The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the need for enhanced vehicle safety, and emergence of autonomous vehicles, and connected vehicles, and the growing importance of technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence. 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: twisted tire cords. 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
Twisted tire cords is a key innovation area in automotive
Tire cords are reinforcing materials used to retain the shape of tires and enhance their durability. They are made from polyester, nylon, aramid, and rayon. Tire cords with higher rigidity provide the vehicle with better handling and stability.
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 10+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of twisted tire cords.
Key players in twisted tire cords – 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 twisted tire cords
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Bridgestone | 100 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Camfin | 20 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin | 86 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Yokohama Rubber | 36 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kolon Industries | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Haci Omer Sabanci | 103 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hankook Tire & Technology | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Asahi Kasei | 26 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyosung | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Bekaert | 35 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Continental | 136 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sumitomo Electric Industries | 25 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kolon | 34 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Haci Omer Sabanci | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Avantium | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyosung Advanced Materials | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Continental is the leading patent filer in the twisted tire cords innovation area. The company has launched CompactMaster EM, a new telehandler and compact loader tire, which features new Turtle Shield tread technology and twisted steel cord. Turtle Shield and twisted steel cord technologies prevent punctures and maximize robustness of the tire by protecting the tire shoulder area from damage like cuts and penetration from foreign objects. Continental’s twisted tire cords are also designed to withstand the lateral forces of stationary turns. Haci Omer Sabanci, Bridgestone, Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin, and Yokohama Rubber are some of the other key players in this innovation area.
In terms of application diversity, NV Bekaert held the top position, while Asahi Kasei and Bridgestone stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Asahi Kasei leads the pack, followed by Haci Omer Sabanci and Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin.
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.
