Automotive Bearings Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Type (Angular Contact Ball Bearings, Ball Bearings, Cylindrical Roller Bearings), Vehicle (Passenger Vehicle, Light Commercial Vehicle), Material (Hybrid, Metallic) and By Geography

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Automotive Bearings Market is accounted for $35.20 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $56.74 billion by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period. Automotive bearings are a vital component in automobiles, and are responsible for efficient and smooth running of the vehicle.  

The demand for vehicle production has gone up drastically. Additionally, in 2017, 24,961,948 units of passenger vehicles were sold in China, compared to 24,376,902 units in 2016. The increased sales of the vehicles in the country are expected to give rise to the brake system market, creating demand for production. The government’s Make in India initiative, automotive component manufacturers are investing in the country, by either investing or launching a new product, or through mergers and acquisitions. For instance, ABC Bearing Limited is merging with Timken India Limited. This merger will help both the companies to achieve a larger product portfolio, access new domestic and export markets, and increase market share and economies of scale. The growing demand for light-weight and durable bearings from the automotive industry is leading the prominent bearing manufacturers such as SKF India, Schaeffler India, and NRB Bearings to focus on adopting new raw materials, instead of traditional high-grade steel. For instance, SKF India is manufacturing automotive bearings with alloys that are 10%-12% lighter than traditional bearings made from high-grade steel. The vendors are increasing spending on R&D for the development of lightweight technology. In 2019, Schaeffler India spent 1.34% of revenue on R & D.



Market Dynamics:

Driver:

Increasing necessity for aftermarket repair & maintenance services

The growth of the market is driven by factors such as the growing need for aftermarket repair and maintenance services, due to the average age of vehicles growing continuously, as consumers are retaining their vehicles for a longer number of years. The vehicles may undergo problems as they age and would require to be serviced periodically, including the requirement for several spare parts such as bearings that would need replacements. This is estimated to increase the demand for the market globally among consumers.
Restraint:

Increase in raw material prices

Due to the threatening trade war between the United States and the rest of the world base metal prices have been increasing. The burden of tariffs on imports from the US allies (on aluminum (10%) and steel (25%) is predictable to increase the domestic aluminum prices. Raw material prices are near a six-year high, as automakers face difficulties owing to instability in raw material prices, such as steel, aluminum, and steel. With the execution of stringent emission norms, the demand for technologically advanced and light-weight bearings has been growing, which is expected to increase the demand for bearings and result in a high cost of manufacturing.

Opportunity:

Technological advancement

Due to government regulations to decrease carbon footprints, manufacturers are enforced to produce advanced bearings. It also adds weight to the car, therefore numerous manufacturers are producing lightweight bearings made of lightweight metals to reduce vehicle weight. Moreover, further, ceramic bearings are heat resistant and have a longer life span than steel bearings. Moreover, as the need for high-performance bearings grows, OEMs are developing integrated bearings. Furthermore, to improve vehicle performance, the majority of manufacturers are working on producing extreme rotation bearings. Hence, ceramic ball bearings are now the most appealing choice in terms of electrical discharge as steel rolling parts are likewise less suitable for high-speed applications. This trend creates ample opportunity for market growth..

Threat:

Increase in the number of electric vehicles

The governments across the globe planning to shift to the electrification of vehicles by slowly trying to phase out traditional fuel-based vehicles over the next few years is expected to decrease the demand for automotive bearings, as the electrically powered vehicles require a lesser number of bearings than traditional fuel based vehicles. Besides, the use of wheel hub motor technology in electric vehicles is anticipated to decrease the demand for bearings, as they do not have any requirement for automotive gears. These factors may threaten the growth of the market over the forecast period.

Covid-19 Impact

The global outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease had a severe impact on the overall automotive industry, especially both value & supply chain players have been heavily disturbed due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the world. Starting in China, suppliers around the globe placed production lines in quarantine or shut them down completely. Legal and trade restrictions, such as closed borders, increased the shortage of required parts and limited distribution of supplies, mainly for raw materials coming from Asia such as steel parts, paints, and machinery.

