Automotive Ultrasonic Radar and OEMs’ Parking Route Research Report, 2024

Automotive Ultrasonic Radar and OEMs’ Parking Route Research Report, 2024


1. Over 220 million ultrasonic radars will be installed in 2028.

In recent years, the installations of ultrasonic radars in passenger cars in China surged, up to 121.955 million units in 2023, jumping by 13.7% year on year. It is expected to be more than 140 million units in 2025 and over 220 million units in 2028.

There are two key driving factors:
First, ultrasonic radars can satisfy the requirements of autonomous driving solutions of differing levels and routes, and has a long lifecycle. In recent years, as vehicle intelligence has accelerated, parking systems have kept expanding function boundaries from semi-automated parking to APA (automated parking assist) and integrated APA, from short-range remote parking assist (RPA) to home-zone valet parking (HVP) and even long-range automated valet parking (AVP).

According to ResearchInChina, in 2023 the installation rate of integrated APA systems in passenger cars in China hit 8.2%, up 3.0 percentage points on the previous year; the installation rate of high-level parking (HVP or AVP) was 0.7%, up 0.4 percentage points. As driving-parking integration and cockpit-parking integration markets gather pace, low-speed APA (especially integrated APA), and high-level parking (especially HVP), are expected to enjoy a boom.

Second, under the domain controller architecture, driving and parking systems previously independent of each other tend to be integrated, namely, driving-parking integration with the biggest feature that driving and parking can deeply multiplex and share sensors and computing power. In 2023, driving-parking integration entered the stage of mass adoption, giving a big boost to the automated parking market and taking the core sensor, ultrasonic radar, into the ""fast lane"".

ResearchInChina’s statistics shows that in 2023, driving-parking integration was installed in 1.602 million passenger cars in China, a year-on-year spurt of 61.4%, with the installation rate reaching 7.6%, up 2.6 percentage points. It is expected that in 2025, driving-parking integration will be installed in over 3 million passenger cars, with the installation rate higher than 15%, a figured projected to hit about 25% in 2028.

2. New-generation AK2 ultrasonic radars are about to become widespread.

The optimization and upgrading of parking systems and the promotion and application of driving-parking integration require higher ultrasonic radar performance, involving longer detection range, greater anti-interference, and compliance with higher functional safety. On this basis, quite a few companies have developed the new generation of ultrasonic radar AK2 technologies and products.

Greatly differing from AK1, AK2 is codable, and improves the anti-interference capability of products by adjusting signals.

When AK1 works, all probes on the same side of the bumper send out waves in turn to avoid co-channel interference, leading to a relatively system refresh time. AK2 enables multi-sensor simultaneous transmission and reception via some special encoding modes, and some also support simultaneous transmission of different ultrasonic signals, thus greatly shortening the system refresh time.

Technological innovations give AK2 large performance superiorities, including:
Longer detection range: up to 7-8m;
Smaller blind spot: within 10cm;
Support for multi-mode switching; for example, Audiowell AK2 supports up-and down-conversion modes, while Longhorn AK2 supports three transmission modes: fixed frequency, frequency upswep and frequency downsweep;
Refresh time: <40ms, supporting 6 sensors to work simultaneously;
Diagnostic function;
DSI3 communication mode, with fast signal propagation, up to 444kbit/s;
ASIL B functional safety level.

Currently, more than a dozen companies like Audiowell, Baolong Automotive, ForVision and Longhorn Automotive Electronic have launched AK2 ultrasonic radar, and some of them have entered the mass production phase.

As an ultrasonic radar leader in China, with the ability to self-develop transducers and algorithms, Audiowell was the first to introduce the fourth-generation product, AK2, in 2021, and started batch delivery and sale of it in 2022. In early 2024, Audiowell AK2 has been designated by multiple automakers (including joint-venture and China’s independent ones). It is expected that the driving-parking integration solution will be mounted on over 20 new models in the year.

Baolong Automotive invested in UDAS Automotive Technology in 2022. They co-funded BaoU Technology, a company specializing in ultrasonic radar for passenger cars.

In August 2023, Baolong Automotive released AK2, a new-generation high-performance ultrasonic radar featuring a self-designed transducer with the minimum vertical FOV, and 8K FM bandwidth. It improves anti-interference performance through variable frequency transmission, allows for transmission mixed with fixed frequency and encoding modes, and can meet ASIL B functional safety level requirements.

In Q3 2023, BaoU Technology under Baolong Automotive mass-produced AK2 ultrasonic radar sensors for China’s independent automakers. In September 2023, the product was designated by another Chinese independent auto brand, and the volume production is scheduled to start in July 2024. In addition, Baolong Automotive has built a fully automated ultrasonic radar production line in Hefei Park, with AK2 capacity up to 300,000 units/month.

