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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%.
Suggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
07/18/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007It may be the middle of the summer, but the news doesn’t quit, and there’s plenty to talk about this week, whether you’re talking technical or on a global scale. When I have to choose six items instead of my regular five, you know it’s good. I start by highlighting my interview with Martyn Gaudion on his latest book, share some concerning tariff news, follow that up with some promising (and not-so-promising) investments, and feature a paper from last January’s inaugural Pan-European Design Conference.
Elephantech Launches World’s Smallest-Class Copper Nanofiller
07/17/2025 | ElephantechJapanese deep-tech startup Elephantech has launched its cutting-edge 15 nm class copper nanofiller – the smallest class available globally. This breakthrough makes Elephantech one of the first companies in the world to provide such advanced material for commercial use.
Copper Price Surge Raises Alarms for Electronics
07/15/2025 | Global Electronics Association Advocacy and Government Relations TeamThe copper market is experiencing major turbulence in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 50% tariff on imported copper effective Aug. 1. Recent news reports, including from the New York Times, sent U.S. copper futures soaring to record highs, climbing nearly 13% in a single day as manufacturers braced for supply shocks and surging costs.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
07/11/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineThis week, we have quite a variety of news items and articles for you. News continues to stream out of Washington, D.C., with tariffs rearing their controversial head again. Because these tariffs are targeted at overseas copper manufacturers, this news has a direct effect on our industry.I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
Digital Twin Concept in Copper Electroplating Process Performance
07/11/2025 | Aga Franczak, Robrecht Belis, Elsyca N.V.PCB manufacturing involves transforming a design into a physical board while meeting specific requirements. Understanding these design specifications is crucial, as they directly impact the PCB's fabrication process, performance, and yield rate. One key design specification is copper thieving—the addition of “dummy” pads across the surface that are plated along with the features designed on the outer layers. The purpose of the process is to provide a uniform distribution of copper across the outer layers to make the plating current density and plating in the holes more uniform.