Market Overview

The global automotive airbag inflators market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period (2021-2028). The market is mainly driven by increasing demand for vehicle safety features, stringent government regulations, and rising adoption of airbags in developing countries. An airbag inflator is a component that is used to deploy an airbag in case of a collision or an accident. The inflator is responsible for generating a controlled explosion that inflates the airbag.

Meaning of Automotive Airbag Inflators

An automotive airbag inflator is a crucial component of an airbag system that is installed in a vehicle to protect passengers in case of a collision or an accident. The inflator is a pyrotechnic device that generates gas to inflate the airbag. The inflator contains a small explosive charge that ignites when the vehicle’s sensors detect an impact, causing a chemical reaction that generates gas to inflate the airbag within milliseconds.

Executive Summary

The global automotive airbag inflators market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period due to rising demand for vehicle safety features, increasing adoption of airbags in developing countries, and stringent government regulations. The market is segmented by product type, application, and region. By product type, the market is segmented into front airbag inflators, side airbag inflators, and others. By application, the market is segmented into passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and others. By region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America.

Important Note: The companies listed in the image above are for reference only. The final study will cover 18–20 key players in this market, and the list can be adjusted based on our client’s requirements.

Key Market Insights

One of the key drivers of the automotive airbag inflators market is the increasing demand for vehicle safety features. The rising number of road accidents and fatalities has led to an increased awareness of vehicle safety, which has driven the demand for airbag inflators. In addition, the growing adoption of airbags in developing countries, such as India and China, is expected to boost market growth.

The market is also driven by stringent government regulations regarding vehicle safety. Governments around the world are mandating the installation of airbags in vehicles to reduce the number of fatalities in accidents. For instance, in the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has mandated the installation of airbags in all new passenger vehicles.

However, the market is restrained by factors such as high cost of airbag inflators and the increasing popularity of electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are generally equipped with different safety features, such as seat belts and electronic stability control, which could reduce the demand for airbags in these vehicles.

Market Drivers

1. Increasing demand for vehicle safety features
2. Stringent government regulations
3. Growing adoption of airbags in developing countries

Market Restraints

1. High cost of airbag inflators
2. Increasing popularity of electric vehicles

Market Opportunities

1. Development of advanced airbag inflators
2. Growing demand for safety features in commercial vehicles

Market Dynamics

The global automotive airbag inflators market is highly competitive and is characterized by the presence of several major players. The market is driven by factors such as increasing demand for vehicle safety features, stringent government regulations, and growing adoption of airbags in developing countries.

The market is also impacted by technological advancements in airbag inflators. Companies are investing heavily in R&D to develop advanced airbag inflators that offer improved safety and performance. For instance, Takata Corporation, one of the major players in the market, has developed an inflator that uses ammonium nitrate as a propellant, which is safer than the traditional sodium azide.

Regional Analysis

The global automotive airbag inflators market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest market for automotive airbag inflators during the forecast period. The region is witnessing a significant increase in the production of vehicles, especially in countries such as China, India, and Japan. The rising number of road accidents and fatalities in the region is also driving the demand for vehicle safety features, including airbags.

North America and Europe are also expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period, driven by stringent government regulations and increasing demand for vehicle safety features. The presence of major players in these regions, such as Autoliv, Inc. and Takata Corporation, is also expected to drive market growth.

Competitive Landscape

Leading Companies in the Automotive Airbag Inflators Market

1. Autoliv Inc.
2. ZF Friedrichshafen AG
3. Daicel Corporation
4. Joyson Safety Systems (formerly Key Safety Systems)
5. Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
6. Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
7. Special Devices, Inc.
8. Takata Corporation (acquired by Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp.)
9. ARC Automotive Inc.
10. Sigma Aldrich (Merck KGaA)

Please note: This is a preliminary list; the final study will feature 18–20 leading companies in this market. The selection of companies in the final report can be customized based on our client’s specific requirements.

Segmentation

The global automotive airbag inflators market is segmented by product type, application, and region.

By product type:

• Front airbag inflators
• Side airbag inflators
• Others

By application:

• Passenger cars
• Commercial vehicles
• Others

By region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
• South America

Category-wise Insights

The passenger cars segment is expected to hold the largest share of the automotive airbag inflators market during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the increasing demand for passenger cars, especially in developing countries, and the rising awareness of vehicle safety.

The front airbag inflators segment is expected to hold the largest share of the market by product type. This can be attributed to the widespread adoption of front airbags in vehicles to reduce the risk of fatalities in head-on collisions.

Key Benefits for Industry Participants and Stakeholders

Industry participants and stakeholders in the automotive airbag inflators market can benefit from the following:

• Increased demand for vehicle safety features
• Rising adoption of airbags in developing countries
• Stringent government regulations regarding vehicle safety
• Opportunities for development of advanced airbag inflators

SWOT Analysis

Strengths:

• Growing demand for vehicle safety features
• Stringent government regulations
• Technological advancements in airbag inflators

Weaknesses:

• High cost of airbag inflators
• Increasing popularity of electric vehicles

Opportunities:

• Development of advanced airbag inflators
• Growing demand for safety features in commercial vehicles

Threats:

• Intense competition from major players
• Fluctuations in raw material prices

Market Key Trends

1. Development of advanced airbag inflators
2. Rising adoption of airbags in developing countries
3. Growing demand for safety features in commercial vehicles
4. Increasing focus on lightweight airbag inflators
5. Use of alternative propellants in airbag inflators

Covid-19 Impact

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the automotive industry, including the airbag inflators market. The lockdowns and restrictions imposed by governments around the world have led to a decline in the production and sales of vehicles, which has impacted the demand for airbag inflators. However, the market is expected to recover in the coming years as the automotive industry resumes normal operations.

Key Industry Developments

In March 2021, Autoliv, Inc. announced that it had developed a new airbag inflator that uses less propellant and reduces the weight of the airbag module by up to 40%. The new inflator is also more environmentally friendly and reduces the carbon footprint of the airbag system.

In January 2021, ZF Friedrichshafen AG announced that it had developed a new side airbag inflator that uses compressed gas instead of pyrotechnics to inflate the airbag. The new inflator is safer and more reliable than traditional pyrotechnic inflators and can be used in electric vehicles without the risk of battery fires.

Analyst Suggestions

Industry analysts suggest that the automotive airbag inflators market will continue to grow in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for vehicle safety features, stringent government regulations, and growing adoption of airbags in developing countries. The market is also expected to benefit from the development of advanced airbag inflators that offer improved safety and performance.

Future Outlook

The global automotive airbag inflators market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period, driven by increasing demand for vehicle safety features, stringent government regulations, and rising adoption of airbags in developing countries. The market is expected to be dominated by major players such as Autoliv, Inc., Takata Corporation, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.

Conclusion

The global automotive airbag inflators market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for vehicle safety features, stringent government regulations, and rising adoption of airbags in developing countries. The market is characterized by the presence of major players such as Autoliv, Inc., Takata Corporation, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.

The market is also expected to benefit from the development of advanced airbag inflators that offer improved safety and performance, as well as the growing demand for safety features in commercial vehicles. However, the market is restrained by factors such as the high cost of airbag inflators and the increasing popularity of electric vehicles.

Overall, the automotive airbag inflators market presents significant opportunities for industry participants and stakeholders, and is expected to witness steady growth in the coming years.