The Ball Bearings segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period

The Ball Bearings segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period, owing to technological advancement in the segment. The companies are developing hybrid ball bearing (DGBB) made of steel rings and ceramic rolling elements. The bearings offer enhanced high-speed performance along with robust electrical insulation.

The Passenger Vehicle segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The Passenger Vehicle segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Many types of bearings are deployed in a vehicle, across several systems, like steering, engine, transmission, wheel, suspension, etc., to transmit load and reduce friction. Among the automotive bearings, engine bearings in passenger cars have been experiencing various sizes due to the trend of engine downsizing in the automotive industry, majorly over the past five years. However, the demand for bearings in transmission and steering systems is likely to grow faster, owing to the increasing adoption of the automatic transmission system and electric power steering systems in passenger cars.

Region with highest share:

North America is projected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. Due to government regulations on vehicle emissions become more stringent, rapid adoption of new technologies and heavy spending on product innovation are driving the market growth in North America region.

Region with highest CAGR:

Asia Pacific is projected to have the highest CAGR over the forecast period, owing to the increase in automobile production in the region particularly in countries such as China and India coupled with the rising skilled working population. This is anticipated to generate the demand for vehicles in the province. Moreover, the increasing demand for automobiles owing to the rising disposable incomes, rising population, and rapid urbanization across the province. The increasing demand for passenger cars in countries such as India, China, and others is likely to boost the demand for automotive bearings in the forecast period. Additionally, the expansion of the key automotive players, including Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Tata, and Toyota, among others, in various parts of the continent is likely to aid the market growth.



Key players in the market

Some of the key players profiled in the Automotive Bearings Market include Schaeffler AG., Jtekt Corporation, NTN Corporation, Iljin Bearing Co. Ltd., Timken Company, Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB, RKB Bearings, ORS Bearings, CW Bearing, Federal-Mogul Corp., NSK Ltd., Rheinmetall AG (KSPG AG), Wafangdian Bearing Group Corp, NRB Bearings Ltd., Nachi Fujikoshi Corp., Minebea Co., Ltd., C&U Bearing, Mahle GmbH.
 
Key Developments:

In December 2021: SKF launched hybrid Deep Grove Ball Bearing (DGBB), which includes ceramic rolling elements and steel rings. It offers improved high-speed performance and best level of electrical insulation characteristics, making it the premium choice for high performance EV powertrains.

In March 2020: NSK launched ultra-high-speed ball bearing for EV motors. This product helps electric motors to operate at higher speeds, improve fuel economy (reducing power consumption per unit distance), increase maximum vehicle range, and contribute to enhanced user comfort.

In November 2019: SKF acquired Form Automation Solution (FAS), a software development startup company. This acquisition will improve consumers' inspection abilities and task management, as well as turn the manual knowledge collection procedure into ready-to-use information for the operator.

Types Covered:
• Angular Contact Ball Bearings
• Ball Bearings
• Cylindrical Roller Bearings
• Deep Groove Ball Bearings
• Needle Roller Bearings
• Plain Bearings
• Roller Bearings
• Self-Alignment Ball Bearings
• Spherical Roller Bearings
• Tapered Roller Bearings
• Thrust Ball Bearings
 
Vehicles Covered:
• Passenger Vehicle
• Light Commercial Vehicle
• Heavy Commercial vehicle
 
Materials Covered:
• Hybrid
• Metallic
• Non-Metallic
 
Applications Covered:
• Chassis
• Engine& Transmission System
• Gearboxes
• Powertrain
• Steering System
• Suspension
• Transmission Systems
• Wheel Hub

Distribution Channels Covered:
• Original Equipment Manufacturer
• Aftermarket

Regions Covered:
• North America
o US
o Canada
o Mexico
• Europe
o Germany
o UK
o Italy
o France
o Spain
o Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
o Japan       
o China       
o India       
o Australia 
o New Zealand
o South Korea
o Rest of Asia Pacific   
• South America
o Argentina
o Brazil
o Chile
o Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
o Saudi Arabia
o UAE
o Qatar
o South Africa
o Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:
- Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
- Covers Market data for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 and 2028
- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:
All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:
• Company Profiling
o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)
o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)
• Regional Segmentation
o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the client's interest (Note: Depends on feasibility check)
• Competitive Benchmarking
o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances