Boston, MA - August 16, 2006 - The new Strategy Analytics "Automotive Semiconductor Demand Forecast 2004 - 2013" study indicates that the market for automotive grade semiconductors in 2006 will reach $18 billion, a year-on-year growth of 10 percent. This analysis shows that planned enhancements to vehicle performance, features and safety will drive automotive semiconductor revenues to almost $29 billion by 2013, ensuring that semiconductor vendors in this sector will enjoy good growth throughout this decade and beyond.

Growth in electronic system penetration and increasingly sophisticated control functions will accelerate semiconductor growth well above vehicle production expansion levels. Global light vehicle production is expected to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 3.6 percent over the period 2005 to 2010. Over the same period Strategy Analytics expects automotive semiconductor revenues to grow by more than double that rate at 8.2 percent CAGR, as vehicle makers introduce electronically controlled innovations in order to meet tightening environmental and safety legislation and respond to consumer expectations of enhanced performance, comfort and infotainment.

"The vehicle OEMs will need to continually innovate in order to meet tightening emissions and safety legislation, and to respond to competitive pressure and changing consumer expectations. This is driving up demand in all semiconductor component areas," says Chris Webber, VP - Automotive Practice.

"Next generation powertrain, safety control sophistication and convergence in infotainment will demand higher performance processor and memory capabilities. Cost and miniaturization issues in areas such as legislation-driven tire pressure monitoring are boosting demand for application specific devices. Other new safety demands, such as lane departure warning systems, are driving up the sensor business, including camera ICs. Power semiconductor demand is being assisted by the growing number of actuators in comfort and convenience systems such as climate control and seating, and new developments like active steering and adaptive headlamp control systems."