Skip to main content

In-car electronics and user demand for connectivity make case for automotive Ethernet

According to Frost and Sullivan, the use of Ethernet technology in automotive is gaining pace in Europe and North America. The paradigm shift towards connected cars and associated services such as automotive app stores and connected location-based services is fuelling the uptake. Along with the need to integrate multiple consumer electronic devices, the importance of offering prioritised, personalised services and maintaining brand identity are compelling automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) t
January 22, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
According to Frost and Sullivan, the use of Ethernet technology in automotive is gaining pace in Europe and North America. The paradigm shift towards connected cars and associated services such as automotive app stores and connected location-based services is fuelling the uptake. Along with the need to integrate multiple consumer electronic devices, the importance of offering prioritised, personalised services and maintaining brand identity are compelling automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to adopt Ethernet technology.

New analysis from the company, Strategic Outlook of Automotive Ethernet Technology in Europe and North America, expects the number of Ethernet nodes to rise to more than 100 in luxury cars, 50-60 in cars sold in the mass market, and up to 10 in entry-level cars by 2020. The global market for Ethernet ports is expected to reach 300 million by 2020, with North America and Europe contributing the most to the total revenue.

User interest in audio and video applications for advanced driver assistance systems like camera assisted parking, lane departure warning systems, collision avoidance systems, and traffic light recognition is spurring the adoption of high-speed Ethernet in the range of 100 megabits per second. As a result, automotive OEMs and tier I suppliers in Europe and North America continue to work on Ethernet-based electrical and electronic (E/E) system architecture for vehicle applications though it is a time-consuming, research-intensive, and expensive process.

“Ethernet could serve as a backbone to the electronic architecture connecting domains and sub-networks for in-vehicle applications, especially as other car networks like local interconnected network, controller area network, and FlexRay lack the specifications to meet the demand for high bandwidth and scalability,” said 2097 Frost & Sullivan automotive and transportation research analyst Divya Krishnamurthy. “This is highlighting the need for a common network that can support several in-vehicle requirements.”

Standardising Ethernet platforms will offer benefits in terms of cost, performance, interoperability, upgradability, and faster time-to-market. In fact, the OPEN Alliance Special Interest Group, a non-profit alliance of automotive industry players and technology providers, aims to make BroadR-reach Ethernet technology a standard solution for infotainment and telematics.

“Ethernet in the automotive industry will not only redefine future E/E architecture, but will also lead to the introduction of new business models, such as bundled subscription services, incremental services, targeted sales, upfront revenue, and pay-per-use for OEMs, tier I suppliers and telecom industries,” noted Krishnamurthy. “It will also open doors for innovative products like autonomous driving and application domains inside the vehicle.”

Related Content

  • March 3, 2017
    Shift from vehicle ownership to user-ship fuels growth in vehicle leasing
    A dynamic shift from vehicle ownership to user-ship has set the stage for double-digit, year-on-year growth in the European private vehicle leasing market, according to Frost and Sullivan researchers. Growth is augmented by customer demand for hassle-free, flexible mobility solutions. Original equipment manufacturers (OEM), leasing companies, brokers, and financial firms must focus on sustainable solutions that offer customer value while driving profits and market penetration. “Product innovation and ad
  • January 7, 2016
    Qualcomm expands investment in automotive technology
    Qualcomm subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, has expanded its automotive technology portfolio to provide a collection of industry-leading technologies enabling timely innovation across all tiers of the automotive industry through highly integrated solutions in the areas of telematics and connectivity, as well as high definition graphics and multimedia for rich infotainment systems, machine intelligence and sensor fusion for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), GNSS location technologies, V2X (vehicle t
  • September 8, 2015
    Over-the-air software updates to benefit for automotive market, IHS says
    While quite common in smartphones and personal computers, remote over-the-air (OTA) software updates are still only in their infancy in the automotive space, according to a new report from IHS Automotive. The report finds that OTA software updates will eventually be a big benefit for the automotive industry due to their capacity to reduce warranty costs, potentially increase overall completion rates for software-related recalls, improve customer satisfaction by eliminating trips to the dealership for so
  • June 27, 2012
    The need for a higher voltage power net for vehicles
    Electrification of the automobile is not limited to the electric vehicles (EVs). As a new report from Frost & Sullivan points out, conventional cars of today are partly electric in their own way, with most systems in the vehicle having electrical and electronic connections for better functionality. Certain high-end vehicles possess more than 90 electronic control units (ECUs) to control the various modules within the car, making the car both sophisticated and complicated. However, added functions such as el