As a company engaged in ""ADAS + autonomous driving in low-speed scenarios"", ForVision received strategic investment from ThunderSoft in 2020 and launched an AK2 product in 2022, with the detection range of 8m and accuracy of 1cm. In July 2023, the product was designated by Voyah for its AK2 algorithm and hardware mass production project based on the new-generation intelligent driving platform on which Voyah builds mid-to-large-size luxury electric executive sedans and new mid-size electric SUVs, with planned lifecycle output of more than 400,000 vehicles.

To meet market demand, ForVision is building its own ultrasonic radar factory in 2024, with capacity expected to reach about 4 million units in May 2024, and annual capacity up to 10 million units. ForVision CEO Xin Yonglei said there will be nearly ten production models using ForVision's ultrasonic sensor technology in the coming year.

3. Localization of core components of AK2 speeds up.

Core components of AK2 ultrasonic radar include transducer, chip, and housing, of which transducer and chip makes up around 60% of the BOM cost.

Transducers are dominated by international Tier1s like Bosch and Valeo. China’s local companies such as Audiowell, Zongmu Technology, Baolong Automotive and Youhang Technology make continuous investment and now have self-development and production capabilities.

Wherein, Youhang Technology, positioned as a Tier2, was the first to deliver AK2 ultrasonic radar transducers on large scale in late 2022. It has three fully automated transducer production lines and plans to have capacity of 40 million transducers in 2024.

In terms of chips, in addition to Bosch, the industry mainly purchases products from Germany’s Elmos, whose chips can support highway or urban low-speed scenarios, with detection range up to 6m, and can detect obstacles, pedestrians, cyclists, or animals. In 2021, Elmos introduced E524.17, a new-generation ultrasonic radar chip which has become the preferred solution for many suppliers.

To improve chip localization, Ninestar's company, Geehy Microelectronics, has made continuous efforts on development, and mass-produced its first ultrasonic sensor chip on a large scale in 2023. The product features high integration, small size, high precision and comprehensive data collection, and can be used in automated parking assist, ultrasonic parking assist, ADAS and so on.

Moreover, Youhang Technology is also developing an ultrasonic radar chip, and plans to produce it in quantities in 2024. In October 2023, Youhang Technology raised tens of millions of yuan in its Pre-A funding round led by South China Venture Capital and co-invested by Dingjia Ventures. The raised funds are largely spent on projects including automotive-grade validation test and mass production of AK2 sensor chip, ultrasonic transducer capacity expansion, and R&D of automotive micro-crash sensor chip.

The steady development of the downstream parking market and the faster localization of upstream core components provide favorable support for mass adoption of ultrasonic radars. Yet amid fierce competition in vehicle intelligence and diverse market demands, ultrasonic radars still face many challenges.

For instance, since 2022 Tesla has eliminated 12 ultrasonic radars on Model 3/Model Y models in some regions and replaced them with Tesla Vision technology. Some OEMs or suppliers use short-range radars to replace ultrasonic radars. At CES 2024, Continental introduced Radar Vision Parking, a system based on high-resolution surround radars and surround view to replace conventional ultrasonic sensors.

