Automotive eCall Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Trigger Type (Manually Initiated eCall (MIeC) and Automatically Initiated eCall (AIeC)), By Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles), By Propulsion Type (IC Engine and Electric), and Regional Forecasts, 2023-2030

The global automotive eCall market size was valued at USD 1.16 billion in 2022. The market is projected to grow from USD 1.33 billion in 2023 to USD 2.68 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.53% during the forecast period.

An automotive emergency call or (eCall) system is an “in-vehicle” emergency call service system that enables communication lines in case of an accident or failure of vehicles. The system consists of an automated and manual eCalling system. It comprises a voice response delivered to the emergency service provider via an automated call to an emergency number. The automated call is generated in response to certain events such as the breakdown of the vehicle, deployment of airbags, or a vehicle crash. A manual eCalling system is also available in which a manual button is provided in vehicles that enable the occupant to connect to an emergency number in case there is a possibility of an accident or if the vehicle’s system fails.

The growth of this market is heavily influenced due to safety regulations enforced by the European Union. Under the same, all passenger cars and light commercial vehicles were mandated to have emergency calling features referred from 2018. This led to an upsurge in the demand for eCall technology globally. However, many regions are yet to mandate eCall technology which might hamper product adoption during the initial years of the forecast period. Due to stringent safety regulations in Europe, many regions are expected to adopt similar vehicle safety rules, which will propel the global industry growth.

COVID-19 IMPACT  

Temporary Shutdowns Led to Slower Technological Advancement and Adoption Rate

The automotive industry is one of the major sectors impacted by the outbreak and faces several challenges. The policies imposed by governments and other private organizations to maintain social distancing and hygiene practices and lockdowns have impacted many countries. They are likely to shut down or slow down production and consumption activities for a temporary period. According to the Institute of Supply Chain Management Survey, 75% of companies have been facing supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 related transportation policies and restrictions.

The automotive eCall market growth also suffered as private and commercial vehicle owners redirected their investments to recover losses. Further, automobile and component manufacturing units are being closed down globally, leading to slower product adoption throughout various economies. However, post-pandemic, various automotive players launched their vehicles equipped with newer technologies such as NG (Next Generation) eCall, which allows transferring data over 4G and 5G networks. The market expansion is expected to gain pace post-pandemic as most of the businesses resume and look forward to a stable supply and demand flow.

LATEST TRENDS

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Implementation of Next Generation eCall to Boost the Market Growth

The automotive industry is shifting toward developing and designing advanced technologies to provide enhanced connectivity solutions, advanced safety features, and improved in-vehicle user experience. The standalone emergency calling system can incur more costs. Therefore, manufacturers are providing this system along with other telematics devices. Further, these companies are developing an infotainment system with more features to make travel safer, enjoyable, and effortless.

The major players aim to improve the existing technology of automotive emergency calls by integrating 4G and 5G technology to transmit data. Due to most tele-networking companies shifting to future technologies, such as 5G, auto makers are rushing to implement similar technology for less and synchronized data transfer without discrepancies. Furthermore, integrating automotive eCall with 4G and 5G will provide more stable and faster data transfer. These factors are poised to propel the market growth of automotive eCall.

DRIVING FACTORS

Rising Number of Road Accident Deaths due to Delays in Medical Assistance to Drive Market Growth

Globally, increasing urbanization, demographic changes, improvement in the standard of living, and rise in disposable income are the foremost factors propelling the growth in the sales and production of vehicles. Rising traffic congestion and a high rate of road accidents are raising safety concerns among consumers and increasing their inclination toward enhanced safety and security features in vehicles, creating a high demand for automotive eCall systems across the globe.

Moreover, automotive manufacturing companies are installing these systems in vehicles owing to the rising safety concern of drivers and passengers, as well as to reduce road fatalities and provide quick relief services to injured people. This is ultimately surging the demand for these systems in the automotive industry. According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the total number of fatalities across the globe has been decreasing since the last few years. The number can be reduced further by enhancing the efficiency and punctuality of emergency services. This is attributed to the rising adoption of automotive eCall systems across the globe.

