From January to September 2023, 48.172 million cameras were installed in new cars in China, a like-on-like jump of 34.1%, including:
9.209 million front view cameras, up 33.0%;
3.875 million side view ADS cameras, up 110.1%;
499,000 rear view ADS cameras, up 372.3%;
22.728 million surround view cameras, up 38.1%;
7.141 million rear view (reversing) cameras, down 4.4%;
355,000 streaming media cameras, up 75.3%;
2.336 million in-cabin cameras, up 96.3%;
2.029 million driving recorder cameras, up 17.8%.
It is estimated that the total installation of cameras will hit 65.065 million units in 2023, a figure projected to jump to 93.022 million in 2026.
In terms of front view, mono cameras have obvious advantages. From January to September 2023, new cars in China were installed with 8.946 million front view mono cameras, up 34.5% from the prior-year period. 51.4% of front view cameras were concentrated in the vehicles priced at RMB100,000-250,000 from popular brands like Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen and BYD, among which Tesla took an overwhelming 14.1% share. The installation of front view cameras in the vehicles worth RMB350,000-400,000 enjoyed the fastest growth, soaring by 119.2% on an annualized basis to 913,000 units, mainly driven by Model Y, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Li L8
It is clearly that front view cameras tend to feature high resolution. According to the data of ResearchInChina, from January to September 2023, there were 85,000 5MP front view cameras installed, surging by 10 times on a like-on-like basis, with the penetration rate rising to 0.9% from 0.1% in the same period of the previous year; the installation of 8MP front view cameras soared by 250.2% to 751,000 units from 214,000 units in the same period of the previous year, and the penetration rate also jumped from 3.1% to 8.2%.
To adapt to the current "involution" in intelligent driving functions, Tier 1 vision companies are working to build themselves into "full-stack suppliers" that can provide modular and definable autonomous driving solutions with software and hardware decoupled to optimize software and hardware synchronously. For example, some suppliers can provide OEMs with complete autonomous driving solutions consisting of "domain controller hardware + underlying basic software + upper application software + sensors", so as to reduce the R&D cost and shorten the mass production time for OEMs.
Yet from the current selection of OEMs, it can be seen that there is not much scope for Tier 1 suppliers of intelligent driving, especially those without production experience.
OEMs have begun to treat intelligent driving rationally, and automakers tend to adopt "in-house R&D + outsourcing" parallel intelligent driving R&D strategies. For example:
Li Auto develops advanced intelligent driving solutions by itself, but develops low- and mid-level solutions with QCraft;
The advanced intelligent driving solutions of IM, a brand under SAIC, are provided by Momenta, while IM's own team is mainly responsible for low-level driving assistance functions and integration;
BYD's Dynasty and Ocean Series adopt solutions from Tier 1 suppliers. Later BYD Han will carry a highway NOA solution based on Horizon Robotics J5, while DENZA N7 and Yangwang U8 will use "God's Eye" advanced intelligent driving solution (hardware is self-developed by BYD, but software is developed by BYD and Dipai Zhixing jointly).
As the competition in the ADAS market intensifies, orders go to top suppliers (e.g., Huawei, DJI and Momenta), making it hard for small and medium-sized suppliers depending on financing to survive. Some of them have to shrink their business or seek to be acquired.
In December 2023, Chery iCAR 03 was released for global pre-sale. The Intelligent Driving Edition of iCAR 03 packs the 7V vision-only solution of DJI Chengxing Platform, with sensors including a pair of 8MP front view inertial navigation stereo cameras, a 3MP rear view mono camera and four 3MP surround view fisheye cameras. This solution enables memory driving, highway NOA, cross-floor home-zone parking assist and other functions. It costs about RMB5,000.
Following the launch of ADS 1.0 and ADS 2.0, Huawei ADS 3.0 has been filed. According to Dong Zhihua, Director of Autonomous Driving R&D at Avatr, Huawei ADS 3.0 features point-to-point connection, that is, in the period of time from the user getting on the car in the residential community garage to getting off the car in the office building garage, the entire process is fully connected, with much higher reliability and safety and fewer manual takeovers.
As of August 2023, Momenta had been publicly designated by SAIC IM, BYD DENZA/Yangwang and Geely Lotus among others for over 10 mass production projects and over 25 models. DJI has cooperated with Wuling, Volkswagen, Chery, etc. By the end of 2024, more than 20 car models will be equipped with its intelligent driving products. In December 2023, iMotion, listed on Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, was designated by 16 OEMs including Chery, Geely, Great Wall Motor and Dongfeng, and secured mass production orders for more than 200,000 sets.
