Canon entered the competitive automotive sensor arena Thursday with a new imaging chip designed to spot pedestrians in darkness, marking another attempt by the camera maker to diversify beyond its traditional photography business.
The sensor can detect distant pedestrians on roads even in the dead of night by measuring tiny bits of light, according to the company’s announcement. The move positions Canon against established players in a market that research firm Yole Group projects will grow from $2.3 billion in 2023 to $3.2 billion by 2029.
Canon faces an uphill battle in automotive imaging, where onsemi controls 40% of the market, followed by Omnivision at 26%. While Sony and Samsung have performed well and offer competitive pricing in this sector, Canon’s late entry raises questions about its ability to secure meaningful market share.
The Japanese company has struggled to match Sony’s sensor technology in recent years, particularly in low-light performance that’s crucial for automotive applications. Sony is advancing toward 50% of the overall CMOS image sensor market, leveraging innovations that Canon has found difficult to replicate.
Canon’s automotive push reflects broader industry pressure as traditional camera makers seek growth beyond declining photography equipment sales. Whether the company can translate its manufacturing expertise into automotive success remains uncertain given the technical demands and established competition in self-driving vehicle sensors.
