Skip to main content

Connected-car security market expected to reach US$759 million in seven years

With nearly 112 million vehicles now connected around the world, the global market for automotive cybersecurity is expected to grow exponentially – to US$759 million in 2023, according to a new report, Automotive Cyber-security and Connected Car, from IHS Automotive, part of business information provider IHS Markit. Connected cars are defined as those that have a connection to the internet, through telematics, an onboard modem or a paired device in the vehicle, such as a mobile phone or other device. One
September 30, 2016 Read time: 4 mins
With nearly 112 million vehicles now connected around the world, the global market for automotive cybersecurity is expected to grow exponentially – to US$759 million in 2023, according to a new report, Automotive Cyber-security and Connected Car, from IHS Automotive, part of business information provider IHS Markit. Connected cars are defined as those that have a connection to the internet, through telematics, an onboard modem or a paired device in the vehicle, such as a mobile phone or other device.

One unfortunate result of connected car growth: vehicles are now more susceptible to cyber-attacks through the many wireless and wired connections. Hackers are getting savvier in perpetrating cyber-attacks – more easily and cost effectively-- on connected vehicles. OEMs and suppliers are taking these threats seriously, with increased interest in developing and implementing cyber-security solutions to address vulnerabilities and system design changes needed to accommodate them.

There are many software approaches to cyber-security in the car. According to IHS Markit research, the automotive cyber-security market will consist of two distinct segments. Some cyber-security software programs will be installed on to the many special purpose computers and data buses that control and regulate in vehicle functions such as the airbags and fuel intake. These special computers are known in the industry as electronic control units (ECUs).

The other segment will be cyber-security cloud services. These cloud services will track and manage whole fleets of vehicles through management service software that will track and assess irregularities, allowing carmakers to identify unauthorised attempts to attack or alter their vehicles. Most cars will have multiple cyber-security software programs to protect the key ECUs in the car, which could be as many as 50-60 (ECUs in today's vehicles) according to IHS Markit estimates.

In 2023, 25 per cent of the vehicles sold globally will be equipped with cybersecurity cloud services. The revenue of cyber-security cloud services will reach $389M globally in 2023, according to IHS Markit forecasts. Nearly 65 million vehicles are forecast to be subscribed to cyber-security services by 2023.

The royalty revenue for the cyber-security software programs will grow to US$370 million in 2023 from less than US$1 million in 2016. Due to multiple cyber-security software programs per vehicle that use cyber-security protection, nearly 150 million software programs will sold in 2023, according to IHS Markit forecasts.

According to Colin Bird, senior analyst, connected car consumer insights and software, apps and services (SAS) for IHS Markit and one of the report’s co-authors, cyber-security will be one of the toughest challenges that the auto industry will face in the next decade or two,  especially as more vehicles with telematics and embedded modems make connected cars an attractive target to cyber criminals, terrorists and nation states.

The US and Western Europe are expected to be the leading markets for these technology developments, given the propensity for connected cars in both regions. According to IHS Markit forecasts, 2018 will be the year of the largest growth, and it will taper somewhat in the years following. 948 General Motors, 1731 BMW and 1685 Mercedes currently lead the implementation of cyber-security solutions in their vehicles.

Today’s suppliers are offering solutions that will improve security to wireless interfaces within a vehicle, like telematics control units (TCUs), and are also designing solutions that isolate safety critical systems from non-critical systems through the use of automotive network firewalls.  Longer term, integral electrical architectures within vehicles will be designed from the ground up with cyber-security in mind. These future systems will likely have the capability to isolate critical safety systems – such as propulsion, braking and steering – from security systems that may handle personal or financial data. These solutions will include auto-grade Ethernet and domain isolation.

IHS Markit estimates that, as a whole, up to 50 percent of a vehicle’s total development cost today is related to software or electronic components.  Today’s mainstream vehicles are typically running 20-30 million lines of code on 50-60 electronic control units (ECUs) and more than 80 microprocessors within a vehicle, controlling everything from the infotainment system to critical software and powertrain functions. In addition, luxury vehicles may contain up to 50 million lines of code and up to 100 ECUs/MCUs.

Related Content

  • September 4, 2018
    Irdeto security expert: ‘Think maliciously to beat hackers’
    Increased connectivity in transportation is a potential goldmine for hackers. To stop them, Stacy Janes at Irdeto says it’s important to think ‘maliciously’. Adam Hill talks to him about ITS’s weak points – and why turning up car radios could be enough to bring auto manufacturers to their knees
  • December 22, 2016
    Growth of embedded car OEM telematics subscribers
    According to a new research report by Berg Insight, the number of telematics service subscribers using embedded systems will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.4 per cent from 26.5 million subscribers at the end of 2015 to 170.2 million subscribers at the end of 2021. In addition, Berg Insight forecasts that shipments of embedded car OEM telematics systems worldwide will grow from almost 13.8 million units in 2015 at a CAGR of over 25.1 per cent to reach 52.8 million units in 2021. In Eur
  • September 30, 2016
    New security system for autonomous cars enables ECUs to protect themselves
    Karamba Security has launched autonomous security for connected and autonomous vehicles, which enables their electronic control units (ECUs) to protect themselves from hackers. This extension to the company’s Carwall ECU security platform enables automotive technology providers to achieve the goals set out in the US Department of Transportation's guidelines for the safe deployment of autonomous cars. Karamba Security’s autonomous security technology allows any car’s ECU to protect itself from this threa
  • May 13, 2015
    Global ADAS market is expected to reach US$60.14 billion by 2020
    A new report from Allied Market Research, Global Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends, Opportunities, Growth and Forecast, 2013 – 2020 claims the global advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) market will reach US$60.14 billion by 2020, registering a CAGR of 22.8 per cent during 2014-2020. According to the report, the deployment of sensors in vehicles has brought a massive transformation in the automotive industry by providing improved passenger experience and safet