Vehicle security trends
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
In the 1970s, a typical vehicle security system would have involved a conventional car key and a lock for each door. Then central locking technology emerged, allowing the driver to unlock all door locks from his door.
Advances in electronic gadgetry led to the introduction of remote controlled central locking or remote keyless entry. By simply pressing a button on the key fob, the driver can lock or unlock the car standing just a few feet away from the vehicle.
In Europe, the number of new cars fitted with central locking is reaching saturation point. In 2000, ABOUT Automotive estimates that more than 90% of cars featured this convenience device, up from 60% in 1994. In the US, well over 80% of cars come fitted with this convenience feature. Lear Corp. leads the North American market for remote keyless entry systems. Lear makes more than three million remote keyless entry systems annually. The company reports ‘double-digit annual growth’ in this segment as keyless entry as evolved into a ‘must have’ safety and convenience feature. Lear predict that the potential to add features to keyless entry, such as remote engine starting and enhanced security options, will continue to fuel growth in this product area.
As a result, the market for car door lock cylinders is shrinking. Most new cars these days feature cylinder locks in the driver side and front passenger side only. But as passive entry systems gain wider appeal,
“..industry sources expect to see fewer cars with front passenger side door locks. “ |
In the latch market, a growth area is power latches. Market leader Kiekert reports that ‘there is little demand these days for simple mechanical latches.’
In terms of the lock cylinder and latch combination, the lock cylinder is a very small part of the overall door locking hardware and latching system. Industry estimates that the door lock cylinder represents about 5% and the latch 95% of the component value.
Electronic key fobs typically feature three buttons on the key itself; to unlock and lock the car doors and a third to lock and unlock the boot. Most systems also feature rolling-code encryption, meaning that every time the driver presses a button to lock or unlock the car, the code changes making it harder for thieves to crack the code.
European vehicle immobiliser market soared in the 1990s
Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, communist regimes collapsed across Eastern Europe. As millions of people got their first taste of liberty, some went a little further. They stole cars in Western Europe and brought them home. As a result, carmakers rushed to fit vehicle immobilisers. By 1996, Siemens had shipped three million immobilisers to European carmakers. In January 1997, the EU Commission produced a directive (EC95/96) requiring that all vehicles built in Europe must be fitted with immobilisers.
While still ahead of the game in Europe, Siemens turned to the US immobiliser market. In an effort to supply DaimlerChrysler, Siemens teamed up with Strattec, Chrysler’s sole supplier of ignition locks, in 1999. The partners now offer the immobiliser and ignition lock as a system. Around 30% of all US-built cars are equipped with some sort of immobiliser today.
A review of the automotive market for vehicle access and security
Key vehicle security facts
Exclusive report reviewing the automotive market for vehicle access and security systems covering definitions of automotive lock and latch systems, vehicle security trends, European lock manufacturers, European automotive latches market shares, North American door locking set market, market values, technology trends rview and finally brief profiles of the following manufacturers: ArvinMeritor, Huf, Kiekert, Valeo and Witte-Velbert.
Active keyless entry – the driver opens and closes the car using a key fob – has reached near saturation point in the US and Europe. Passive entry system – the driver simply approaches the car carrying a ‘smart card’ and the door automatically unlocks itself – is gaining wider appeal. To date, passive entry systems feature on the Renault Laguna, Mercedes-Benz S-class, CL-class and Toyota Lexus LS430. Although there are many carmaker-supplier technology partnerships developing passive entry systems, it’s only half the story. The real value is keyless access and engine start – or ‘keyless go’.
Although Renault was the first to use a ‘keyless’ system in the mass car market, the driver still needs to push the card into the dashboard. But there is not a lot of difference between using a card and a key. Once seated in the Mercedes S-, CL-Class or Lexus, however, the smart card stays in the driver’s pocket and some clever electronics do the rest on the touch of a button. This is where the real benefits of passive entry begin.
Industry estimates show that the European market had around 1% fitment of passive entry systems alone in 2001, with potential to reach 30% by 2010. As the cost tumbles, keyless entry systems are featured in the mid-range cars.
Siemens predict that by 2010 around 70% of cars in North America will not need keys. Other market players include Magneti Marelli, Bosch, Valeo, Kostal, Donnelly, Tokai Rica, Marquardt, Visteon, Siemens and Denso.
The market for car door lock cylinders continues to shrink. Most new cars these days feature cylinder locks in the driver side and front passenger side only. As passive entry systems gain wider appeal, industry sources expect to see fewer cars built with passenger side cylinder door locks.
The trend in locking system design is toward compact, lighter and cheaper systems with integrated switches. Innovations in coatings, which could potentially eliminate the need for grease and innovative product redesign, offer potential cost reductions for manufacturing and original equipment manufacturers.
