Radar sensors are a vital part of today’s vehicles, helping with everything from collision warnings when pulling out of parking spaces to blind spot detection, autonomous parking, and even highway driving under certain conditions.
Now, international automotive supplier FORVIA HELLA has marked a major milestone: the production of its 100 millionth radar sensor since entering the market.
The journey began 20 years ago at HELLA’s electronics plant in Hamm, Germany. Today, the company works with nearly 30 passenger car and truck manufacturers worldwide, supplying radar technology that underpins many of the driver assistance systems we now take for granted.
“This milestone is proof of our innovative strength and industrial excellence,” says Jörg Weisgerber, Managing Director Electronics at FORVIA HELLA. “Our sensors set standards, enable customers worldwide to implement NCAP applications and state-of-the-art automated driving functions, and make a decisive contribution to road safety. This success is thanks to the dedication, know-how, and passion of our employees around the globe.”
From 24 GHz to 77 GHz: Radar technology that evolves with the Industry
HELLA entered the radar sensor business shortly after 2000, launching series production of 24 GHz sensors in 2005.
These sensors are still in production today, having been continuously developed to support modern driver assistance systems like blind spot detection, lane change assist, and parking exit assistance.
In 2020, HELLA introduced the next generation: 77 GHz radar sensors, offering more than three times the transmission frequency, around five times the bandwidth, and detection ranges of over 300 meters.
The higher frequency allows the sensor to distinguish multiple objects with far greater precision, an essential requirement for SAE Level 3 automated driving functions.
This summer, HELLA achieved another milestone: the launch of the ForWave7, the latest 77 GHz radar generation.
These sensors are scalable for worldwide deployment across vehicle segments and are designed to implement automated driving features cost-effectively, tailored to different regional requirements.
Growth on the horizon
According to Weisgerber, the trend toward partially and highly automated driving is set to drive continued growth.
“By 2030, around 90% of new vehicles worldwide will feature assisted or automated driving functions, increasing the number of sensors per vehicle,” he says. “We expect significant further growth in our radar sensor business in the coming years.”
As advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) become standard, proper calibration, diagnostics, and maintenance of radar-based systems will be crucial, both for safety and for staying competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
