The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the need for comfort, convenience, and safety, and growing importance of technologies such as sensors, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.7 million patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in automotive: pneumatic tire reinforcements. 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, integrated multi-motor drivetrains, electric power steering (EPS), and post-collision handing are useful technologies that are in the early stages of wider application and should be tracked closely. Variable compression engines, V2V distance monitoring, and turbocharger shaft bearings are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) and plasma-jet ignition, which are now well-established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
Pneumatic tire reinforcements is a key innovation area in automotive
Pneumatic tire reinforcements help in boosting tire strength and ensure optimal driving performance. These materials help to increase the tyre's durability, handling, and fuel efficiency. Pneumatic tire reinforcement materials are broadly categorized into steel, textiles, and synthetic reinforcements such as aramid and nylon.
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 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of pneumatic tire reinforcements.
Key players in pneumatic tire reinforcements – 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 pneumatic tire reinforcements
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Bridgestone | 756 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nexen Tire | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nippon Steel | 50 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Xingda International | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Camfin | 64 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin | 1548 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Yokohama Rubber | 494 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toyo Tire | 24 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kolon Industries | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kuraray | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Haci Omer Sabanci | 110 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Milliken | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | 112 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Panasonic | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hankook Tire & Technology | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Asahi Kasei | 26 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Tokyo Rope Manufacturing | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Teijin | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Bekaert | 59 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sumitomo Chemical | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| DIC | 13 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Continental | 296 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sumitomo Electric Industries | 255 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Seino | 24 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kolon | 23 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Haci Omer Sabanci | 23 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Avantium | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Emesta | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Canopus International | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sumitomo Sei Steel Wire | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin is the leading patent filer in pneumatic tire reinforcements. The company has developed pneumatic tires that absorb the unevenness of terrain resulting in less shaking and bumping during a ride. Additionally, the company provides thicker treads that offer traction for driving on slick and irregular surfaces. Other major companies innovating in this technology domain are Bridgestone, Yokohama Rubber, and Continental.
In terms of application diversity, Xingda International held the top position, while Emesta and Bekaert stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Bekaert leads the pack, followed by DIC and Asahi Kasei.
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.
