The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the need for enhanced driving experience, fuel efficiency, and engine performance, and growing importance of technologies such as air brakes, electrification, connected and autonomous vehicles. 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: self-sealing tires. 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 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
Self-sealing tires is a key innovation area in automotive
Tires that self-seal have an inner layer of sealant material. When the tire is punctured by a nail or other foreign object, the sealant layer seals the hole to keep the air inside and keep the tire inflated.
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 self-sealing tires.
Key players in self-sealing tires – 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 self-sealing tires
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Kumho Tire | 27 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Bridgestone | 804 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shandong Himile Mechanical Science & Tec | 67 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Camfin | 267 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Fujishoji | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin | 1826 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Yokohama Rubber | 616 | Unlock Company Profile |
| IHI | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toyo Tire | 154 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nokian Tyres | 31 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Oracle | 23 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kolon Industries | 40 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Fuji Seiko | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kuraray | 39 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Himile Mechanical Science & Technology | 26 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | 272 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hankook Tire & Technology | 90 | Unlock Company Profile |
| TKH Group | 301 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Saudi Arabian Oil | 17 | Unlock Company Profile |
| MESNAC | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Safran | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Cheng Shin Rubber Industry | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Exxon Mobil | 35 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Continental | 359 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sumitomo Electric Industries | 529 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Seino | 163 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kolon | 29 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Haci Omer Sabanci | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Triangle Tyre | 17 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Dow | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Societe De Technologie Michelin | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Texmag Gmbh Vertriebsgesellschaft | 20 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Bridgestone is one of the leading innovators in self-sealing tires. Bridgestone’s Selfseal technology is designed for sealing punctures up to 14" (6mm) caused by items that are most likely to be stranded on the roads such as nails and screws. It uses a natural rubber sealant material that has no effect on rolling resistance and maintains all other tire performances, while being environment friendly. Other major companies innovating in this technology domain are Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Yokohama Rubber, Sumitomo Electric Industries, and Continental.
In terms of application diversity, Texmag Gmbh Vertriebsgesellschaft held the top position, while Saudi Arabian Oil and Kolon stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Oracle leads the pack, followed by Texmag Gmbh Vertriebsgesellschaft and Safran.
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.
