DUBLIN, Ireland - Research and Markets has released a report saying that the market for PCB applications for the automotive sector is expected to double to over $5 Billion by 2012.

Siting the increasing electronic content of the average vehicle and exacting future requirements, the report outlines the growing need for PCB components to increase vehicle functionality. The report also states that automotive PCB manufacturing application types will range from flexible and flex-rigid to multilayer, microvia, thick copper, and ceramic.

Contributing to this increase are the additions and improvements in satellite navigation, location-based services, remote diagnostics, emergency assist, airbag deployment notification, internet access, and communications. Other applications include controlling passenger cabin comfort and communicating operating information from engine and drivetrain.

Plans by North America and Europe to tag all vehicles for distance tolling and emergency assist will further add to the electronic content of each vehicle.