Technical Articles
2025-01-08

In-Depth Research on Tier 2 Automotive Cameras: Competition Among Lens Companies and Breakthrough Development of CIS

In-Depth Research on Tier 2 Automotive Cameras: Competition Among Lens Companies and Breakthrough Development of CIS

Zuosi Automotive Research released “2023 Tier 2 Automotive Camera Industry Research Report”.

01

Automotive Lens Companies: “Camera Module Track + New Supply Forces” Boost Domestic Rise

In 2023, automotive lens companies still maintain a three-tier structure. The first tier is led by Sunny Optical, whose lens products maintain an industry-leading position in both sales and technical strength, with an expected 40% market share in 2023; the second tier includes companies like Lianchuang Electronics (China), O-Film (China), Telesis (China), Jinghua Optical (China), Shiga Optical (Korea), Nidec (Japan), and Maxell (Japan), with market shares ranging from 5-10%; the third tier includes companies like Phoenix Optical and Largan Precision.
In 2023, Chinese automotive lens companies continue to extend towards the downstream of the industry chain, with Sunny Zhiling (a module factory under Sunny Optical), Lianchuang Electronics, O-Film, and Jinghua Optical successfully transitioning from Tier 2 to Tier 1, with their main partners being domestic automotive companies, especially new forces. Companies like Maxell, Nidec, and Shiga Optical still focus on lenses as their main products, supplying Tier 1 and traditional OEMs as their main business.
Therefore, although Japanese and Korean companies still hold a considerable market share, they are facing competition from domestic manufacturers bolstered by “new supply forces + expanding the camera module track”.
Sunny Optical’s automotive lens shipments reached 79.316 million units from January to October 2023, up 19.1% from the same period in 2022; the estimated shipment volume of automotive camera modules could reach around 8 million units. Major customers for mass production include Li Auto, Xpeng, Mazda, Toyota, Great Wall, SAIC, Geely, and Zeekr.
Lianchuang Electronics’ automotive lens shipments are estimated to reach around 9 million units from January to October 2023, an increase of over 30% compared to the same period in 2022; the estimated shipment volume of automotive camera modules could reach 3-4 million units. In terms of camera modules, Lianchuang Electronics has been developing automotive camera modules since 2021, cooperating with NIO and BYD. Currently, Lianchuang Electronics’ automotive camera module products cover front view, surround view, rear view, and DMS fields. In terms of mass production, Lianchuang Electronics is the main supplier of NIO’s next-generation platform 8M ADAS vehicle imaging module, which was launched on NIO ET7 and ET5 in 2022; and has also secured 8M module contracts with BYD and Leap Motor.
O-Film’s automotive lens shipments are estimated to reach around 8.5 million units from January to October 2023, an increase of over 15% compared to the same period in 2022; the estimated shipment volume of camera modules could reach around 5 million units, an increase of over 10% compared to 2022. In terms of camera modules, O-Film established O-Film Intelligent Vehicle Link in 2015, specializing in products including automotive camera modules in the intelligent driving field. Currently, O-Film’s automotive camera module products cover front single view, front multi-view, surround view, CMS, rear view, DMS, and OMS fields.

02

The Automotive CIS Market is Dominated by the Top Three Players, with Samsung and SmartSens Following Closely

Currently, the automotive CIS market is still dominated by three leading companies: ON Semiconductor, OmniVision, and Sony.
In 2022, ON Semiconductor had the highest global market share in the automotive CIS market, accounting for about 40%; OmniVision held the second place with a global market share of about 25%-30%; and Sony ranked third with a global market share of about 12%-15%.
Following closely is Samsung, which achieved a global market share of about 5%-7% in 2022. In addition to its basic supply base for Korean automotive companies in cooperation with Hyundai Mobis, Samsung also partnered with Tesla in 2022, becoming a CIS supplier for several Tesla models (including ISOCELL Auto 4AC, etc.), thus achieving significant growth in market share.
Except for OmniVision (China), domestic companies that have achieved large-scale supply include SmartSens, BYD Semiconductor, and Gekewei. SmartSens, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Shanghai, has its automotive CIS products covering front view 8M, surround/rear view 1M-2M, cabin 3M-5M fields, and has been mass-produced in projects of BYD, FAW, SAIC, Dongfeng Nissan, Great Wall, Leap Motor, and Lantu, with a global market share of about 3-5%.
SmartSens released new products in 2023, including SC130AT (released in June 2023) and SC533AT (released in August 2023), which are expected to go into mass production in Q4 2023.

