Automotive magnetic sensors set for rapid growth

The market analyst forecasts revenue to reach $160.3million in 2012, up from $116m this year, extending the steady rise of the market over the last three years. IHS notes that, after 2012 revenue growth will moderate to single digits, the five year compound annual growth rate from 2010 to 2015 will still equate to 16%. By 2015, the analyst forecasts that revenue for magnetic sensors in automotive motors will amount to $193.6m. The automotive industry accounts for 50% of magnetic sensors' market value and over the next five years, IHS forecasts that usage of anisotropic magnetoresistive (amr) sensors will rise notably. This, it says, is due to the growing need to measure the position of a shaft in advanced motors where load changes and knowledge of torque is required. The biggest applications will occur in tachometer motors for speed and rpm instruments for reasons of motor quietness. Richard Dixon, analyst at IHS, said: "While magnetic sensors are employed in a variety of motors used in industrial automated processes, their use is extensive in the automotive industry, which accounts for 50% of their market value. For instance, low end to midrange cars have more than 10 electric motors such as for fan cooling, the alternator and both front and rear wipers. Luxury cars have even more at almost 100 motors – a long list including sensors for hvav blowers, electronic steering and throttle control, and transmission sensors for automatics and new double clutch systems; as well as those for seat positioning, sunroof, tachometer, headlight positioning, headrests, and even control of air input flaps based on air quality information."