New research analysing patent applications from the motor industry shows Ford has submitted the most relating to autonomous vehicles over the last ten years, while Toyota is number one for applications overall.

The study by Bristol Street Motors using Google Patents, found Ford has submitted a total of 14,354 applications over the last decade.

However Toyota has submitted the most patents overall in the last 10 years – 380,000, which is double the amount of their closest rival in this regard, Hyundai, that submitted around 184,000 patents.

The top 10 list is dominated by car brands hailing from Asia, with Toyota, Hyundai, Honda and Nissan all featuring in the top 5 positions.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, one of the largest law firms in the world, commented, “Automotive is now the third most active sector for worldwide patent filings behind telecoms and computing – and the rate of growth is faster than in any other industry.”

(Graphic – Bristol Street Motors)