Racing into China

Automotive electronics suppliers jockey for position as the OEMs vie for market share.

For electronics companies, the auto industry has exploded from a niche market to a huge industry over the past three decades. Another new market is beginning to emerge as China and other Asian nations open up, creating a massive market for automotive suppliers across the board.

While American and European automakers are currently struggling, growth potential in Asia, particularly China, is attracting attention like gold rushes of bygone days. Growth could be huge. J.D. Power and Associates predicts that China will consume nearly 10 million cars by 2010, producing roughly the same number.