  • SC130AT is currently accepting samples, with mass production planned for Q4 2023, featuring a resolution of 1.3M (1304Hx984V), 120dB HDR, BSI, Rolling Shutter, frame rate of 30fps, 3.75μm pixel size, and 1/3 inch optical format;

  • SC533AT is currently accepting samples, with mass production planned for Q4 2023, featuring a resolution of 5.3M (2592Hx1944V), RGB-IR, BSI, Global Shutter, parasitic light sensitivity (PLS) of 20000, frame rate of 60fps, 2.2μm pixel size, and 1/2.53 inch optical format.

SmartSens SC130AT, SC533AT

In-Depth Research on Tier 2 Automotive Cameras: Competition Among Lens Companies and Breakthrough Development of CISIn-Depth Research on Tier 2 Automotive Cameras: Competition Among Lens Companies and Breakthrough Development of CIS

Source: SmartSens official website

Gekewei was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Shanghai. It mainly focuses on the aftermarket, with products primarily used in dash cameras, reversing images, 360 surround views, and rear views. In the first half of 2023, Gekewei achieved over 100 million yuan in sales in the automotive aftermarket, accounting for about 5.1% of total revenue.

03

Automotive CIS Resolution: From 8M to 17.4M, Achieving Breakthrough Development

Currently, the mainstream automotive ADAS CIS resolution has developed to the 8M stage (representative products include ON Semiconductor AR0820AT, Sony IMX424, etc.), with 8M cameras achieving a recognition distance more than twice that of 1.2M cameras. It is expected that 12M and 15M resolution cameras will achieve measuring distances of 400m and 500m respectively, and the application of high-pixel automotive cameras will become a major trend in the future.
Currently, 12M level cameras are mostly used to support dash camera applications, but some companies are already planning 12M cameras (Yinjia Technology expects to launch a 12M camera in 2024, using OmniVision’s CIS). The 15M level camera was only launched in May 2022 by Baidu Apollo in collaboration with Sony Semiconductor, Lianchuang Electronics, and Heizhima (presumably based on non-automotive dedicated CIS developed by Sony), and has not yet been implemented.
In September 2023, Sony launched the 17.4M resolution (3017×5777) intelligent driving CIS IMX735. This product features 17.42 million effective pixels (based on the effective pixel measurement method of image sensors), using self-developed pixel structures and special exposure methods to enhance the saturation illumination range, while also employing HDR and LED flicker suppression functions, achieving a wide dynamic range of 106dB (with dynamic range priority mode, the dynamic range can reach up to 130dB).This product is now available for sampling, with a sample price of 30,000 yen, and the mass production time is yet to be determined.

Sony IMX735 Product Rendering

In-Depth Research on Tier 2 Automotive Cameras: Competition Among Lens Companies and Breakthrough Development of CISIn-Depth Research on Tier 2 Automotive Cameras: Competition Among Lens Companies and Breakthrough Development of CIS

Source: Sony Semiconductor official website

04

Automotive CIS HDR: From 140dB to 150dB

HDR is one of the important technical parameters of CIS. Currently, mass-produced 140dB HDR front view CIS includes ON Semiconductor’s AR0820AT and OmniVision’s OX08B40. The 8M camera used in the NIO EC6 launched in September 2023 employs either ON Semiconductor or OmniVision’s CIS, both of which have achieved 140dB HDR; in Tier 1, the third-generation front view intelligent camera FVC3 released by Fureitek in August 2022 features 8M resolution, 140dB HDR, and a frame rate of 30fps, expected to land on the Venucia models in 2023.
In October 2023, ON Semiconductor announced that its 150dB HDR automotive CIS AR0823AT has been sampled, with mass production planned for 2024. Parameter configuration: 8.3MP (3840×2160), 150dB HDR, supports LFM, 1/1.8 inches, 2.1µm, 60fps, BSI, Rolling Shutter.