Stringent Government Regulations to Propel Industry Growth

Globally, the rapid growth in vehicles on the road has led to increased traffic congestion. The fatality rate has also increased over the years as millions of people lose their lives in road accidents across the globe. Owing to this situation, governments in various countries have imposed stringent norms and regulations to reduce the rate of accidents and enhance the safety of vehicles and occupants.

Governments are also setting standards about vehicular safety that are prompting automotive manufacturers to install emergency call systems in high-performance vehicles and entry-level and mid-sized vehicles, which hold the largest share of the automobile industry. Moreover, governments are heavily investing in promoting the adoption of technologically advanced systems to develop safety features in vehicles and support the automotive industry to enable emergency service providers' efficient and quick functioning. For instance, in 2018, the UAE government made the installation of the eCall Emergency System mandatory for 2021 vehicle models. Thus, rising government initiatives focused on stringent road safety regulations are expected to drive market growth of automotive eCall during the forecast period.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Increasing Jamming and Interface Issues May Restrain Market Growth

The emergency call systems installed in vehicles are directly connected to Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). In case of any road fatalities, the Minimum Set of Data (MSD) is sent to the PSAP, which includes all information regarding the accident along with the previous and present condition of the vehicle. This way, important data is immediately sent to the nearest emergency service provider. However, the system has some drawbacks, such as the jamming of satellite signals and other interferences. A GPS receiver sometimes fails to figure out the vehicle’s position, causing a serious problem for the eCall system.

Without the In-Vehicle System (IVS) position, it becomes difficult to provide quick rescue services, especially when commuters inside the vehicle are unconscious and cannot contact PSAP staff. Various interferences obstruct the satellite signals. These interferences can be intentional as well as unintentional. Intentional interferences such as jammers are used for many security purposes. Unintentional interferences may be caused by metallic components that affect the performance of internal antennas. Therefore, these interferences can restrain the growth of the market. Furthermore, these systems need to be configured according to the region.

SEGMENTATION

By Trigger Type Analysis 

Growing Demand for Advanced Technologies in Connected Vehicle to Drive the Automatically Initiated eCall (AIeC) Segmental Expansion

Based on trigger type, the market is segmented into Manually Initiated eCall (MIeC) and Automatically Initiated eCall (AIeC).

In 2022, the Automatically Initiated eCall (AIeC) segment held the largest share in the global market. This advanced in-vehicle safety system consists of an automated calling device that calls the emergency service providers if the vehicle is involved in an accident or a crash. The vehicle data is automatically transmitted when the sensors are activated due to the deployment of airbags. Thus, growing demand for advanced future telematics technology is expected to drive the demand for this segment throughout the forecast period.

As of 2022, the Manually Initiated eCall (MIeC) segment held a substantial market share owing to stringent regulations by European countries. However, this segment is expected to gradually decline in demand as more major players shift toward integrating automatically initiated eCall technology owing to its efficiency and ease of the process.

By Propulsion Type Analysis

Growing Electric Vehicle Infrastructure to Influence the Growth of the Electric Segment Exponentially

Based on propulsion type, the market is segmented into IC engine and electric.

The IC engine segment witnessed a significant global demand due to increased number of IC powered vehicles registered in most regions across the globe. Due to the higher reliability of IC engines and well-supported infrastructure, consumers prefer IC engine motor vehicles owing to their demand. These few factors are expected to drive the market demand for the IC engine segment during the forecast period.

The electric segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate owing to the fast adoption rate of electric vehicle technology across the globe, especially in European countries. Moreover, due to growing awareness regarding the benefits of electric vehicles to the environment, more and more consumers are willing to switch to cleaner energy. Furthermore, various government initiatives to build the necessary electric technology infrastructure to speed up the electrification rate are also expected to influence the segment growth during the forecast period.

By Vehicle Type Analysis

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Higher Production Rates of Passenger Vehicles Owing to Higher Demand to Drive the Passenger Cars Segment Growth 

Based on vehicle type, the market is divided into commercial vehicles and passenger cars.

The passenger cars segment held the major market share in 2022. Growing urbanization, expansion of the industrial sector, high demographic growth, and rise in disposable income have increased production and sales of passenger vehicles across the globe. The automotive manufacturing companies' rapid adoption of technologically advanced systems such as infotainment and telematics is driving the global market size. Moreover, the majority of the innovations are introduced in passenger cars owing to higher demand and major market share of passenger vehicles. These few factors justify the greater market share of the passenger cars segment.

