The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, which allows vehicles to send, receive, and retransmit data through a wireless mesh network, and growing importance of technologies such as embedded systems that facilitate adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, rear parking sonar, and backup cameras. 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: V2V distance monitoring. Buy the report here.
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

V2V distance monitoring is a key innovation area in automotive
The potential of vehicle-to-vehicle communication to wirelessly communicate data regarding the speed and location of nearby cars offers significant promise in aiding in the prevention of collisions, reducing traffic congestion, and enhancing environment performance.
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 100+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of V2V distance monitoring.
Key players in V2V distance monitoring – 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 V2V distance monitoring
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Hyundai Motor is one of the top patent filers in V2V distance monitoring systems. Other leading innovators in V2V distance monitoring system for the automotive industry include Bayerische Motoren Werke, Alphabet, Mazda Motor, and Ford Motor.
In terms of application diversity, Sharp held the top position, while Intel and Hitachi stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Alphabet leads the pack, followed by Tata Motors and Panasonic.
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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