-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueIntelligent Test and Inspection
Are you ready to explore the cutting-edge advancements shaping the electronics manufacturing industry? The May 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine is packed with insights, innovations, and expert perspectives that you won’t want to miss.
Do You Have X-ray Vision?
Has X-ray’s time finally come in electronics manufacturing? Join us in this issue of SMT007 Magazine, where we answer this question and others to bring more efficiency to your bottom line.
IPC APEX EXPO 2025: A Preview
It’s that time again. If you’re going to Anaheim for IPC APEX EXPO 2025, we’ll see you there. In the meantime, consider this issue of SMT007 Magazine to be your golden ticket to planning the show.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Automotive EMS: Going Beyond Assembly
September 9, 2015 | Frederick Blancas, Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc.Estimated reading time: 1 minute

As the amount of electronics that go into a car increases, the car is becoming less of a mechanical thing consisting of a few electronics and more of a computer with wheels.
The electronics' share of vehicle value for a state-of-the-art automobile is already at 40% for traditional, internal combustion engine cars, and it could reach 75% for electric or hybrid electric vehicles. This percentage value will definitely rise in the next few years.
Automotive electronics rose by 7.3% in 2014 to about $205 billion and will continue to grow at the same growth rate to 2020, at close to $315 billion based on a report by Research and Markets. The advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) market will have a 14.9% CAGR from estimated revenue of $39 billion in 2015 to $78.2 billion in 2020, according to Industry ARC.
According to New Venture Research, of the $91.2 billion worldwide automotive electronics assembly value in 2014, 86% was done in-house by the OEMs; 1% by the ODMs; and 13% by the EMS providers.
The automotive industry continues to grow rapidly as a high-growth market for EMS providers as it transitions steadily from mechanical to electronics. The total automotive EMS value of $12.1 billion in 2014 was contributed mainly by the top players that include Flextronics International; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd (Foxconn Technology Group); Jabil Circuit Inc.; Zollner Electronik AG; and Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc.
Merely board stuffers—these are not today’s EMS providers in the automotive space. They’ve gone far beyond board stuffing.
The EMS providers are end-to-end solution providers, assisting the automotive electronics makers or automotive manufacturers in product realization. They engage in design and product development, advanced manufacturing engineering, and test and test system development.
Their manufacturing expertise includes PCB and FPCB assembly services, module assembly, and box build assembly. They can offer high-volume manufacturing as well as low-volume and high-mix manufacturing. Some EMS companies can do product reliability and failure analysis, calibration, and product repair services.
Further, while it is common for the tier-one EMS providers to have plastic injection capability, there are also mid-tier EMS players that can offer plastic injection. We can say that the automotive EMS players have expanded their role through vertical integration and venture into the realm of non-electronics manufacturing.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2015 issue of SMT Magazine.
Suggested Items
Siemens to Bring Advanced Timing Constraint Capabilities to EDA Design Flow with Excellicon Acquisition
05/19/2025 | SiemensSiemens has entered into an agreement to acquire Excellicon to bring its best-in-class software for the development, verification, and management of timing constraints to Siemens’ EDA portfolio of software for IC design
Revolutionizing Inspection With Delvitech
05/19/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineRoberto Gatti, CEO of Delvitech, shares insights into its Horus machine, a revolutionary innovation in AI-driven inspection technology. This unique system leverages five patented optical heads and custom cameras to perform high-speed, precise inspections. With capabilities that extend beyond traditional limitations, the Horus machine seeks to transform inspection in electronics and microelectronics, as well as the food and pharmaceutical industries, showcasing the versatility and power of its AI-native technology.
It’s Only Common Sense: The Importance of Setting Realistic Expectations
05/19/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseWhether dealing with customers, employees, or stakeholders, setting and managing expectations can make or break relationships, trust, and long-term success. Below are the reasons it’s critical to set realistic expectations and how doing so can bolster your business's credibility.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/16/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007My picks for the week include—as a complement to the trade agreement news—SEMI's public support of a bill including new tax credit eligibility for semiconductor manufacturers. This provision feels quite similar to the current PCB investment bill that's been introduced to the current Congress; here’s hoping Congress takes a more holistic approach to electronics manufacturing.
NCAB Acquires 100% of B&B Leiterplattenservice GmbH in Germany
04/23/2025 | NCABNCAB has signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent of B&B Leiterplattenservice GmbH (B&B) headquartered in Mittweida, west of Dresden. The company had net sales of around 150 MSEK in 2024 within the PCB trading with an EBITA exceeding SEK 20 million.