Automotive Relay Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Increasing consumer demand for more convenient and safe vehicles: The demand for automobiles with additional safety and convenience features has significantly increased in recent years. In response to consumer demand for enhanced comfort and safety features, automakers are providing cutting-edge technologies and amenities. As a result, relays are now utilized more often in these electrical devices. For instance, the number of electronic components in automobiles has increased due to the addition of advanced driver-aid systems (ADAS). Advances in deep learning, artificial intelligence, and cloud mobility have greatly helped the complex processors found in electronic car systems.
• Demand for electric, hybrid, and driverless vehicles will raise the requirement for relays with higher switching capabilities: The increasing trend of engine electrification in passenger cars and commercial vehicles has increased the need for high-voltage DC switches for switching applications. Relays must have an appropriate design to turn them on or off for a variety of electric vehicle (EV) functions, such as HVAC, power steering, battery management systems, and others. For electric cars, relays are utilized for the main, pre-charging, and DC charging connections.
• New auto relay businesses to obtain funding to increase commercial & R&D Capabilities: The goal of new players in the automotive relay market is to provide cutting-edge technologies that will enable automakers to produce higher-quality electronic components. In 2022, Menlo Micro, an American company headquartered in California, completed a Series C financing round, raising USD 150 million. The company creates a 99% reduction in important variables including size, weight, power consumption, and costs compared to typical electromechanical relays using electromechanical and solid-state technology.

Challenges

• Insufficient uniformity in relay design: With the development of electronic systems, automobiles have changed in terms of performance, comfort, safety, and other areas. Automotive relays come in varieties for use by automakers. Compact relays, for example, are tiny versions with a large current carrying capability. For electric vehicles, arc-proof DC power relays guarantee high-voltage DC switching without creating an arc. The standardization of automobile relays is still a source of worry despite the introduction of a wider range of relays. Automotive relays can often be divided into groups based on their various functions and terminal configurations. This adaptability enables the design of a relay based on its usage.
• Quick changes in technology: The quick advancements in technology within the automotive industry have presented several difficulties for the relay industry. Keeping up with the changing demands of the automobile sector is one of the biggest problems. The need for automotive relays is always evolving with the introduction of new technologies like autonomous driving and electric cars. This implies that to satisfy consumer demand, producers must modify their production procedures and create new goods.