All passive components must pass stringent tests under the AEC-Q200 standard if they are to be used in the automotive industry. This measure ensures a point of reference for engineers, especially as the amount of on-board electronics in vehicles continues to increase.
Compared to conventional types used in other applications, automotive-use resistors, typically used in battery management, engine and body control management, as well as driving systems, require higher levels of pulse load capability, stability, precision and safety. This is because of the harsh environment encountered in vehicle applications and prolonged exposure to it.
In China, the high technology involved in the production of automotive-grade components remains a hurdle for many enterprises in the resistor sector. To catch up and take advantage of the captive market there, manufacturers continue to work on developing chip resistors that meet the steep temperature and pressure resistance requirements under the standard. This is in addition to other criteria for overall component integrity.
One supplier interviewed by Global Sources, Supertech Electronics Co. Ltd, has introduced 0402 to 2512 chip resistors with a multilayer electrode construction designed to prevent sulfuration. These automotive-grade units have 1/8 to 1W power rating, 50 to 250V maximum operating and 100 to 500V maximum overload voltages, 10 to 9.76ohm or 10ohm to 1Mohm resistance range with ±0.5 percent tolerance and -55 to 155 C operating temperature. They pass the AEC-Q200, MIL-STD-202, JIS-C-5201 and UL standards.
Captive application market
Demand for chip resistors used in automotive electronics has been increasing in recent years, one of the reasons for their shortage. Globally, this category reached $338.5 billion in 2022 and will increase to $537.7 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 6.8 percent, according to LP Information, a market research company in China.
As China is the largest production base for the automotive industry, there is an incentive for upstream companies to enter this sector or push R&D further. Its vehicle market is estimated to have reached $104.166 billion in 2023 from $64.125 billion in 2021, according to ChinaIRN. And one sector that has seen significant growth is new energy vehicles. Sohu News has reported that the country accounted for 60 percent of the global market and saw export volume rise by more than 50 percent in the first half of 2023 alone.
A newly established company, Ningbo GiantOhm Micro Electronics, already has a monthly production capacity of 10 billion chip resistors for automotive electronics. It is scheduled to start a second phase in early 2024 to realize 58 billion units by 2025.
Small supplier pool
Most automotive-grade chip resistors come from key players such as Vishay, Yageo, KOA, Panasonic, Samsung, Walsin and Rohm.
China has about 100 manufacturers of automotive-grade chip resistors, but the majority are small and midsize operations that will pursue R&D to secure AEC-Q200 qualification in the coming years. Only a few are first-tier companies and include Guangdong Fenghua Advanced Technology, Eyang and Hottech. Guangdong Fenghua installed its first production line for automotive-grade chip resistors in 2016. Its components are AEC-Q200-compliant and lead among domestically available products in terms of performance.
Both domestic and foreign suppliers in China are mostly found in major cities such as Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhaoqing, Suzhou, Changzhou and Ningbo. Over half of them are in Guangdong.
China-made chip resistors
Widely available automotive-use chip resistors from Chinese manufacturers include thin- and thick-film types. They come in package sizes of 0402 to 2512 and in 1ohm to 10Mohm variants. Based on resistance tolerance, the usual options are ±0.5, ±1 and ±5 percent, although those with ±0.1 and ±0.25 percent can also be sourced. These components have an operating temperature range of -55 to 155 C.
Shenzhen Kawaxin Electronics Co. Ltd’s thick-film chip resistors can withstand temperatures as high as 300 C and have an untrimmed operating voltage of up to 600V. They are available in 0402 to 4020 sizes and conform to JIS C 5201 standards.
As in most industries in China, customization is generally practiced, so buyers’ specifications on size, resistance range and tolerance are welcome. This extends to the sources of materials to be used.
Due to the high demand for automotive components and the increase in the cost of manufacturing inputs, prices of chip resistors rose by 10 to 15 percent in the past 12 months. Hopefully, the situation will change in the months ahead.
Chip resistor, 0402 to 2512 sizes
Company: C.C.OHM Enterprise Co. Ltd
This 0402 to 2512 chip resistor from C.C.OHM, the RC Series, is available in 50, 100, 150 and 200V maximum operating and 100, 200, 300 and 400V maximum overload voltages, 1/16, 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1W rated power ratings, and 10ohm to 2.2Mohm, 1ohm to 10Mohm and 1ohm to 2.2Mohm resistance ranges. The operating temperature is -55 to 125 C.
MOQ: Negotiable
Lead time: 12 days
Thick-film chip resistor, 50 to 1,500mW power
Company: Shenzhen Kawaxin Electronics Co. Ltd
Shenzhen Kawaxin’s KHX thick-film chip resistor comes in 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, 1210, 2512 and 4020 sizes. It has 600V voltage and 50 to 1,500mW power, and suits up to 300 C applications.
MOQ: 1,000 units
Lead time: 10 days
Thick-film chip resistor, 0201 to 2512 sizes
Company: Shenzhen Topmay Electronic Co. Ltd
Available in 0201 to 2512 sizes, the TMCR01 thick-film chip resistor from Shenzhen Topmay has 25 to 200V maximum operating, 50 to 400V maximum overload and 500V dielectric withstand voltages, 1 to 3A rated current and ≤20mohm resistance. It is UL-listed and RoHS-compliant.
MOQ: 10,000 units
Lead time: 12 days
AEC-Q200-qualified chip resistor
Company: Supertech Electronic Co. Ltd
Model R-CRA chip resistor from Supertech comes in 0402 to 2512 sizes and meets AEC-Q200 requirements. It has 50, 75, 150, 200 or 250V maximum operating voltage, 1 to 9.78ohm or 10ohm to 10Mohm resistance range and ±100 or ±200ppm/C TCR. The power rating is 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 1 or 2W.
MOQ: 5,000 units
Lead time: 28 days
