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Automotive PCBs are Bucking the Trend With a Forecast of 12% CAGR from 2022 to 2026
July 17, 2023 | TrendForceEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
TrendForce’s global automotive PCB market outlook report indicates that as over half of the PCB industry's end-use applications are in consumer electronics, the economic downturn has had a more pronounced impact on the PCB industry compared to other components, especially when end-market demand has yet to show a significant recovery. The report further predicts a 5.2% contraction in the global PCB market for 2023, estimating a value of US$79 billion. Despite this downturn, the automotive PCB market presents a countervailing growth trajectory, primarily driven by the continuous rise in global EV penetration and the increasing electrification of vehicles.
TrendForce predicts a 14% annual increase in the automotive PCB market, reaching a value of US$10.5 billion in 2023 and accounting for 13% of the total PCB market—up from 11% last year. By 2026, this figure is expected to grow to US$14.5 billion, increasing its share of the total PCB market to 15%. This growth indicates a projected CAGR of 12% from 2022 to 2026.
EV adoption is a significant growth driver for the automotive PCB market, given average PCB values for a BEV are around 5 to 6 times that of a conventional fuel vehicle. Over half of these PCBs are installed in the BEV's control system, which houses the battery management system connected via a wire harness. Moreover, the growing popularity of automotive lightweighting is leading to a gradual shift toward the use of flexible printed circuits, which will further increase the PCB within the electric control system.
The rise of autonomous driving tech and its growing adoption rate, which means the integration of more cameras, radars, and other electronic devices, is also expected to further boost the automotive PCB sector. Automotive PCBs mostly rely on 4 to 8-layer boards; autonomous driving systems often adopt higher-priced HDI boards, which are triple in price. HDI boards used in light detection and ranging systems—equipped in L3 and more advanced autonomous driving systems—can cost tens of dollars and are a major contributor to the automotive PCB market’s future growth in value.
Looking at the types of PCBs, 4 to 8-layer boards are expected to account for about 40% of the total automotive PCBs by 2023, falling to 32% by 2026. In contrast, the proportion of HDI boards is projected to increase from 15% to 20%, and the proportion of FPC boards from 17% to 20%. Additionally, the percentage of thick copper and RF boards will rise from 8% and 8.8% to 9.5% and 10.8%, respectively, while the proportion of lower-priced single and double-layer boards is predicted to decrease from 11.2% to 7.7%.
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The Chemical Connection: Reducing Etch System Water Usage, Part 2
05/02/2024 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionIn my last column, I reviewed some relatively simple ways to reduce water usage in existing etch systems: cutting down cooling coil water flow, adding chillers to replace plant water for cooling, lowering flow rate nozzles for rinses, etc. This month, I’ll continue with more ways to control water usage in your etcher. Most of these are not easily retrofittable to existing equipment but should be given serious consideration when new equipment is contemplated. With the right combination of add-ons, it is possible to bring the amount of water used in an etch system to almost zero.
Designer’s Notebook: What Designers Need to Know About Manufacturing, Part 2
04/24/2024 | Vern Solberg -- Column: Designer's NotebookThe printed circuit board (PCB) is the primary base element for providing the interconnect platform for mounting and electrically joining electronic components. When assessing PCB design complexity, first consider the component area and board area ratio. If the surface area for the component interface is restricted, it may justify adopting multilayer or multilayer sequential buildup (SBU) PCB fabrication to enable a more efficient sub-surface circuit interconnect.
Insulectro’s 'Storekeepers' Extend Their Welcome to Technology Village at IPC APEX EXPO
04/03/2024 | InsulectroInsulectro, the largest distributor of materials for use in the manufacture of PCBs and printed electronics, welcomes attendees to its TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE during this year’s IPC APEX EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center, April 9-11, 2024.
ENNOVI Introduces a New Flexible Circuit Production Process for Low Voltage Connectivity in EV Battery Cell Contacting Systems
04/03/2024 | PRNewswireENNOVI, a mobility electrification solutions partner, introduces a more advanced and sustainable way of producing flexible circuits for low voltage signals in electric vehicle (EV) battery cell contacting systems.
Heavy Copper PCBs: Bridging the Gap Between Design and Fabrication, Part 1
04/01/2024 | Yash Sutariya, Saturn Electronics ServicesThey call me Sparky. This is due to my talent for getting shocked by a variety of voltages and because I cannot seem to keep my hands out of power control cabinets. While I do not have the time to throw the knife switch to the off position, that doesn’t stop me from sticking screwdrivers into the fuse boxes. In all honesty, I’m lucky to be alive. Fortunately, I also have a talent for building high-voltage heavy copper circuit boards. Since this is where I spend most of my time, I can guide you through some potential design for manufacturability (DFM) hazards you may encounter with heavy copper design.