Market Trends of Automotive Airbag Inflator Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Automotive Airbag Inflator Market according to our research experts:
Pyrotechnic Inflator to Holds the Highest Market Share
In a pyrotechnic inflator, solid propellant (typically a chemical material - sodium azide mixed with oxidizers) burns at a controlled rate to produce gas (majorly nitrogen gas). This, in turn, inflates the airbag in less than one-twentieth (1/20) of a second. At the moment of a crash, the deployment of a pyrotechnic inflator airbag is faster, as compared to that of a hybrid inflator airbag. Thus, pyrotechnic inflators have been majorly deployed in the vehicle's frontal airbags, such as driver airbags, passenger airbags, and side airbags.
With governments around the world making frontal airbags compulsory, Pyrotechnic airbags are expected to see high demand during the forecasted period.
Pyrotechnic inflators have an added advantage of small size and low weight compared to that of hybrid inflators which is attracting OEMs to use them for airbags.
Takata is now responsible for the largest auto recall in history. Takata has already recalled 40 million vehicles across 12 vehicle brands for "Airbags that could explode and potentially send shrapnel into the face and body of both the driver and front seat passenger". One of the major reason was detected to be a flaw in pyrotechnics design which is used in the inflator. In April 2018, Takata was acquired by the fifth largest airbag supplier in the United States market, Key Safety Systems (KSS), and renamed as Joyson Safety Systems.
Additionally, the disposal of pyrotechnic inflators have turned out to be toxic due to the presence of sodium azide. Thus, airbag manufacturers have been trying to provide other alternatives to replace the toxic propellant. For instance, Hella has been designing airbags with other azide-free fuels as propellants. They do not just release nitrogen gas, but also CO2 (~20%) and water vapor (~25%).
During the forecast period, the pyrotechnic segment is anticipated to continue to grow, and with technological advancements it is expected to see highest growth rate.
Asia-Pacific to Witness Faster Market Growth
The growth of advanced safety in passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the Asia-Pacific region is mainly attributed to increasing consumers' preferences for safety and comfort features, increasing penetration of Side and Curtain airbags in mid-level cars, and growing demand for premium and luxury cars. Furthermore, government initiative toward passenger safety and decreasing system and component costs is estimated to fuel the demand for airbag inflators over the forecast period.
China is one of the largest automotive markets across the world, and more than 20.17 million passenger cars were sold in the country in 2020 and recorded a 5.89% of the yearly decline in sales compared to 2019. Despite the pandemic, China is still one of the largest sellers of automobiles globally.
India is an emerging economy where the implementation of advanced safety and driver assistance features in passenger cars is taking place gradually. India has a potential and opportunity for airbag inflator market as India is stepping gradually into the electric, autonomous and artificial intelligence oriented automotive industry along with many new product launches. For instance,
- In 2021, Morris Garage has launched its new SUV Gloster and the facelifted version of the Hector. Both the vehicle models have gained good sales in the market and the top-spec variant of these cars get 6-airbags as standard.
- Mahindra in 2021 has launched the XUV 700. The top-spec variant of the car features 7-airbags and in a recent press release, it was identified that, more than 70% of the bookings for the XUV 700 have been the top-spec trim. The vehicle has received more then 50,000 bookings within the first few months and has more than 78,000 units to delivered to customers.
- Maruti Suzuki in 2021 has launched the facelifted versions of the Baleno, Ertiga, and the XL6. All the models on the to-spec variants get 4-airbags and 6-airbags as standard.
With increasing demand for safe cars, the market for airbag inflators over the forecast period in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow.
