The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by fuel efficiency, engine performance and safety standards, and growing importance of technologies such as electromechanical actuators, air brakes etc. In the last three years alone, there have been over 720,000 patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in automotive: auto-transmission lubrication circuits. Buy the report here.

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Data Insights Innovation in Automotive: Auto-transmission lubrication circuits

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However, not all innovations are equal, and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

300+ innovations will shape the automotive industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresight, which plots the S-curve for the automotive industry using innovation intensity models built on over one million patents, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, multi-spark ignition, integrated multi-motor drivetrains and vehicle auxiliary drives are useful technologies that are in the early stages of wider application and should be tracked closely. Solar range extenders, turbocharger shaft bearings, and multi-lamellar clutches are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are auto-transmission lubrication circuits and electroluminscent vehicle displays, which are now well-established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry

Auto-transmission lubrication circuits is a key innovation area in automotive

ATF, also known as automatic transmission fluid, is used to lubricate the clutches and gears in the automatic gearbox. The transmission oil pump, which is powered by the engine, pressurizes the ATF. The clutches and bands in the transmission are engaged and disengaged by the pressurized fluid.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 55 companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of auto-transmission lubrication circuits.

Key players in auto-transmission lubrication circuits – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators. 

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.

Patent volumes related to auto-transmission lubrication circuits

Aisin is one of the top patent filers in the auto-transmission lubrication circuits innovation area. The company launched automatic transmission fluids for applications in Mazda and Subaru. The transmission fluids help in reducing fuel consumption and maximizing the performance and longevity of the transmission system. Toyota Motor, Zeppelin-Stiftung, and Allison Transmission are a some of the other significant patent filers in the innovation area.

In terms of application diversity, Allison Transmission held the top position, while Mazda Motor and Mercedes-Benz Group stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Allison Transmission leads the pack, followed by Nissan Motor and Carraro.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.