India Automotive Airbags Market

Market Overview

The India automotive airbags market size witnessed significant growth in the past and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period (2022–2030). According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.25 million individuals die annually in traffic accidents. Airbags are widely used in vehicles to reduce the severity of collisions, for example, to enhance overall vehicle safety and reduce the number of collisions.

An airbag is a component of a car's safety restraint system that swiftly fills with air upon impact. They are soft, pillow-like balloons that contain a sensor and inflation system and are stored in a pouch folded into the steering wheel, dashboard, seat, door, or roof. The primary function of the airbag is to cushion the driver or passenger in the event of a collision and shield the body from striking interior objects of the vehicle, such as the steering wheel or window. In the event of a collision, the airbag electronic controller unit (ECU) receives verifiable information from the vehicle's sensors, including the collision type, angle, and severity of impact

Market Dynamics

India Automotive Airbags Market Drivers

Stringent Requirements for Vehicle Safety Compliance

In response to the increasing number of accidents, governments have instructed automotive airbags manufacturers to improve their products and prioritize the safety of drivers and passengers to minimize accidents. Prominent manufacturers are introducing various vehicle safety features, including cruise control, collision warning systems, lane assistance, and airbags. Road traffic accidents result in approximately 1.3 million fatalities a year and impose significant economic costs on countries, amounting to around 3% of their gross domestic product. Vulnerable road users account for more than half of these fatalities. Governments globally have mandated that vehicle manufacturers include airbags in their vehicles to reduce the number of fatalities. For example, the Indian government has made it compulsory for all passenger vehicle manufacturers to install airbags for the safety of the front driver and co-passenger.

India Automotive Airbags Market Restraint

Potential Risks of Airbag Explosion

Frontal airbags have proven highly effective, saving more than 60,000 lives annually. While they are designed to prevent fatal outcomes in accidents, they can also cause injuries. Car crashes can result in various airbag-related injuries, including facial cuts and broken noses, particularly when the airbag is faulty. The successful deployment of an airbag relies on the vehicle's sensors accurately detecting speed, braking, and impact. Sensor malfunctions can lead to unnecessary deployment or failure during a genuine crash. Some airbags may inflate too quickly and rupture, while others may not inflate rapidly enough to provide adequate cushioning upon impact. Additionally, certain chemicals used in airbag deployment can cause breathing difficulties, abrasions, burns, vision impairments, or hearing loss.

India Automotive Airbags Market Opportunities

Increased Consumer Consciousness of Vehicle Safety Features

Road accidents are a global concern, particularly when driving in heavy traffic and poor weather conditions. In addition, increased consumer awareness and disposable income have led consumers to spend more on a vehicle's safety features. Leading automakers now equip their vehicles with side airbags (SABs) to prevent severe thoracic injuries in side-impact collisions. In 2019, Autoliv Inc. introduced a new front-center airbag, mounted between the driver and front-seat passenger, that reduces the risk of head, shoulder, and torso injuries and saves lives in side-impact collisions. Thus, adopting advanced safety systems (airbags) and growing consumer awareness of safety features are anticipated to propel the airbag market.

Regional Analysis

Regional Analysis of the India Automotive Airbags Market

India's automotive airbags market is experiencing significant growth driven by rising concerns for passenger safety and increasing vehicle sales. The government has mandated that all passenger vehicle manufacturers install airbags for front-driver and co-passenger safety. Additionally, growing awareness, improved road infrastructure, and advancements in automotive technology fuel the demand for airbags in India.

Segmental Analysis

The Indian automotive airbags market is segmented into position, application, vehicle type, and distribution channel.

By position, it is further segmented into frontal, side, and knee airbags.

Frontal Airbags dominated the market and are expected to register a CAGR of 9.4% over the forecast period. Side head and chest-protecting airbags are designed to deploy in side collisions to prevent people's heads and chests from colliding with protruding vehicle side structure, a striking vehicle, or an object like a tree or pole. Side airbags absorb and disperse impact forces so that no portion of the body sustains concentrated impact forces.

Based on fabric, it is further segmented into coated and non-coated.

Coated dominated the market and is expected to register a CAGR of 9.3% over the forecast period. Automobile airbags are manufactured using various varieties of fabric, such as nylon and polyester. As the choice of material can considerably increase the final cost of a vehicle, the demand for each type of fabric fluctuates according to manufacturers and their intended consumers. Silicon has been widely used as a coating for the past few decades, but other materials are gradually displacing it due to their superior strength and recyclability.

It is further segmented into passenger and commercial vehicles based on vehicle type.

Passenger vehicles dominated the market and are expected to register a CAGR of 8.6% over the forecast period. In 2019, over 54 million passenger vehicles were manufactured worldwide. The covid-19 pandemic and quarantine caused the production decline.

Based on the distribution channel, it is further segmented into OEM and aftermarket.

OEM dominated the market and is expected to register a CAGR of 8.7% over the forecast period. Some developing nations, such as India and China, have mandated the installation of at least one frontal airbag in all passenger vehicles to increase the safety of drivers and occupants. Accordingly, all OEMs in India and China are required to install airbags.

Recent Developments

• January 2022: Continental AG and Volterio are collaborating to develop fully automated charging robots for electric vehicles.
• February 2022: DENSO Corporation (DENSO) and Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) announced that DENSO would invest USD 0.35 billion in Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, Inc. (JASM), TSMC’s majority-owned manufacturing affiliate in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Due to this equity transaction, DENSO will hold a more than 10% equity position in JASM.