The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by road safety, increasing focus on driver and passenger safety, and growing importance of technologies such as suspension technologies and artificial intelligence. 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: hydropneumatic spring suspensionsBuy the report here.

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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

Hydropneumatic spring suspensions is a key innovation area in automotive

Hydropneumatic spring suspension systems employ an engine-driven belt or camshaft pump to pressurise a particular hydraulic fluid, which subsequently drives the brakes, suspension, and power steering. It may also power a variety of amenities, including the clutch, moving headlights, and power windows.

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 210 companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of hydropneumatic spring suspensions.

Key players in hydropneumatic spring suspensions – 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 hydropneumatic spring suspensions

Company Total patents (2021 - 2023) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Volvo 152 Unlock Company Profile
CNH Industrial 44 Unlock Company Profile
Hyundai Mobis 47 Unlock Company Profile
Bridgestone 46 Unlock Company Profile
Fox Factory 48 Unlock Company Profile
Isuzu Motors 28 Unlock Company Profile
Mercedes-Benz Group 51 Unlock Company Profile
Toyota Motor 86 Unlock Company Profile
NHK Spring 83 Unlock Company Profile
Benteler International 75 Unlock Company Profile
Hyundai Motor 59 Unlock Company Profile
Cummins 32 Unlock Company Profile
Haldex 40 Unlock Company Profile
Porsche Automobil 168 Unlock Company Profile
General Motors 50 Unlock Company Profile
Bayerische Motoren Werke 58 Unlock Company Profile
SAF-HOLLAND 52 Unlock Company Profile
Continental 254 Unlock Company Profile
Kia 37 Unlock Company Profile
Ford Motor 181 Unlock Company Profile
TotalEnergies 27 Unlock Company Profile
Stellantis 64 Unlock Company Profile
Boler 256 Unlock Company Profile
SAF-HOLLAND 66 Unlock Company Profile
Firestone Tire & Rubber 317 Unlock Company Profile
Hendrickson International 27 Unlock Company Profile
Stella Vermogensverwaltungs 25 Unlock Company Profile
Zeppelin-Stiftung 182 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

Firestone Tire & Rubber is one of the top companies innovating in the hydropneumatics spring suspensions innovation area. Its new technology provides the ability to adjust vehicle clearance, which ensures that its value is unaffected by the weight of the vehicle and makes hydropneumatics suspension systems significantly superior to traditional mechanical suspension systems. The driver can adjust vehicle clearance manually or have it changed automatically. Continental, The Boler Company, Zeppelin-Stiftung, Ford Motor, and Porsche Automobil are among other major patent filers in the innovation area.

In terms of application diversity, Oiles held the top position, while Seino and ThyssenKrupp stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, BAE Systems leads the pack, followed by Oiles and NHK Spring.

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

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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.