INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

Description

B60Y serves as an indexing and cross-referencing scheme for vehicle-related technologies that span multiple technical domains within the B60 class. Rather than classifying inventions as primary subject matter, this subclass facilitates the organization and retrieval of patents that address common functional, operational, or design aspects applicable across different vehicle types and systems. It enables patent examiners and searchers to locate relevant prior art by linking technologies—such as safety features, control systems, materials, or manufacturing methods—that appear across diverse vehicle categories. B60Y complements rather than replaces the primary classification codes within B60 (e.g., B60B, B60C, B60D) and related vehicle technology classes.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass B60Y recorded 127,141 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 6,455 in 2013 to 10,747 in 2023 (+66%), peaking at 15,047 applications in 2019. The most active applicants in class B60 are HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (31,729 applications), FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES (29,270 applications) and KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (23,892 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings