Shift-by-Wire Systems to go Mainstream by 2020

Frost & Sullivan forecasts wide adoption of shift-by-wire technology in high-volume vehicles sold in North America, Germany and Japan as soon as 2020. The technology, which enables electronic shifting without a mechanical connection to the transmission, also is expected to migrate to premium vehicles in developing markets during this timeframe.

High costs have limited steer-by-wire systems to high-end niche vehicles and as an enabler for automated parking and other advanced technology packages. But Frost & Sullivan's Key Focus Areas for Driving Interface Systems for Passenger Cars report says installations will steadily increase across the globe as the technology is commoditized to drive costs down.

Steer-by-wire systems allow automakers greater design flexibility and help reduce noise, vibration and harshness issues. The technology also stands to benefit from self-driving vehicles, which are expected to replace traditional pedals, steering wheels and gearshift levers with sophisticated voice interfaces, driving monitor systems and touchscreen controls.

U.K.-based Frost & Sullivan also predicts that haptic feedback accelerator technology will be introduced in the next four to five years, assuming cost, reliability and high-temperature performance issues are resolved.

Road surface condition sensors, currently in the pre-development phase, are expected to be phased in more slowly in conjunction with advanced driver assistance systems, the report says.