The automotive touch screen market is expected to grow 11 percent year-over-year in 2017, according to a report from IHS Markit. Touch screens are slowly becoming more common in vehicles, as technology now used primarily in smartphones and tablet PCs becomes built in. The report released on May 30 shows that capacitive-touch screens may outsell traditional resistive-touch screens in 2017.

In 2017 there were 45 million units of automotive touch panels shipped. IHS Markit analysts predict that this will increase 11 percent to 50 million units in 2017.

“Projected capacitive-touch technology is commonly found in consumer smartphones and tablet PCs, which consumers have grown very comfortable using,” said Principal Analyst Shoko Oi. “Although there are safety concerns about operating touch screens while driving, automotive touch panels are becoming a standard feature in new vehicles entering the market.”

Meanwhile, other companies are working on making sure the information displayed on those screens can be read safely and respond to human actions effectively. Audi, Volvo, and other carmakers already include drowsiness detection systems that monitor a driver’s eyes for dangerous sleepiness. 

Capacitive-touch screens allow drivers in turn to have more varied ways to interact with control surfaces. They can also be curved or placed across a wide swath of the dashboard in order to create different control schemes.

“The latest trends towards connected cars and telematics are prompting more car manufacturers to consider the adoption of projected capacitive-touch screens that can provide a similar user experience found in touch displays of smartphones and tablet-PCs,” Oi added.

IHS Markit’s full report includes more data on vehicle types and possible future applications.