ST identified as fastest growing automotive-sensors supplier

Leveraging this expertise and its close relationships with leading automotive suppliers, ST has rapidly built upon its leading portfolio of consumer-grade sensors to create devices that meet the stringent requirements and the specifics of the automotive market.

Starting from sensors for navigation and telematics (identified as "non-safety"), ST moved into passive safety, notably with key design wins for its sensors in airbag applications. The company is now entering a third phase, with MEMS sensors for the most demanding applications in a vehicle: active-safety applications, such as electronic stability control (ESC).

"STMicroelectronics is really capitalising on two major trends in the automotive MEMS sensor market," said Jérémie Bouchaud, Senior Principal Analyst, IHS for MEMS & Sensors. "First, some tier-1 companies are beginning to outsource more and more sensing, including safety-critical applications like airbags and especially electronic stability control, where adoption rate is particularly high due the mandated adoption in major automotive markets."

"And second, low-cost, multiple-axis sensors such as monolithic 3-axis gyroscopes and 3-axis accelerometers from consumer suppliers are simplifying mounting and adding functionality through the extra measurement axes, which are essentially 'coming for free' in an inertial measurement unit with gyroscope and accelerometer that is comparable to existing automotive sensors in price but with less axes of measurement."