Table of Contents
1 Overview of Automotive Vision Industry
1.1 Introduction to ADAS
1.2 Classification of ADAS Functions
1.3 Main Application Scenarios of Automotive Cameras in ADAS
1.4 Classification of Automotive Cameras
1.5 Working Principle and Structure of Automotive Cameras
1.6 Automotive Camera Industry Chain
1.7 Corporate Layout in Automotive Camera Industry Chain
1.8 Number of Cameras Necessary for Autonomous Driving at All Levels and Sensor Structure Solutions of Main Models for Sale in the Market
1.9 Sensor Configuration of ADAS Solutions of Some OEMs (1)
1.10 Sensor Configuration of ADAS Solutions of Some OEMs (2)
1.11 Sensor Configuration of ADAS Solutions of Some OEMs (3)
1.12 Sensor Configuration of ADAS Solutions of Some OEMs (4)
1.13 Sensor Configuration of ADAS Solutions of Some OEMs (5)
1.14 Sensor Configuration of ADAS Solutions of Some OEMs (6)
1.15 Sensor Configuration of ADAS Solutions of Some OEMs (7)
1.16 Sensor Configuration of ADAS Solutions of Some OEMs (8)
2 Automotive Vision Market
2.1 Overview
2.1.1 Camera Installations and YoY Growth, Jan-Sep 2023
2.1.2 Camera Installations in New Models of Joint Venture Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Overall
2.1.3 Camera Installations in New Models of Independent Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Overall
2.2 Front View System
2.2.1 Front View Camera Installations (Price/Brand/Model)
2.2.2 Installations and Penetration Rate of Front View HD Cameras
2.2.3 Proportion of Front View HD Cameras and 8MP Front View Camera Installation
2.2.4 Camera Installations in New Models of Joint Venture Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Front View
2.2.5 Camera Installations in New Models of Independent Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Front View
2.2.6 Front-view Camera Suppliers for New Passenger Cars and Their Market Share in China
2.3 Side View ADS
2.3.1 Installations of Side View ADS Cameras (Price/Brand/Model)
2.3.2 Installations and Penetration Rate of Side View HD ADS Cameras
2.3.3 Proportion of Side View HD ADS Cameras and 2/8MP Side View Camera Installation
2.3.4 Camera Installations in New Models of Independent Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Side View ADS
2.4 Rear View ADS
2.4.1 Installations of Rear View ADS Cameras (Price/Brand/Model)
2.4.2 Installations and Penetration Rate of Rear View HD ADS Cameras
2.4.3 Camera Installations in New Models of Independent Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Rear View ADS
2.5 Surround View System
2.5.1 Surround View Camera Installations (Price/Brand/Model)
2.5.2 Installations and Penetration Rate of Surround View HD Cameras
2.5.3 Camera Installations in New Models of Joint Venture Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Surround View
2.5.4 Camera Installations in New Models of Independent Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Surround View
2.6 Rear View System
2.6.1 Rear View Camera Installations (Price/Brand/Model)
2.6.2 Camera Installations in New Models of Joint Venture Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Rear View
2.6.3 Camera Installations in New Models of Independent Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Rear View
2.7 Streaming Media System
2.7.1 Streaming Media Camera Installations (Price/Brand/Model)
2.7.2 Camera Installations in New Models of Independent Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Streaming Media Cameras
2.8 In-cabin System
2.8.1 In-cabin Camera Installations (Price/Brand/Model)
2.8.2 Camera Installations in New Models of Joint Venture Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - In-Cabin Cameras
2.8.3 Camera Installations in New Models of Independent Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - In-Cabin Cameras
2.9 Driving Recorders
2.9.1 Driving Recorder Camera Installations (Price/Brand/Model)
