The automotive industry on the whole is undergoing innovations at multiple levels. Whether in terms of design or technology – this is one industry that has allowed for great creativity and imagination. The latest addition to the long list of innovations is smart seating systems. Until recently, smart seats were regarded as expensive units only made available in luxury cars. But with advancement in technology, manufacturers of mid-segment cars and commercial vehicles are also implementing smart seats. This is why analysts at Technavio predict that the global automotive smart seating systems market will grow at a CAGR of around 9% by 2020.
What’s trending in the smart seating systems market?
Holistic HMI seats
In a bid to come up with intelligent seat configurations and seat adjustment features, OEMs have created holistic HMI (human-machine interface) seats. These seats not only increase the comfort levels of drivers, but also establish active communication between the seat and the driver. For example: the HMI seat being developed by Continental will store the seat position through the memory function, which can also be retrieved. This development will allow the seat to automatically adjust according to the driver’s preferred position as soon as he/she enters the vehicle. Though still in the developmental stage, the integration of HMI seats is sure to improve the driving experience and boost the automotive smart seating systems market.
Real-time monitoring through contactless sensors
The need to drive long distances at irregular times has resulted in high demand for durable and functionally-efficient seats. What began as an electronic seat adjustment has evolved into the addition of intelligent seat configurations. This has resulted in the emergence of seats that have contactless sensors to provide real-time monitoring of the driver’s vital statistics such as heart rate, respiration, stress, and energy levels. The best part is that neither the visual design nor the seat comfort is compromised in the process of sensor integration.
Cost Structure of Automotive Smart Seats
Source: Technavio
Seat-covers with cover carving technology
With the growing demand for increased space inside vehicles, many OEMs are focusing on seat covers. Improved seat covers not only increase the space in the vehicle but also reduce the overall weight. With the help of cover carving technology, manufacturers have successfully reduced the weight by almost 1kg per row. Another advantage of cover carving technology is that it helps in bringing down the cost of production by at least 80% when compared to the traditional plastic pack shell.
Smart seating concept for small and compact vehicles
Small and compact vehicles are in high demand, and also require smart seating systems. Not only are smart seats lightweight compared to traditional seats, they also tend to improve vehicle efficiency by increasing the space inside. Several OEMs have dedicated wings working on smart seats that are solely meant for small and compact vehicles. These seats improve the vehicle’s scalability and provide a cost-advantage to manufacturers.
Integration with automatic emergency braking systems
With safety being of the utmost importance to both manufacturers and consumers, there is a trend towards the integration of automatic emergency braking systems with smart seats. This will allow both systems will safeguard the vehicle against emergency crashes caused by drowsiness, through the application of emergency brakes.
Want to learn more about the future of the smart seating systems market?
Order the 2016-2020 Report on the Global Automotive Smart Seating Systems Market
You might also be interested in:
How rear-seat infotainment systems are impacting automobile manufacturing
The 2016-2020 Report on Global Automotive Heated Seats Market
