New-age vehicles to drive electronic components market in India

With the growing trajectory of the automotive sector, automotive electronics has been one of the major drivers of the automotives over the last decade. Consumers have adopted luxury cars well and so will embrace new technologies. According to industry reports, the Indian automotive electronic systems market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11-14 per cent till 2022.

Rise in adoption and integration of advanced systems, such as infotainment, body electronics, airbags, automatic emergency braking (AEB), etc is leading to spur in the demand for electronics in the automotive industry. While electronics are designed as tools to integrate as a component in the automotive, this is likely to change soon as India adopts IoT (Internet of Things) and software with more pace.

These integrated electronics are becoming a vital part of the industry, with classy electronic circuits, actuators, motors and sensors, crucial for the system. Approximately 60 per cent of the cost of car cost comprises of the automotive electronic system. New technology such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and collision avoidance system gives an advantage by installing GPS enabled system in automotives. They also allow driver support system, intelligent lighting system and lane departure system that are enabled through the front lighting system. Usage data transmission, speed alert, collision warning are some of the safety equipment fitted in modern automobiles.

“Soon the industry will develop dedicated softwares for automotives and the components too will experience an overhaul. Automotive components for GPS tracking, connectivity, control features are in demand. The numbers of electronic control units (ECUs) in passenger cars have increased to around 150 from previously 50. While those in CVs it is around 40. Smartphone too has integrated and has accepted well by the consumers and the industry. It will revolutionise the industry,” elaborates Nitish Rajguru, MTS- Software Engineer, ThoughtSpot.

GPS and Fleet management

Industry experts believe that commercial vehicles are set to adopt both in-vehicle infotainment and telematics soon. With the advent of increasing Smartphone reach, these solutions are gaining traction. Big logistics players in the industry have started adoption. It should ideally reach the local level, turning it into a platform for efficient handling of fleet.

With new technology being adopted, there is a need to also have a good technical team or skilled personnel on-board. Skilled personnel ensure that these components are maintained well. In fleet management, components like controllers, location devices are widely adopted but are not able to with stand with time. “We recently delivered a GPS system for tracking live status of buses in a metropolitan city of India. We had control over the devices and system we designed for 2 years. After our control term ended, the tracking system failed miserably leaving impact over our image as well. Government authorities are adopting new systems but without the technical knowhow and qualified workforce.”

Meanwhile, on the policy front, the market is expecting a significant uptake in the number of telematics devices sold in India. Once, the Central Government’s mandate - all public commercial vehicles must have a vehicle telematics device installed – is yet to come into effect. The initial deadline for the mandate was April 1, 2018. Soon these norms will be adopted and the demand is set to rise significantly.

Sensitive industries adopting telematics

Telematics, a combination of the words telecommunications and informatics is in a broad sense, any integrated use of telecommunications utilising information and communication technologies. This technology enables sending, receiving, and storing information relating to cars via telecommunication devices. Real-time tracking in logistics is very beneficial for the sensitive products being transported.

“Being a component manufacturer, for us, automobiles have just started adopting these systems of fleet tracking and those of safety. These technologies are well in demand in sectors which handle sensitive products like food, pharma, diamonds and other attack-prone sectors. These sectors had initially adopted the technology for mere safety and now seeing a positive feedback from our systems, they may welcome the new systems,” adds Singh.

New vehicles embracing technology

Rise in demand for electronic components and devices to adopt automated technologies have been seen. Kashish Singh, Director, BitSquare Technominds, says, “Since last 3 years, we have been receiving many enquiries for software development. Our R&D team has even developed a software program which enables the car to operate on an auto-pilot mode. Startups like us are looking ahead to develop software compatibilities for automotive sectors.”

This indicates that the automotive electronic component manufacturers are exploring the arena of softwares for offering better services and a wholesome solutions to their clients.

Vehicle Tracking, especially in the commercial vehicles (CV) have shown promising adoption. Given that the GST’s introduction and unified taxation is in place, the checkpoints delays in material handling will report a staunch decline. Alpesh Suthar, Director, Focus Data Systems, says, “With the current scenario, the viability of these components will reach to its optimum. Pre-GST period was more dependent on the contractor or the agency. Some big players who have budgets allotted can also deploy fruits of automation in their vehicles taking more control in the hands of the operator.”

Technology is evident in urban spaces today with cabs, whereas, in the industrial transport sector. It can be leveraged for efficient transport to reach full capacity of a carrier. In India some transport carriers are to conduct some pilot, making it more efficient than the current system of coordinating over phone and using internet. This technology will help carriers pan India to book cargo in real-time, in turn saving on fuel and other allied cost and making it a an effective environment-friendly model.

“Currently we are working with Ghatge Patil Transports Pvt Ltd for our pilot project that will have some in-vehicle entertainment and in-house developed system for connectivity of its trucks. This project will be for 2 years where we will develop a solution for control devices which will be initiated after September this year,” Suthar informs.

Apart from this, Suthar says, the project is their first endeavour to work on around 400 vehicles of distinctive capacities and formats. Focus Data Labs has previously worked on other transport companies with 30 vehicles of various capacities. Focus Data Labs were providers of the electronic components like Vehicle Scanners, Car Scanner, Car Diagnostic Tools and specialise in ECU services but recently has also started providing software programming in order to offer wholesome solution.

This service has not yet reached its full-potential as it can be integrated together with the vehicle tracking and car sharing to make car or vehicle sharing more effective. Sharing his thoughts over how the new technology would benefit the new-age vehicles, Kashish Singh, says, “Road safety technology should have made a better introduction, if connected car technology would have already launched by now. The prototypes have been developed which very complex and needs more in-depth research. Integration of the automotives and the devices or the components is crucial to run this technology efficiently.”

Explaining over the tried and tested GPS technology, Singh adds, “The sensor checks for the objects nearby, while using GPS and internal CPU, other cars in the vicinity will be marked on the map. Based on their routes and distance, the navigation device will show a guided route. This also helps control traffic congestion to a large extent. All this could also be controlled via a centralised device by the local governing body. Such prototypes have already been tested.”

Wooing adoption with component development

Given that consumers have embraced the technology and viability tests are also conducted in future, question remains, whether Indian electronic component manufacturers would develop solutions for the local market or will they continue to develop solutions for their clients abroad.

The potential of EVs

In a bid to achieve sustainable solutions, the new electric vehicles sub sector will have shown keen interest in adopting the automation technologies. The crucial thing to look at will be whether component manufacturers are ready and well-equipped to harness the potential of the new sub category being developed.

In a nutshell, the electronic component manufacturers are evolving owing to market transformation and competition. Electronic component manufacturers are exploring new fields in the category like EVs ECUs for connected car and also building up software support for their components. EV is a category will surely adopt new technologies in future. Component manufacturers have a broad spectrum to offer but more R&D in these technologies thrive them and make them future-proof. This is the right time to invest in R&D.

“Since last 3 years, we have been receiving many enquiries for software development. Our R&D team has even developed a software program which enables the car to operate on an auto-pilot mode.” Kashish Singh, Director, BitSquare Technominds

The numbers of electronic control units (ECUs) in passenger cars have increased to around 150 from previously 50. While those in CVs it is around 40. Smartphone too has integrated and has accepted well by the consumers and the industry. It will revolutionise the industry.” Nitish Rajguru, MTS- Software Engineer, ThoughtSpot