia, Japan, and China. Whereas, the North American market is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period, wherein the U.S. records higher sales of e-bikes in the region. High-volume sale of such two-wheelers in the country is due to the escalating use of these bikes for health or recreational purpose.

Thus, the rising health and environmental concerns and surging government subsidies and financial incentives for producing and purchasing new energy vehicles will augment the adoption of e-bikes in the forthcoming years.

Truck Platooning Market 2021 Set to Witness Huge Growth by 2030

In recent years, the popularity of truck platooning has surged massively. This has been primarily because of the various advantages offered by this technology, such as safer, cleaner, and more efficient road transport. Moreover, truck platooning assists in reducing the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the consumption of fuel by trucks. As per the European Federation for Transport and Environment, emissions produced by trucks contribute around 25% of the total road transport emissions currently.

Truck Platooning Market - P&S Intelligence 

Furthermore, according to an Intelligent Transportation System for Commercial Vehicles (ITS4CV) study conducted by the European Road Transport Telematics Implementation Coordination (ERTICO), platooning can massively reduce CO2 emissions, with up to 8% reduction in emissions from the leading truck and 16% reduction from the trailing truck. In addition, truck platooning can also massively improve the safety levels in truck transportation. For instance, braking under the truck platooning system is automatic and immediate, with the trucks following the lead truck needing less time (around one-fifth) than the normal human reaction time to brake.

Apart from this, platooning also assists in route optimization, which helps drivers in increasing the truck’s driving range. It also enables the driver to perform other work-related tasks, such as doing paperwork and making calls. Owing to these factors, the demand for truck platooning is surging sharply, which is, in turn, fueling the expansion of the global truck platooning market. Truck platooning basically involves the optimum usage of autonomous driving technologies, which not only mitigates the chances of road accidents, but also, improves the trucks’ overall operational efficiency and assists fleet operators in making significant savings on maintenance and fuel costs.

Hence, it is safe to say that the demand for truck platooning will soar in the coming years, primarily because of the various benefits of this technology and the growing requirement for greater vehicle safety across the world.

How Are Technological Improvements Driving Automotive Night Vision System Demand?

The rising prevalence of road accidents, especially at night, is encouraging many automobile manufacturers to incorporate night vision systems in their offerings. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 1.3 million deaths are caused every year because of road accidents. Furthermore, the organization reported that road accidents are leading cause of deaths for young adults in the age group of 5–29 years and children and these crashes cost several countries as much as 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP).

Automotive night vision systems have the ability to easily perceive surroundings of the vehicle beyond the range of the headlights, thereby improving the vision and perception of the driver at night or in low visibility conditions. Moreover, these systems alert the driver about obstacles and probable hazards, that are otherwise not visible, thereby improving the driving experience and vehicle safety. The adoption of these systems is currently very high in luxury and premium cars, which are majorly sold in China and developed countries such as the U.K., the U.S., Spain, Japan, and Germany.

Because of the increasing integration of these systems in automobiles, the booming sales of vehicles, especially in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, are also driving the growth of the automotive night vision system market. According to the predictions of the market research organization, P&S Intelligence, the market will exhibit huge expansion from 2019 to 2025 (forecast period). Automotive night vision systems are incorporated in both commercial vehicles and passenger cars. The adoption of these systems in passenger cars is predicted to rise significantly in the coming years.

Thus, owing to the rising incidence of road accidents, growing need for greater visibility at night and in bad weather, and the burgeoning requirement for advanced safety systems in vehicles, the demand for automotive night vision systems will surge sharply all over the world in the coming years.