Once a lagging market segment, automotive electronics has gained significant importance in recent years, as the industry, the culture and consumer expectations have changed. Safety and regulatory requirements for vehicles have increased, manufacturers have new warranty requirements, and what used to be “luxury” features are now expected to come standard with a new car. Features like lane departure warning systems, rear-facing cameras, automated parking and other driver-assistance systems are becoming commonplace. Full “infotainment” systems, with software for navigation, music, communication and other applications, are gaining market traction, as well.
Of course, every new vehicle is expected to be safe, comfortable and reliable. However, those characteristics depend greatly on the quality of the vehicle’s electronics. Air bag controls, fuel injection systems, suspension control, automatic transmissions, modules for power windows and doors, engine control modules, and climate controls are a fraction of the electronic systems found in the average new car. The use of electronics is even higher in hybrid vehicles.