2.9.2 Camera Installations in New Models of Joint Venture Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Driving Recorders
2.9.3 Camera Installations in New Models of Independent Brands, Jan-Sep 2023 - Driving Recorders
3 Chinese Vision Enterprises
3.1 MINIEYE
3.1.1 Profile
3.1.2 Technology Route
3.1.3 Four Major Product Matrices
3.1.4 iPilot Series: High Configuration Version
3.1.5 iPilot Series: Low Configuration Version
3.1.6 iPilot Series: iPilot 2/3/3 plus
3.1.7 iPilot Series: iPilot 1/1 eco/1 plus
3.1.8 Hardware Structure of iPilot 1
3.1.9 System Composition of iPilot 1
3.1.10 Time-sharing and Multiplexing of iPilot 1
3.1.11 iSafety Product: D2
3.1.12 iCabin
3.1.13 iCabin 1 & iCabin 1 plus
3.1.14 Trends, Customers and Development Direction in 2022-2023
3.1.15 Summary of Vision Products
3.2 Suzhou INVO
3.2.1 Profile
3.2.2 Solutions and Application Scenarios
3.2.3 i-Drive: FAS, DCU
3.2.4 i-Drive: IMS, FAPA
3.2.5 i-Sense: Front View, Surround View
3.2.6 i-Sense: Surround View, Internal View
3.2.7 Partners, Recent Dynamics and Future Development
3.3 JIMU Intelligent
3.3.1 Profile
3.3.2 Core Technology
3.3.3 Some technologies at the Algorithm Level
3.3.4 Dual Circulation Autonomous Driving Data Platform
3.3.5 Development Process from Commercial Vehicles to Passenger Cars
3.3.6 Intelligent Driving Layout for Commercial Vehicles and Passenger Cars
3.3.7 Passenger Car Solutions
3.3.8 Passenger Car Solution 1: L2 ADAS
3.3.9 Passenger Car Solution 2: L2+ ADAS
3.3.10 Commercial Vehicle Solutions
3.3.11 Commercial Vehicle Solution: JIMU S7 L2+ Video Domain Control Solution
3.3.12 OEM Products: JMBEV and JMC2
3.3.13 Recent Application Dynamics of OEM Products
3.3.14 Partners
3.3.15 Summary of Vision Products
3.4 MAXIEYE
3.4.1 Profile
3.4.2 Strategic Layout
3.4.3 Full-stack Technology Deployment from Perception to Planning and Control
3.4.4 Platformization Solutions
3.4.5 Solutions and Three Products
3.4.6 Solution 1: MAXIPILOT 1.0
3.4.7 Solution 2: MAXIPILOT 1.0 PLUS
3.4.8 Solution 3: MAXIPILOT 2.0/3.0
3.4.9 Solution 3: Comparison between Versions of MAXIPILOT 2.0/3.0
3.4.10 Solution 4: Product Matrix of MAXIPILOT 2.0
3.4.11 Solution 5: MAXIPILOT 2.0 - Pro
3.4.12 Solution 6: MonoToGo™
3.4.13 Development History of Products
3.4.14 Vision Products: IFVS-600 Series
3.4.15 Recent Dynamics and Major Customers
3.5 Autocruis
3.5.1 Profile
3.5.2 Six Major Technologies
3.5.3 Products
3.5.4 Forward ADAS
3.5.5 Intelligent Blind Spot Management System
3.5.6 "Yuxing" Bus Blind Spot Management System
3.5.7 Intelligent Panoramic Image System and Driver Monitoring System
3.5.8 Cooperation with Xilinx in Developing AVM and IMS
3.5.9 Cooperation with Ambarella in Developing IMS
3.5.10 CMS
3.5.11 AI Vision Chips
3.5.12 Recent Dynamics and Partners
3.6 Freetech
3.6.1 Profile
3.6.2 Development Route
3.6.3 ODIN Digital Intelligence Base
3.6.4 Domain Controller Solutions
3.6.5 Domain Controller Solution 1: ADC15, ADC1x
3.6.6 Domain Controller Solution 2: ADC20
3.6.7 Domain Controller Solution 3: Architecture of ADC25
3.6.8 Domain Controller Solution 4: ADC30
3.6.9 Domain Controller Solution 5: Architecture of the Next-generation ADC-X
3.6.10 Perception Solution Configuration
3.6.11 Cameras: Front View Cameras for Passenger Cars
3.6.12 Cameras: FVC3
3.6.13 Camera Module Products
3.6.14 Streaming Media and DMS Products
3.6.15 Recent Dynamics and Mass Production Designation
3.6.16 Summary of Vision Products
3.7 Tsingtech Microvision
3.7.1 Profile
3.7.2 Technology
3.7.3 Solutions and Products
3.7.4 Intelligent Driving Solutions for Passenger Cars
3.7.5 Intelligent Driving Solutions for Commercial Vehicles - Buses and Trucks
3.7.6 Intelligent Driving Solutions for Commercial Vehicles - Waste Trucks, Buses and School Buses
3.7.7 L2+ Autonomous Driving Solutions for Commercial Vehicles
3.7.8 L4 Autonomous Driving Solutions
3.7.9 Vision Product: Intelligent Interactive Driving Assistance System - TM-T1A
3.7.10 Vision Product: Stereo Vision Early Warning System