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

  • June 7, 2017
    Technology and finance shapes up to make MaaS happen
    The technology and finance aspects needed for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) to become widely adopted are taking shape as Geoff Hadwick and Colin Sowman hear. Sampo Hietanen, CEO of MaaS Global and ‘father’ of MaaS, started his address to ITS International’s recent MaaS Market conference in London by saying: “All of the problems that can be solved by a company or group of companies have already been solved, and now we are left with the big ones such as housing, transport and health. He called MaaS the “Netfli
  • July 7, 2015
    ADAS ‘fastest growing sector’ in automotive field
    According to the latest research by RnR Market Research, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) has been one of the fastest-growing sectors in automotive field and is expected to register a CAGR of 32 per cent during 2014-2019. Currently, developed countries in Europe and America have had nearly eight per cent of new vehicles equipped with ADAS, in contrast to about two per cent in emerging markets. It is predicted that over 25 per cent of new vehicles will carry ADAS by 2019 globally. The Global a
  • May 18, 2012
    Developing markets to drive commercial telematics systems to $12 billion by 2016
    Fleet management and trailer tracking system revenues will grow at a CAGR of 19.4 per cent in the next five years, rising from about US$5 billion in 2011 to exceed $12 billion in 2016. ABI Research Telematics and Navigation Group Director Dominique Bonte comments: "While commercial telematics in developed markets such as North America and Western Europe is reaching maturity, especially in the trucking segment, the major growth in future is expected to come from developing regions where safety and security r
  • June 12, 2017
    ABI Research sees V2X technology gaining momentum in automotive
    The latest report from ABI Research sees vehicle-to-everything (V2X) finally gaining momentum in the smart mobility industry. Illustrating this is a growing number of initiatives, trials, and product launches. Cellular V2X, aggressively promoted by the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), now offers a potentially more flexible alternative to the legacy IEEE 802.11p. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) collectively refer to V2X.