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1 Automotive Ultrasonic Radar and Application Scenarios
1.1 Overview of Automotive Ultrasonic Radar
1.1.1 Introduction
1.1.2 System Composition
1.1.3 Working Principle
1.1.4 Main Types
1.1.5 Iteration History
1.1.6 Key Parameters
1.1.7 Industry Chain
1.1.8 Application Scenarios
1.2 Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Parking Scenarios
1.2.1 Development History of Parking
1.2.2 Automated Parking Assist (APA)
1.2.3 Remote Parking Assist (RPA)
1.2.4 Home-zone Parking Pilot (HPP)
1.2.5 Lane-tracking Reversing Assistance System (LRAS)
1.2.6 Automated Valet Parking (AVP)
1.2.7 Highway Side Assist
2 Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Installations and Solution Comparison in China
2.1 Installations of Ultrasonic Radars in Passenger Cars in China
2.1.1 Overall Installations of Ultrasonic Radars, 2021-2023
2.1.2 Installations of Ultrasonic Radars, 2021-2023: By Company Type
2.1.3 Installations of Ultrasonic Radars, 2021-2023: By Price
2.1.4 Installations of Ultrasonic Radars, 2021-2023: By Brand/Model
2.1.5 Installations of Ultrasonic Radars Per Vehicle, 2021-2023: Overall and by Company Type
2.1.6 Installations of Ultrasonic Radars Per Vehicle, 2021-2023: By Price
2.1.7 Installations of Ultrasonic Radars Per Vehicle, 2021-2023: By Brand/Model
2.1.8 Ultrasonic Radar Installation Solutions: By Number of Radars Installed
2.1.9 Ultrasonic Radar Installation Solutions: By Autonomous Driving Level
2.1.10 TOP15 Models Installed with 4 Ultrasonic Radars by Sales
2.1.11 TOP15 Models Installed with 8 Ultrasonic Radars by Sales
2.1.12 TOP15 Models Installed with 12 Ultrasonic Radars by Sales
2.1.13 Ultrasonic Radar Market, 2024-2028E (1)
2.1.14 Ultrasonic Radar Market, 2024-2028E (2)
2.2 Comparison of Products and Solutions between Passenger Car Ultrasonic Radar Companies
2.2.1 Major Ultrasonic Radar Suppliers
2.2.2 Comparison of Products and Planning between Major Foreign Suppliers
2.2.3 Comparison of Products and Planning between Major Chinese Suppliers (1)
2.2.4 Comparison of Products and Planning between Major Chinese Suppliers (2)
2.2.5 Comparison of Products and Planning between Major Chinese Suppliers (3)
2.2.6 Comparison of Ultrasonic Radar Business Models in China
3 Development Trends of Automotive Ultrasonic Radar and Parking in China
3.1 Overview of Ultrasonic Radar Trends
3.1.1 Product and Technology Trends
3.1.2 Application Trends
3.1.3 Industry Chain Trends
3.2 Ultrasonic Radar Enters AK2 Era
3.2.1 Features of AK2 Encoded Ultrasonic Radar
3.2.2 Encoded Ultrasonic DSI Communication Technology
3.2.3 AK2 Ultrasonic Radar Core Components
3.2.4 Application Scenarios of AK2 Encoded Ultrasonic Radar
3.2.5 Layout Comparison of AK2 Encoded Ultrasonic Radars between Foreign Suppliers
3.2.6 Layout Comparison of AK2 Encoded Ultrasonic Radars between Chinese Suppliers (1)
3.2.6 Layout Comparison of AK2 Encoded Ultrasonic Radars between Chinese Suppliers (2)
3.2.7 AK2 Production Model 1
3.2.8 AK2 Production Model 2
3.2.9 AK2 Production Model 3
3.3 Ultrasonic Radars Tend To Be Miniaturized and Integrated
3.3.1 MEMS Ultrasonic Radar
3.3.2 Audiowell's CPD Solution Based on MEMS Ultrasonic Radar
3.3.3 Concealed Design of Ultrasonic Radar
3.4 Challenges and Trends in Ultrasonic Radar
3.4.1 Challenges
3.4.2 Discussion of Trends
3.5 Parking is the Mainstream Scenario of Ultrasonic Radar
3.5.1 Evolution of Parking Industry
3.5.2 Installation of Major Parking Systems
3.5.3 Installation of APA System (1)
3.5.4 Installation of APA System (2)
3.5.5 Sensor Solution of APA System (3)
3.5.6 Installation of Integrated APA System (1)
3.5.7 Installation of Integrated APA System (2)
3.5.8 Sensor Solution of Integrated APA System (3)
3.5.9 HVP /AVP Systems and Their Sensor Solutions (1)
3.5.10 HVP /AVP Systems and Their Sensor Solutions (2)
3.5.11 HVP /AVP Systems and Their Sensor Solutions (3)
3.6 Cockpit-parking Integration Facilitate Basic Parking Application
3.6.1 Overview of Cockpit-parking Integration
3.6.2 Multiple Companies Deploy Cockpit-parking Integration
3.7 Driving-parking Integration Pushes Parking to Higher Level
3.7.1 Overview of Driving-parking Integration
3.7.2 Driving-Parking Integration in China Comes into Mass Production
3.7.3 Major Players of Driving-parking Integration
4 Parking Routes & Ultrasonic Radar Installation Schemes of OEMs
4.1 Comparison of Passenger Car Parking Solutions between OEMs
4.2 BMW
4.2.1 Ultrasonic Radar Installations & Installation Scheme
4.2.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.2.3 Automated Parking Assistant Plus