ON Semiconductor AR0823AT Parameter Configuration and Illustration

In-Depth Research on Tier 2 Automotive Cameras: Competition Among Lens Companies and Breakthrough Development of CISIn-Depth Research on Tier 2 Automotive Cameras: Competition Among Lens Companies and Breakthrough Development of CIS

Source: ON Semiconductor official website

05

TI and Maxim Lead the SerDes Market, Local Companies Seek Win-Win Through Dual Routes

To meet the demands of ADAS and future high-level autonomous driving, automotive camera data transmission must be high-speed, delay-free, and lossless. Automotive SerDes chips have high requirements for electromagnetic environment, operating temperature environment, PPM, lifespan, safety, and reliability. Moreover, current SerDes solutions are essentially specialized, which means that to achieve compatibility among components, a unified chip supplier solution must be adopted.
Major companies in the industry include Texas Instruments (TI), Maxim Integrated, KANGZHI, Inova Semiconductors, and Rohm. Among them, Texas Instruments (TI) and Maxim Integrated have a monopolistic advantage in the global automotive display SerDes and automotive camera SerDes markets, leaving little room for local players in the Chinese market.
Local SerDes companies mainly include KANGZHI and MediaTek, while some local Tier 2 camera industry chain companies, like Sunny Optical, have also entered the competition in this industry through collaborations.
KANGZHI was established in 2017, and its self-developed AHDL (Automotive High Definition Link) transmission and real-time bidirectional communication protocol’s first generation product has been mass-produced since 2020, with nearly one million units shipped; the second-generation automotive SerDes chip was mass-produced in March 2022 and has begun market promotion, reaching speeds up to 6Gbps, with large-scale deployment expected in 2023. Currently, major autonomous driving SerDes products include AIM 905X, AIM 905M, and cabin SerDes products include AIM 951, AIM 955/957.
MediaTek Semiconductor was established in 2009, and its SerDes series products support the HSMT protocol (in 2020, MediaTek and other chip manufacturers drafted together with 24 companies including the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and FAW Group). In April 2023, MediaTek released a new generation of automotive SerDes chips, with a single-channel forward transmission rate supporting speeds from 2Gbps to a maximum of 12.8Gbps, capable of supporting cameras with up to 15 million pixels and 4K @ 60Hz resolution displays. MediaTek’s new generation of automotive SerDes series products is planned to go into mass production in the second half of 2023 in several mainstream models of leading domestic OEMs.
In 2021, Sunny Optical collaborated with Sony Semiconductor and Israeli chip company Valens Semiconductor to jointly launch next-generation image sensor products and camera modules compliant with MIPI A-PHY technology. According to the plan, the first batch of vehicles using MIPI A-PHY components is expected to be produced in 2024.

