LONDON—One of the most crucial parts of an automobile’s electrical system is its wire harness. In a typical car, it bundles up to three miles of cable. However, electric vehicles require more wiring harnesses than conventional cars.

A recent study by GlobalData predicts that wire harness demand will grow over the next decade due to advanced driver assistance systems, strict government regulations, a connected car ecosystem and the growing installation of communication devices in vehicles.

“Demand for wire harnesses [will] rise because of the increased need for electronic components in automobiles,” says Lucy Tripathi, senior automotive analyst at GlobalData. “Technological advancements are enabling the development of innovative wire products for improved power delivery and to withstand higher temperatures.

“Moreover, the growing need to make cars safer is driving manufacturers to invest in R&D of cutting-edge products,” claims Tripathi. “Some of the more technologically advanced cars have about 40 wire harnesses with about 700 connectors and 3,000 wires total. It is anticipated that increased use of the Internet of Things (IoT) for connectivity will present growth opportunities for the electrical and electronic distribution systems (wire harnesses) market.”