Hyundai celebrates 800 000 vehicles sold in SA
Hyundai Automotive South Africa is celebrating a significant milestone, namely 800 000 vehicles sold so far since its debut 25 years ago.
- Industry News
- 2 March 2026
The automotive chip industry is set for remarkable expansion, with valuations expected to climb from $77.42 billion this year to $133.05 billion by the decade's end, according to research from MarketsandMarkets.
The 11.4% annual growth rate underscores semiconductors' increasingly vital role as vehicles become more electrified, connected and autonomous.
Today's automobiles rely heavily on semiconductor technology for fundamental operations, from converting electrical power efficiently to processing vast amounts of sensor data in real time. The industry's pivot towards battery-electric platforms and software-driven functionality is dramatically raising the electronic content per vehicle.
This evolution is further accelerated by global emission reduction targets and consumer expectations for sophisticated connectivity and safety features. Advanced materials like Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride are enabling new generations of power management components capable of handling the extreme voltages and thermal demands of electric propulsion systems.
Sensor components are projected to achieve the steepest growth curve among all semiconductor types. The expansion of driver-assistance capabilities requires vehicles to carry extensive arrays of detection equipment, radar transceivers, LiDAR units, ultrasonic proximity sensors and high-resolution cameras, working in concert to map the vehicle's surroundings with precision.
These technologies are fundamental to collision avoidance, automated parking and adaptive speed control, forming the foundation for increasingly autonomous driving capabilities. In electric and hybrid platforms, sensors additionally perform critical monitoring of battery cells and cooling systems.
Conventional combustion vehicles are forecast to represent the largest propulsion category through 2030, particularly across developing economies where affordability concerns and established refuelling networks favour traditional technology. These vehicles nonetheless require sophisticated chips to meet stringent emission regulations, improve fuel consumption and support modern infotainment and connectivity expectations.
Regional analysis indicates that Asia Pacific will dominate market share, supported by concentrated automotive production in China, Japan, South Korea and India. These countries are making substantial investments in both electric vehicle manufacturing and indigenous semiconductor production capabilities.
Leapmotor has launched the Leapmotor App in South Africa, giving C10 REEV customers seamless smartphone-based access to their vehicle and connected services.
Ethiopia’s decision to prohibit the import of petrol and diesel vehicles in 2024 has set in motion a rapid restructuring of its transport sector, prompting a remarkable surge in the adoption of electric vehicles (EV).
Volvo Cars has issued a major recall affecting more than 40 000 units of its EX30 electric SUV after discovering that certain high‑voltage battery modules pose an overheating risk.