“2023 Tier 2 Automotive Camera Industry Research Report” Directory

Total of 300 pages

01

Introduction to Automotive Cameras

1.1 Introduction to Automotive Cameras

1.2 Classification of Automotive Cameras

1.3 Number of Cameras Required for Different Levels of Autonomous Driving

1.4 Sensor Deployment Plans for Major Models in the Market

02

Automotive Camera Industry Chain

2.1 Composition of Automotive Cameras

2.2 Automotive Camera Industry Chain Overview

2.3 Automotive Camera Industry Chain – Lenses

2.4 Automotive Camera Industry Chain – CIS

2.5 Automotive Camera Industry Chain – ISP

2.6 Automotive Camera Industry Chain – Serializer/Deserializer

2.7 Automotive Camera Industry Chain – Connectors

03

Development Trends of the Automotive Camera Industry Chain

3.1 Trend One

3.2 Trend Two

3.3 Trend Three

3.4 Trend Four

3.5 Trend Five

3.6 Trend Six

04

Lens Companies

4.1 Maxell

4.1.1 Introduction to Maxell

4.1.2 Maxell Business Classification & Revenue Situation

4.1.3 Maxell Product Classification

4.1.4 Maxell Automotive Lens Products

4.1.5 Maxell Automotive Lens Product Market Situation

4.1.6 Maxell Product Development Strategy

4.1.7 Maxell Development History

4.2 Nidec

4.2.1 Introduction to Nidec

4.2.2 Nidec Revenue Situation

4.2.3 Nidec Product Classification

4.2.4 Nidec Lens Products

4.2.5 Nidec Optical Product Layout

4.3 Sekonix

4.3.1 Introduction to Sekonix

4.3.2 Sekonix Revenue Situation

4.3.3 Sekonix Product Classification

4.3.4 Sekonix Lens Products

4.3.5 Sekonix China Branch Situation

4.3.6 Sekonix Development History

4.3.7 Sekonix Entering the Nvidia Ecosystem

4.4 Sunny Optical

4.4.1 Introduction to Sunny Optical

4.4.2 Sunny Optical Revenue Situation

4.4.3 Sunny Optical Product Classification

4.4.4 Sunny Optical Lens Products – Automotive Lenses

4.4.5 Sunny Optical Automotive Camera Related Product Layout

4.4.6 Sunny Optical Automotive Product Development History

4.4.7 Sunny Optical Market Situation

4.4.8 Sunny Optical Strategic Development Layout

4.5 O-Film

4.5.1 Introduction to O-Film

4.5.2 O-Film Revenue Situation

4.5.3 O-Film Product Classification and Upstream Suppliers

4.5.4 O-Film Intelligent Driving Products

4.5.5 O-Film Automotive Product Market Layout

4.6 Lianchuang Electronics

4.6.1 Introduction to Lianchuang Electronics

4.6.2 Lianchuang Electronics Revenue Situation

4.6.3 Lianchuang Electronics Product Classification

4.6.4 Lianchuang Electronics Automotive Lens Products

4.6.5 Lianchuang Electronics Development History

4.6.6 Lianchuang Electronics Optical Product Development Status

4.6.7 Lianchuang Electronics Market Layout

4.6.8 Lianchuang Electronics Automotive Optical Product New Projects

4.7 Yutong Jiuzhou Optical

4.7.1 Introduction to Yutong Jiuzhou Optical

4.7.2 Yutong Jiuzhou Optical Product Classification

4.7.3 Yutong Jiuzhou Optical Lens Products – Automotive Lenses

4.7.4 Yutong Jiuzhou Optical Lens Products – Dash Camera Lenses

4.7.5 Yutong Jiuzhou Optical/Guangtong Electric Development History

4.8 Phoenix Optical

4.8.1 Introduction to Phoenix Optical

4.8.2 Phoenix Optical Revenue Situation

4.8.3 Phoenix Optical Product Classification

4.8.4 Phoenix Optical Lens Products – Side View/Interior View Lenses

4.8.5 Phoenix Optical Lens Products – Front View Lenses

4.8.6 Phoenix Optical Lens Products – Surround View Lenses

4.8.7 Phoenix Optical Lens Products – Rear View Lenses

4.8.8 Phoenix Optical 2022-2023Q3 Business Analysis

4.8.9 Phoenix Optical Development History

4.9 Largan Precision

4.9.1 Introduction to Largan Precision

4.9.2 Largan Precision Revenue Situation

4.9.3 Largan Precision Product Classification

4.9.4 Largan Precision Automotive Lens Products – Glass-Plastic Hybrid Products

4.9.5 Largan Precision Automotive Lens Products – Pure Glass Products

4.9.6 Largan Precision Development History

4.9.7 Largan Precision Company Summary

05

CIS and ISP Companies

5.1 ON Semiconductor

5.1.1 Overview of ON Semiconductor & Automotive Business

5.1.2 ON Semiconductor Revenue Situation

5.1.3 ON Semiconductor Automotive Business

5.1.4 ON Semiconductor Product Classification

5.1.5 ON Semiconductor Autonomous Driving CIS Products

5.1.6 ON Semiconductor Cabin CIS Products

5.1.7 ON Semiconductor ISP Products

5.1.8 ON Semiconductor Product Summary

5.1.9 ON Semiconductor CIS Technology

5.1.10 ON Semiconductor Market and Product Layout

5.1.11 ON Semiconductor Major Customers for Automotive Products

5.1.12 ON Semiconductor Image Processing Ecosystem Partners

