As the automotive industry transitions towards future vehicles, it has once again become a battleground for patent applications. In the past, the main focus of patents was on the engine, the heart of the car. However, with the emergence of electric vehicles (EVs), there has been an expansion in patent applications for areas that were not previously emphasized. In particular, the industry competes fiercely in three significant areas, known as the “Big Three”: the drivetrain, which directly affects EV performance; thermal management, which affects battery life and thus influences driving range; and autonomous driving technology.
In a review of patent applications filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the IP5 regions—Korea, the United States, Europe, Japan, and China—which represent over 80% of global patents, Toyota led with approximately 14,000 filings in the Big Three areas. Hyundai and Kia were next, with around 8,000 patents, followed by Nissan (5,300 patents), Honda (4,800 patents), and Ford (4,000 patents). European manufacturers such as Volkswagen and Mercedes, traditionally focused on internal combustion engines, ranked relatively low. The analysis used data from 2001 to 2021, considering the 18-month confidentiality period after patent application as per patent law.
The strongest players in the EV drivetrain sector, ironically, turned out to be Japanese companies, referred to as “latecomers” to the EV market. Although they have lagged in commercialization, they have not neglected acquiring foundational technologies. Toyota topped the list with 2,760 patents, followed by Honda (1,361 patents) ranking second, and Nissan (761 patents) fourth. Hyundai and Kia were third with 823 patents.
Toyota has recently filed a patent that equips EVs with manual transmissions, increasing patents that mitigate the bouncy ride of EVs or allow them to drive more like internal combustion engine vehicles. Last year, it established its BEV Factory to secure EV technologies. Hyundai is also aggressively responding by significantly increasing traditional patents for performance improvement. The company recently patented the “Active Air Skirt” installed between the car’s front bumper and the front wheels to reduce air resistance and increase EV range. In contrast, companies like Honda and Ford focus on practicality in their patents. Honda patented a drawer in the bumper of an EV, leveraging the fact that EVs do not require a fuel tank or exhaust system in the lower rear section. Ford devised a method to carry batteries on the vehicle roof.
In the hybrid vehicle sector, Toyota (9,629 patents), Hyundai and Kia (5,951 patents), Nissan (4,050 patents), and Ford (2,728 patents) were at the top. Notably, German manufacturers, traditionally hesitant about hybrid vehicles, are increasing their patent applications. Volkswagen has filed 306 patents since 2016, with Stellantis and Renault ramping up their applications. “The movement of European automakers suggests that Europe’s goal of transitioning to EVs by 2035 might be delayed, and the popularity of hybrids could continue beyond 2035,” said Choi Eun-seok, a senior examiner at the Korean Intellectual Property Office’s automotive division.
In the autonomous driving sector, IT companies, especially from China, stand out. Baidu has registered the most patents (1,193), with 14 Chinese companies making it into the top 50. Hyundai ranked eighth with 567 patents.
