The latest estimate from market research firm TrendForce puts sales revenue worldwide from fabless IC design for 2016 at US$77.49 billion, a decline of 3.2% from 2015. However, TrendForce expects strong growth in several application markets in 2017, such as automotive electronics. The global fabless IC design industry’s annual sales revenue will grow again in 2018 by 3.4%, totaling around US$80.59 billion.
Global market research firm TrendForce held its IT Industry Forecast for 2017 on November 10 in Room 101 of National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) International Convention Center. Below is a summary of presentations made by the analysts at the event’s afternoon session:
China’s xEV (plug-in) vehicle market through 2016 has been roiled by news of government fining auto makers for falsely claiming subsidies. Though the scandal has reduced some of the expansionary momentum in the Chinese plug-in vehicle market, sales are expected to grow significantly in this year’s fourth quarter because buyers are spurred by the further reduction of purchase subsidies next year.
Automotive technology has been a growing highlight of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the past few years, and this year is no exception. Eric Chang, automotive electronics analyst for TrendForce, said that the auto industry is driven by the race to develop autonomous driving technology and plug-in vehicles.
Global sales of xEVs (x-electric vehicles) have soared in 2015 owing to strong market demand in China and Europe. The latest report from global market research firm TrendForce reveals that worldwide sales of xEVs for the first three quarters of this year reached 330,000 units, up 31% year on year.