The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by increasing penetration of electronics into vehicle systems to make mobility safer and intelligent and enhance in-car experiences. Megatrends governing the auto industry include more connected, autonomous, shared and electric vehicles that have led to the growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, Internet of Things, robotics and cloud computing. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.2 million patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Cybersecurity in Automotive: GPS-based tracking. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 619,000 patents to analyse innovation intensity for the automotive industry, there are 290+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
GPS-based tracking is a key innovation area in cybersecurity
GPS tracking is the process of remotely monitoring an item or a vehicle’s whereabouts by using the global positioning system (GPS). The target’s longitude, latitude, ground speed, and course direction can all be precisely determined using the technique.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of GPS-based tracking.
Key players in GPS-based tracking – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent and broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in and reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to GPS-based tracking
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| FedEx | 85 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Tile | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Qualcomm | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Thl Holding Company | 23 | Unlock Company Profile |
| GEO Group | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| International Business Machines | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Xiaomi | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Honeywell International | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Find-Me Technologies | 13 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Amotech | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Gogoro | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Roku | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Uber Technologies | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Comtech Telecommunications | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kyocera | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sierra Wireless | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| BizMobile | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Verizon Patent And Licensing | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| TIM | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Huawei Investment Holding | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Deutsche Telekom | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| SENTINEL OFFENDER SERVICES | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Thinkware | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Titan Health and Security Technologies | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Microsoft | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| THINKWARE Systems | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Apple | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Stryker | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| HP | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ninebot Beijing Tech | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| RECON Dynamics | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| AT&T | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sony Group | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Yepzon | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Beijing Qihu Technology | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Samsung Group | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Qualcomm is one of the leading innovators in GPS-based tracking. The company is a leading supplier in the auto industry and has a vast product portfolio that spans across automotive computing, telematics, connectivity, driver assistance and autonomy. Qualcomm has recently closed a deal with Stellantis, the fourth-largest global automaker, to power new vehicles under Stellantis brand, with its Snapdragon Digital Chassis that encompasses many features including the GPS and GNSS.
Other key innovators in GPS-based tracking include logistics major FedEx, Tile, Thl Holding, and GEO Group. In terms of application diversity, Ninebot Beijing Tech leads the pack, with Stryker and FedEx in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Ninebot Beijing Tech held the top position, followed by Find-Me Technologies and Hewlett Packard.
To further understand how cybersecurity is disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Cybersecurity in Automotive.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