4.2.4 Remote Valet Parking
4.3 Mercedes-Benz
4.3.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.3.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.3.3 Automated Valet Parking Project
4.4 Ford
4.4.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.4.2 Development Route of Automated Parking System
4.4.3 On-button Parking Assist (APA2)
4.4.4 Automated Valet Parking System
4.4.5 Vision Fused Fully Automated Parking (APA5.0)
4.5 GM
4.5.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.5.2 Development Route of Automated Parking System
4.5.3 Intelligent APA System
4.5.4 360° Full Mode Intelligent Parking System
4.5.5 Supervised Remote Parking (SRP)
4.6 Honda
4.6.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.6.2 Development Route of Automated Parking System
4.6.3 Park Assist (PA)
4.7 Volkswagen
4.7.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.7.2 Parking System Development Route
4.7.3 Intelligent Park Assist (IPA)
4.7.4 Trained Park Assist (TPA)
4.8 Great Wall Motor
4.8.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.8.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.8.3 Fully Automated Integrated Parking System
4.8.4 All-scenario Intelligent Parking System
4.8.5 Cross-floor Parking
4.9 Changan Automobile
4.9.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.9.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.9.3 APA6.0
4.9.4 APA7.0
4.9.5 Deepal AD Remote Valet Parking System
4.9.6 Avatr Remote Valet Parking System
4.10 Geely
4.10.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.10.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.10.3 APA + Automated Parking
4.10.4 Remote Parking Assist (RPA)
4.10.5 5G-AVP 1km Autonomous Parking
4.11 FAW Hongqi
4.11.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.11.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.11.3 APA Functions
4.11.4 Remote Parking Functions
4.11.5 L4 Valet Parking System
4.11.6 Autonomous Driving Development Planning
4.12 GAC Aion
4.12.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.12.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.12.3 FAPA
4.12.4 RPA
4.12.5 HPP
4.13 HAC Hyper
4.13.1 ADiGO PILOT
4.13.2 Parking Solution (1)
4.13.3 Parking Solution (2)
4.14 BAIC
4.14.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.14.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.14.3 RPA on ARCFOX
4.14.4 Valet Parking on ARCFOX
4.15 BYD
4.15.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.15.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.15.3 FAPA
4.15.4 Automatic Valet Parking
4.15.5 Parking Representative Model: Yangwang U8
4.16 Dongfeng Motor
4.16.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.16.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.16.3 APA & RPA
4.16.4 FAPA
4.16.5 Memory / Valet Parking on Voyah
4.16.6 Remote Car Moving on Voyah
4.17 Xpeng Motors
4.17.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.17.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.17.3 Automated Parking System
4.17.4 Home-zone VPA for Parking Lots
4.17.5 Home-zone VPA-L for Cross-floor Parking Lots
4.17.6 Parking Function in Xpeng Smartphone APP
4.17.7 Autonomous Valet Parking DEMO
4.18 NIO
4.18.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.18.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.18.3 Fully Automated Integrated Parking System
4.19 Li Auto
4.19.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.19.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.19.3 Valet Parking
4.20 Neta Auto
4.20.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.20.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.20.3 Automated Parking + One-button Parking
4.20.4 TA PILOT 4.0
4.21 AITO
4.21.1 Parking System Installations & Ultrasonic Radar Installations
4.21.2 Development Route of Automated Parking
4.21.3 Valet Parking
5 Foreign Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Companies
5.1 Bosch
5.1.1 Profile
5.1.2 Intelligent Driving Products
5.1.3 6th Generation Ultrasonic Radar
5.1.4 Ultrasonic Radar System Solution
5.1.5 Application of Ultrasonic Radars
5.1.6 Evolution Route of Automated Parking
5.1.7 APA and RPA
5.1.8 HPA and AVP
5.1.9 Dynamics in AVP Cooperation
5.1.10 Automated Parking Software Solutions
5.1.11 Cockpit-driving-parking Integration Roadmap
5.1.12 Cockpit-parking Integrated Solutions
5.2 Valeo
5.2.1 Profile
5.2.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products
5.2.3 USV Series Ultrasonic Radar Products
5.2.4 Evolution Route of Automated Parking System
5.2.5 Automated Parking Products:
5.2.6 Advanced Assisted Driving