The commercial vehicles segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate owing to the rapid adoption of newer technologies in vans, light trucks, and others. The growing demand for light commercial vehicles and vans due to increased e-commerce business trades is set to support the market growth. Additionally, stringent European regulation toward integrating eCall systems in vans and light commercial trucks is estimated to extend to heavy trucks and buses in the coming years. These factors are expected to drive the growth of the commercial vehicles segment significantly.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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Stringent Adoption of eCall Systems Fuels the Market in Europe

Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world.

Europe dominated the automotive eCall market share in 2022 owing to the region's stringent driving and safety norms. The Europe market was valued at USD 0.85 billion in 2022. The higher popularity of RVs and camper sites in this region provides greater benefits and adoption rates for different RVs. The European Union (EU) has implemented the interoperable EU-wide eCall service, which works on improving road safety and developing the automotive IT system in Europe. Thus, greater concerns and strict regulations in Europe fuel the market growth.

North America was the second-largest market for automotive eCall in 2022. The demand is attributed to the government's and consumers' growing concerns about road fatalities and accidents. Some major players, such as Ford, Mercedes and a few others, also provide their own in-vehicle automotive eCall system.

Asia Pacific will likely be an emerging market for automotive eCall due to the growing safety concerns in Japan, China, and other Asian countries. However, the lack of infrastructure and government policies might produce a lower adoption rate in some countries within the Asia Pacific region.

The rest of the world market is also expected to grow extensively due to the rising popularity of RVs in Brazil and neighboring countries.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Technological Advancements and Strategic Pricing to Help Major Players Strengthen Industry Foothold

The market is highly competitive and consolidated, with the presence of key players such as Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, Telit, Thales Group, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Valeo, Infineon Technologies AG, and Fujitsu. These players adopted new product launches and expansion strategies to gain traction in the market.

The top players in the global market are Continental AG and Robert Bosch GmbH, owing to their presence on a global scale along with industry-leading products and solutions.

Continental AG is a pioneer developer of sustainable mobility services and technologies. The company offers efficient, safe, intelligent, affordable vehicle, transportation, traffic, and machine solutions. The company has been producing telematics since 1996 and has welcomed the decision of the European Commission on the emergency call system. The company has developed telematics units with in-built eCall systems for all new vehicles in the European Union.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Continental AG (Germany)


• Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany)


• Telit (U.K.)


• Thales Group (France)


• STMicroelectronics (Switzerland)


• u-blox (Switzerland)


• Texas Instruments Incorporated. (U.S.)


• Valeo (France)


• Infineon Technologies AG (Germany)


• Visteon Corporation (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• July 2022 – TTF Spatula Group announced the launch of a new company to improve the use and benefits of automated eCall safety systems built into newer connected cars. An eCall is a built-in safety feature that activates calls whenever the airbags are deployed in the case of collision. The driver or passenger can manually activate it by pressing a button.


• July 2021 – Israel introduced a new eCall-based technology to prevent the populace from forgetting children in cars. The BABY i2/4 system identifies the weight on the seats after the engine’s turned off. If the sensor picks up weight, it notifies the vehicle owner. After two minutes, the modem sends out a call to the cell phone. eCall technology alerts the authorities and provides the precise location of the vehicle.


• January 2021 – Qorvo, Inc., the U.S.-based innovative Radio Frequency (RF) solutions provider, launched the first integrated emergency calling (eCall) automobile switch. The high linearity, low loss, and compact routing switch replaced multiple discrete devices for emergency communications


• June 2020 – Robert Bosch GmbH launched an automatic eCall solution for motorcycles. The solution helps to automatically connect emergency services through a smartphone.


• December 2019 – The UAE’s eCall system was awarded international accreditation. The system involves sending a distress call to the emergency center in case of an accident. The vehicle automatically sends the required information, including vehicle type, fuel type, and the number of passenger cars.

REPORT COVERAGE

An Infographic Representation of Automotive eCall Market

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The global market research report provides a detailed industry analysis and focuses on key aspects such as leading companies, product types, and leading vehicle types. Besides this, the report offers insights into the trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors above, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the market growth in recent years.

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