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

Floating caliper disc brakes is a key innovation area in automotive

Floating brake calipers only have pistons on one side of the disc, while having pads that have contact with both sides of the disc. The caliper moves back and forth on bushings or pins serving as a clamp. The disc receives the piston's push only on the inboard side when the brakes are applied.

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 80 companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of floating caliper disc brakes.

Key players in floating caliper disc brakes – 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 floating caliper disc brakes

Stella Vermogensverwaltungs is one of the top patent filers in the floating caliper disc brakes segment. The company creates, develops, manufactures, and sells brake discs, calipers, wheel-side modules, and braking systems. Some of the other leading patent filers in the segment include Hitachi, HL Mando, Hyundai Mobis, and Zeppelin-Stiftung.

In terms of application diversity, BPW Bergische Achsen held the top position, while ITT and Honda Motor stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, ITT leads the pack, followed by Honda Motor and Johnson Controls International.

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.