5.2 Sony Semiconductor

5.2.1 Overview of Sony Semiconductor

5.2.2 Product Classification of Sony Semiconductor

5.2.3 Automotive CIS Products of Sony Semiconductor

5.2.4 Summary of Sony Semiconductor Products

5.2.5 Sony Semiconductor CIS Technology

5.2.6 Sony Semiconductor CIS Market Layout

5.2.7 Major Events in Sony Semiconductor CIS Development

5.3 Samsung Semiconductor

5.3.1 Overview of Samsung Semiconductor

5.3.2 Product Classification of Samsung Semiconductor

5.3.3 Autonomous Driving CIS Products of Samsung Semiconductor

5.3.4 Summary of Samsung Semiconductor Products

5.3.5 Samsung Semiconductor CIS Technology

5.4 OmniVision Technologies

5.4.1 Overview of OmniVision Technologies

5.4.2 Revenue Situation of OmniVision Technologies

5.4.3 Product Classification of OmniVision Technologies

5.4.4 CIS Products of OmniVision Technologies

5.4.5 Video Processors of OmniVision Technologies

5.4.6 Summary of OmniVision Technologies Products

5.4.7 Technology of OmniVision Technologies

5.4.8 Development Planning and Comparison of OmniVision Technologies CIS Products

5.4.9 Market Layout of OmniVision Technologies

5.5 SmartSens

5.5.1 Overview of SmartSens

5.5.2 Revenue Situation of SmartSens

5.5.3 Development Dynamics & Major Customers of SmartSens Automotive Electronics Business

5.5.4 Product Classification of SmartSens

5.5.5 Autonomous Driving CIS Products of SmartSens

5.5.6 Cabin CIS Products of SmartSens

5.5.7 Summary of SmartSens Products

5.5.8 Market Layout of SmartSens

5.5.9 SmartSens Automotive CIS Product Layout

5.5.10 SmartSens Technology Research and Development Layout

5.6 Gekewei

5.6.1 Overview of Gekewei

5.6.2 Revenue Situation of Gekewei

5.6.3 Gekewei Automotive CIS Products

5.6.4 Gekewei Automotive CIS Product Market Layout

5.7 BYD Semiconductor

5.7.1 Overview of BYD Semiconductor

5.7.2 Product Classification of BYD Semiconductor

5.7.3 BYD Semiconductor CIS Products

5.7.4 BYD Semiconductor Automotive Product Market Layout

5.8 Fuhangwei

5.8.1 Overview of Fuhangwei & Revenue Situation

5.8.2 Product Classification of Fuhangwei

5.8.3 Fuhangwei Products – ISP Chips

5.8.4 Fuhangwei Product Summary

5.8.5 Fuhangwei Product Roadmap

5.8.6 Fuhangwei ISP Tuning & Image Debugging Laboratory

5.8.7 Fuhangwei Development Strategy

5.8.8 Fuhangwei ISP Product Layout & Market Layout

5.8.9 Fuhangwei Customers & Partners

06

SerDes and Connector Companies

6.1 Maxim

6.1.1 Overview of Maxim Integrated

6.1.2 Revenue Situation of Maxim Integrated

6.1.3 Product Classification of Maxim Integrated

6.1.4 Automotive Serializer Products of Maxim Integrated (1)

6.1.5 Automotive Serializer Products of Maxim Integrated (2)

6.1.6 Automotive Serializer Products of Maxim Integrated (3)

6.1.7 Automotive Deserializer Products of Maxim Integrated (1)

6.1.8 Automotive Deserializer Products of Maxim Integrated (2)

6.1.9 Automotive Deserializer Products of Maxim Integrated (3)

6.1.10 Automotive Deserializer Products of Maxim Integrated (4)

6.1.11 Application Examples of Maxim Integrated Automotive Camera Serializer/Deserializer Products

6.1.12 Market Layout of Maxim Integrated Automotive Camera Serializer/Deserializer Products

6.2 TI

6.2.1 Overview of TI

6.2.2 Revenue Situation of TI

6.2.3 Global Factory Layout of TI

6.2.4 Product Classification of TI

6.2.5 Automotive Serializer Products of TI (1)

6.2.6 Automotive Serializer Products of TI (2)

6.2.7 Automotive Deserializer Products of TI

6.2.8 Market Layout of TI Automotive Camera Serializer/Deserializer Products

6.3 KANGZHI

6.3.1 Overview of KANGZHI

6.3.2 Product Classification of KANGZHI

6.3.3 KANGZHI Automotive Serializer Products

6.3.4 KANGZHI Automotive Deserializer Products

6.3.5 Market Layout of KANGZHI Automotive Camera Serializer/Deserializer Products

6.4 MediaTek Semiconductor

6.4.1 Overview of MediaTek Semiconductor

6.4.2 Product Classification of MediaTek Semiconductor

6.4.3 MediaTek Semiconductor Automotive Serializer Products

6.4.4 MediaTek Semiconductor Automotive Deserializer Products

6.4.5 Market Layout of MediaTek Semiconductor Automotive Camera Serializer/Deserializer Products

6.5 Raydiall

6.5.1 Overview of Raydiall Automotive

6.5.2 Product Classification of Raydiall Automotive

6.5.3 Raydiall Coaxial Wire Connectors (1)

6.5.4 Raydiall Coaxial Wire Connectors (2)

6.5.5 Raydiall PCB Connectors (1)

6.5.6 Raydiall PCB Connectors (2)

6.5.7 Market Layout of Raydiall Automotive Camera Connector Products

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