The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) mixer assembly is driven by factors such as emissions regulations, fuel economy improvements, cost-effectiveness, and consumer demand, and growing importance of technologies such as helical baffles, ceramic composite materials, laser cutting, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to enhance efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve air quality. 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: SCR mixer assembly. Buy 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 Foresights, 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 disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of 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 the 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
SCR mixer assembly is a key innovation area in automotive
An SCR mixer assembly is a system that reduces the level of NOx emissions in exhaust gas by injecting a reductant, usually a urea solution, into the exhaust stream. The assembly mixes the reductant and the exhaust gas, which promotes the hydrolysis of the urea solution and the creation of ammonia, a necessary component for NOx reduction.
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 145+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of SCR mixer assembly.
Key players in SCR mixer assembly – 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 SCR mixer assembly
| Company | Total patents (2021 - 2023) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Volvo | 51 | Unlock Company Profile |
| CNH Industrial | 64 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Faurecia | 349 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Isuzu Motors | 75 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Mercedes-Benz Group | 56 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toyota Motor | 224 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Robert Bosch Stiftung | 118 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyundai Motor | 28 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Cummins | 240 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Donaldson | 134 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Caterpillar | 238 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Renault | 39 | Unlock Company Profile |
| General Electric | 42 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Mazda Motor | 36 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Komatsu | 41 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Porsche Automobil | 322 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Tenneco | 254 | Unlock Company Profile |
| General Motors | 103 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Johnson Matthey | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Continental | 67 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ford Motor | 132 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Stellantis | 59 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Yanmar (Tokyo Office) | 40 | Unlock Company Profile |
| J. Eberspaecher | 46 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Eberspaecher Exhaust Technology International | 32 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Eberspacher Gruppe | 128 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Faurecia Sys Echappement | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Boysen Friedrich | 51 | Unlock Company Profile |
| YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY | 27 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Purem | 95 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Faurecia (Forvia) is one of the leading patent filers in SCR mixer assembly for the automotive industry. The company filed a patent for a compact assembly that can reduce emissions by up to 90%. Other key patent filers in this space include Porsche Automobil and Cummins.
In terms of application diversity, Porsche Automobil leads the pack, while Cummins and Caterpillar stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Cox Powertrain held the top position, followed by Johnson Matthey and LG.
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.
