©2013 Littelfuse Automotive Aftermarket Circuit Protectionwww.littelfuse.com
Circuit Protection Today
An overview of today’s fuse market . . .
• New vehicles contain 90 to 150 fuses throughout the
vehicle in 3 to 4 different fuse blocks. For example, the
BMW 750il uses 148 fuses.
• High amperage products — MAXI, MEGA, MIDI, PAL and
JCASE fuses — make up 1 out of every 5 fuses in new
vehicles.
• The past decade has produced more automotive circuit
protection devices than the entire history of the industry.
• Fuse and circuit breaker applications have grown by 400%
in the past 10 years.
• Glass fuses have not been used as a primary original
equipment circuit protection device since 1981. Unit
movement has been steadily declining, although glass
fuses are used in many accessory applications.
Littelfuse partners with every major automotive and
heavy-duty OEM. That is why more than 95% of domestic
and 70% of foreign new vehicles contain Littelfuse fuses.
(Your Customers and Installers will have a Littelfuse fuse
in their hand when they need a source to replace a fuse.)
Littelfuse has introduced every new fuse in the industry for
the past three decades, starting with the ATO blade fuse.
Littelfuse holds more than 130 patents on circuit protection
devices, more than all the other fuse manufacturers in the
world combined. Other fuse manufacturers are licensed by
Littelfuse to utilize its product designs and trademarks.
What is Driving the
Circuit Protection Market?
The Circuit Protection market is experiencing accelerated
growth caused by a combination of powerful forces driving
the market. There has never been a better time to invest in
the distribution of the Circuit Protection category.
• One Wire — One Fuse Protection Trend: Auto
manufacturers are moving towards protecting every wire
in the vehicle.
• More Power Consumption: Vehicles are consuming power
at higher amperages than ever before, and manufacturers
are now protecting high amp applications, such as the
alternator, with MEGA, MIDI, PAL, JCASE and MAXI fuses.
• Space & Weight Efficiency: As vehicle designs get more
complex, fuses must get smaller so more fuses can fit in
the same amount of space.
• Greater Diversity of Fuses: Vehicles contain more fuses
than ever before, so Aftermarket Customers and Installers
are requiring a greater variety of circuit protection devices
in their displays, assortments and merchandisers.
• More On-Board Electronics: Auto manufacturers and
Aftermarket suppliers are offering a broader range of
on-board components like cellular phones, CD players,
Bluetooth, navigation, alarm systems and remote starters
which require circuit protection for installation and
replacement.
• New Market Niches: The increased demand in circuit
protection is offering current channels of distribution new
marketing opportunities in the Fast Lube, Warehouse
Club and Electrical Accessories Installer channels or any
outlet stocking electrical replacement parts.
• Longer Vehicle Life: The life expectancy of cars is
increasing to 20+ years. This results in more miles driven
and wiring that is aging, leading to more blown fuses
that need to be replaced.
• Easier Access to Fuse Blocks: Auto manufacturers have
moved fuse blocks into the passenger compartments,
e.g. glove box, dashboard and trunk, making it easier for
DIY replacement. Fuseblocks are also better marked for
easier identification of the proper circuit.
• Infotainment: The increasing use of video and other
new electronics in vehicles have challenged designers to
protect even more sensitive automotive electronics. New
technologies in circuit protection and fuse box design
eliminate transient surges that can damage vehicle
equipment.
The Future of Circuit Protection
Littelfuse’s new product development process is based
on practical innovations designed around the needs
of the customer. The circuit protection products of the
future will offer greater features to protect increasingly
complex electrical systems, meet the booming demand
for on-board electronics and make the Circuit Protection
category a continuously stronger part of the Automotive
Aftermarket.
Here is a glimpse of Littelfuse’s vision of circuit protection
for tomorrow . . .
• Fuse count per vehicle to grow each year.
• Increased need for higher amp protection with JCASE
and bolt-on devices like MEGA and MIDI fuses.
• Greater need for a broader range of fuse blocks and fuse-
holders, testers and pullers, fuse kits and assortments
and creative merchandising systems.
• Greater need for more technical training materials, point
of sale education support and more reliable application
data.
• More compact fuses such as MINI, Micro and electronic
surface mount fuses.
• Smart circuit protection — the vehicle will tell you what
fuse needs to be replaced and its location.
• Special circuit protection products designed for electric
and alternative fuel vehicles.
• Modular electrical systems that require modular
fuseblocks in locations throughout the vehicle like the
quarter panels, fender wells, door panels, etc.
LITTELFUSE® WORLDWIDE LEADER IN CIRCUIT PROTECTION