Automotive Antenna Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• New safety norms for vehicles - Many governments are introducing new safety norms with several mandatory safety features in vehicles to ensure the safety of passengers. For instance, the Queensland government launched a Safety Cars campaign in January 2023 to increase awareness and establish measures for vehicle roll-away risks. The campaign mainly targets high-risk vehicles and focuses on the maintenance of brake alerts and automatic braking systems. Such efforts necessitate the integration of cutting-edge communication features, including eCall and V2V communication. On account of this, various initiatives have been launched to innovate the antenna design to incorporate security precautions, adhering the regulations.
• Surging trend of miniaturizing automotive antennas - Researchers have been striving to minimize the physical dimensions of an antenna without significantly affecting its performance. Many approaches to antenna miniaturization have already been put forth over the years. These approaches range from the employing of high permittivity/permeability materials to structure modifications and aggregated component loading.
  
  Automakers are also keen on reducing the size of the electronics to be installed in automobiles. Compact antenna solutions provide automotive designers with greater flexibility at different stages of antenna integration and require smaller space to fit in vehicles. For instance, in June 2024, SpaceX launched a new version of its Starlink satellite internet antenna, known as the Starlink Mini, that’s small enough to fit in a backpack. It has the ability to provide seamless connectivity throughout the journey, and even in remote areas.
• Increasing adoption of smart city initiatives - The adoption of smart city infrastructure has increased the need for sophisticated in-car networking solutions. Therefore, various key players in smart cities are improving network efficiency, which might further enhance the connectivity of automobiles. In February 2024, BT Group developed a narrowband Internet of Things network as part of its United Kingdom-wide smart city strategy. Around 97% of the United Kingdom's population is served by this network.

Challenges

• Growing costs and complicated integration - Antenna's complicated design, and vehicle-restricted space render it difficult to include multiple antennas for GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular, and AM/FM radio in a car. In a high-frequency antenna, the wavelength is shorter, whereas in a low-frequency antenna, the wavelength is longer. On the other hand, designing a single automotive antenna with good radiation efficiency for all the systems is a challenging task for antenna designers. Hence, it is anticipated to restrict market growth in the coming years.
• Attenuations of signals in complex environments - The performance of antennas is significantly affected by signal loss in complex environments, especially in urban areas, tunnels, and areas with high population density. This outcome can result in decreased signal strength, deteriorated connectivity, and obstacles.