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Data Insights Innovation in automotive: Airless tires

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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

300+ innovations will shape the automotive industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the automotive industry using innovation intensity models built on over one million patents, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, multi-spark ignition, integrated multi-motor drivetrains and vehicle auxiliary drives are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Solar range extenders, turbocharger shaft bearings, and multi-lamellar clutches are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are auto-transmission lubrication circuits and electroluminscent vehicle displays, which are now well established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry

Airless tires is a key innovation area in automotive

An airless tire, also known as a non-pneumatic tire, is a type of tire that does not require air pressure to maintain shape and provide stability. Instead, these tires use a variety of technologies, such as spokes, elastomers, or other materials, to provide structural support.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 20+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of airless tires.

Key players in airless tires – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.   

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.  

Patent volumes related to airless tires

Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin is one of the key patent filers in airless tire technology, offering advantages such as puncture-proofness, low maintenance, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced environmental impact. Bridgestone and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber are some of the other key patent filers in this space.

In terms of application diversity, Societe De Technologie Michelin leads the pack, while RAILBLAZA and Kumho Tire stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Sumitomo Electric Industries held the top position, followed by BASF and Honda Motor.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive. 

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.