ST, Freescale, and NXP; top 3 of China automotive semicon market

IHS has ranked ST Microelectronics, Freescale Semiconductor and NXP as top three semiconductor vendors in China automotive electronics market, with revenues of $234 million, $212 million and $208 million, respectively. IHS forecasts automotive semiconductor market in China is set to grow 10 percent by year-end of 2013, double the expansion rate of 2012. IHS finds China’s automotive-related semiconductor consumption will generate revenue worth $4.1 billion this year, up from $3.8 billion in 2012. The other key findings disclosed by IHS includes: The next four years will continue to bring about robust growth as increases range from 9 to 12 percent, culminating in 2017 revenue of $6.1 billion. China’s automotive semiconductor market is projected to enjoy stronger growth this year because of a pronounced boost in the country’s replacement cycle for midrange and high-end vehicles. Moreover, consumer demand for automobiles is rising in smaller Chinese cities, and vehicle features for safety, infotainment and heightened driver experience are also spurring increased semiconductor content in cars. Overall, Chinese light-vehicle sales have been experiencing higher growth than in some of the major automotive markets around the word, such as the United States or Western Europe. Sales in China of light vehicles including commercial and passenger cars have never dipp...