5.2.7 Cooperation with BMW
5.3 Continental
5.3.1 Profile
5.3.2 Development Route of Autonomous Driving
5.3.3 Ultrasonic Radar Products
5.3.4 Development History of Automated Parking
5.3.5 Radar Vision Parking Solutions
5.3.6 Automatic Valet Parking
5.3.7 Driving-parking Integration Solutions
5.4 Murata
5.4.1 Profile
5.4.2 Development Roadmap of Ultrasonic Products
5.4.3 Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Products (1)
5.4.4 Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Products (2)
5.5 Denso
5.5.1 Profile
5.5.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products
5.6 Hyundai Mobis
5.6.1 Profile
5.6.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products
5.6.3 Mobis Parking System (MPS)
5.6.4 Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA)
5.6.5 Automated Valet Parking (AVP)
5.7 Nicera
5.7.1 Profile
5.7.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products
6 Chinese Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Companies
6.1 Audiowell
6.1.1 Profile
6.1.2 Development History
6.1.3 Ultrasonic Radar Product Series
6.1.4 Iteration of Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Products
6.1.5 AK2 Ultrasonic Radar Products (1)
6.1.6 AK2 Ultrasonic Radar Products (2)
6.1.7 MEMS Ultrasonic Sensor Technology
6.1.8 Features and Application of MEMS Ultrasonic Sensor
6.1.9 Core Technology and Innovative Products (1)
6.1.10 Core Technology and Innovative Products (2)
6.1.11 Ultrasonic Products Business Model and Major Customers
6.2 Coligen
6.2.1 Profile
6.2.2 Ultrasonic Radar
6.2.3 Core Technology
6.2.4 Evolution Roadmap for Parking Products
6.2.5 Business Model and Major Customers
6.3 Longhorn Automotive Electronic
6.3.1 Profile
6.3.2 Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Products (1)
6.3.3 Automotive Ultrasonic Radar Products (2)
6.3.4 Parking-related Intelligent Driving Solutions
6.3.5 Core Technology
6.3.6 Business Model and Major Customers
6.4 TungThih Electronic
6.4.1 Profile
6.4.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products & Progress
6.4.3 Development Route of Automated Parking System
6.5 Hangsheng Electronics
6.5.1 Profile
6.5.2 ADAS Products and Layout
6.6 Zongmu Technology
6.6.1 Profile
6.6.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products
6.6.3 2nd Generation Encoded Ultrasonic Radar
6.6.4 Ultrasonic Radar Solutions
6.6.5 Parking Platform: Drop‘nGo
6.6.6 Driving-parking Integration Solutions
6.6.7 Amphiman 3000 (1)
6.6.8 Amphiman 3000 (2)
6.6.9 Core Technology
6.6.10 Main Customers and Cooperation Dynamics
6.7 Whetron Electronics
6.7.1 Profile
6.7.2 Ultrasonic Radar Application and Cooperation
6.8 Softec
6.8.1 Profile
6.8.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products
6.8.3 Ultrasonic Radar Innovative Products
6.9 Hikvision
6.9.1 Profile
6.9.2 Automotive Products and Solutions
6.9.3 Intelligent Driving Solutions
6.10 ForVision
6.10.1 Profile
6.10.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products
6.10.3 Core Technology and Parking Solutions
6.10.4 ADAS Development Platform
6.10.5 Business Model and Cooperative Projects
6.11 Suzhou UDAS
6.11.1 Profile
6.11.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products
6.11.3 Parking Solutions and Major Customers
6.11.4 Other Ultrasonic Radar Solutions
6.11.5 Major Customers
6.12 Baolong Automotive
6.12.1 Profile
6.12.2 Intelligent Driving Business Development History
6.12.3 Ultrasonic Radar System and Architecture
6.12.4 AK2 Ultrasonic Radar
6.12.5 Driving-parking Integration Solutions
6.12.6 Driving-parking Integration Solution V-SEE 1.0
6.12.7 Driving-parking Integration Solution V-SEE 2.0
6.12.8 Driving-parking Integration Solution V-SEE 3.0
6.12.9 Dynamics in Cooperation
6.13 Shunhe Electric Technology
6.13.1 Profile
6.13.2 Development History
6.13.3 Ultrasonic Radar Products
6.13.4 Parking Solutions
6.13.5 Core Capabilities
6.14 Ubidriving
6.14.1 Profile
6.14.2 Main Business
6.14.3 Ultrasonic Radar Products and Parking Solutions
6.14.4 Core Technology
6.15 IS Electronic Technology
6.15.1 Profile
6.15.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products and Parking Solutions
6.16 Steelmate
6.16.1 Profile
6.16.2 Ultrasonic Radar & Reversing Radar System
6.17 Bestar
6.17.1 Profile
6.17.2 Ultrasonic Radar Transducer
6.17.3 AK2 Ultrasonic Radar
6.18 Youhang Technology
6.18.1 Profile
6.18.2 Ultrasonic Radar Products
6.18.3 Core Technology
6.19 Ligong Technology
6.19.1 Profile
6.19.2 AK2 Ultrasonic Radar
6.19.3 Ultrasonic Parking Solutions
6.20 Chongqing Guangda Industrial
6.21 Weihai Aisite

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