South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. is doubling down its foray into image sensor business which would become all-important in self-driving mobility age.

According to multiple sources from the electronics industry on Tuesday, Samsung Electronics has already embarked on the conversion of its DRAM Line 11 in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and begun production of CMOS image sensor (CIS).

The conversion has been made on the projection that the automotive image sensor market would grow to more than 20-trillion-won ($18.2 billion) market by 2030 timed with the rollout of self-driving vehicles.

Market insiders expected Samsung Electronics – a leader in the smartphone image sensor market – aims to command bigger slice in the global image sensor market by supplying vehicle-use image sensors.

According to global consulting firm KPMG, the global image sensor market is projected to reach $143 billion in 2030, up from $47 billion in 2020. Since automotive image sensors currently account for 14 percent of the total image sensor market, the automotive image sensor market could reach more than 22 trillion won in 2030.

Compared to other image sensors, vehicle-use image sensors that are mounted on a car to enable autonomous driving require more precise and reliable performance for passengers’ safety. They also need to meet strict conditions in terms of user environment and lifespan.

Market tracker Counterpoint Research said that the introduction of autonomous technology in the automobile market will require cars to be fitted with various types of sensors to enhance driving safety. It noted the importance of camera sensors in advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).

In 2018, Samsung Electronics launched automotive image sensor ISOCELL Auto brand to go bold in the automotive image sensor market, leveraging on its leading smartphone-use image sensor technology.

An unnamed industry official said that Samsung Electronics would need large-scale investment and preemptive strategy to have an upper hand over other global firms such as Sony in the image sensor market.

It remains to be seen, though, if investment can be executed due to leadership void following the jail sentence of Samsung Group heir and its vice chairman Jay Y. Lee.

By Park Jae-young and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]