EL SEGUNDO, Calif., 7 Sept. 2008. Government mandates are driving global shipments of automotive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors to nearly double from 2006 to 2012, according to market researcher iSuppli Corp. in El Segundo, Calif.

iSuppli forecasts worldwide automotive MEMS sensor shipments will grow to 935.7 million units in 2012, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 percent from 474.2 million units in 2006. Global auto MEMS sensor revenue will increase to $2.1 billion in 2012, increasing at a CAGR of 8 percent from $1.3 billion in 2006.

The automotive MEMS sensor segment consists of 26 established and emerging applications in chassis, power train, and body electronics. Major product areas for automotive MEMS are inertial sensors, pressure sensors, flow sensors, infrared sensors and emerging sensors. These tiny devices perform a variety of safety, control and environmental functions, from airbag collision detection, to tire pressure monitoring, to engine management.

MEMS use many processes common in the silicon integrated circuit (IC) industry, but have either small moving parts or regions that sense different physical parameters.

"Driving the rapid growth of the automotive MEMS sensor market in the United States and Europe is a set of chassis safety-related mandates that makes compulsory the implementation of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems and tire-pressure monitors," says Richard Dixon, senior analyst for MEMS at iSuppli.

Shipments of MEMS pressure sensors for tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMSs) are expected to reach 179 million units in 2012, up from 43.1 million in 2006. Shipments of MEMS inertial and pressure sensors used in ESC systems will increase to 158 million units in 2012, increasing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17 percent from 61.6 million units in 2006.

"These applications will allow the automotive MEMS sensor market to outgrow the automotive and car electronics segments over the next few years," Dixon says. For more information contact iSuppli online at www.isuppli.com