Automotive Hill Descent Control Market

Hill descent control enables a controlled and smooth hill descent in any rough terrain with the need of the driver to touch the brake pedal. In cases when the vehicle accelerates without any input from the driver, the hill descent control system automatically applies the brake from slowing down the vehicle speed to the desired level. Thus, it is basically a safety feature in an automobile, designed to facilitate safe travelling down the steep grades. With this systems, drivers can be confident about a controlled ride down hills with a slippery terrain as it would help to maintain control till the time sufficient traction exists. Robert Bosch GmbH designed the first hill descent control system for Land Rover, which was introduced as an advanced feature in its Freelander model. 

One of the key trends observed in the global automotive hill descent control market is the integration of FPS assisted cruise control with hill descent control systems in heavy commercial vehicles. The global market is being strongly driven by the growing adoption of electrical stability control (ESC) systems and anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in automobiles. Automobile manufacturer are expected to provide hill descent control systems as a bundled offering as they utilize the same electronic control unit and ABS as ESC. In terms of market competitiveness, the introduction of stringent safety regulations of several regulatory bodies across the globe and a rise in vehicle safety awareness among customers is set to intensify the competition level in the global market. Further, the implantation of the system-on-chip concept and entry of Tier – 1 supplier would further fuel the competitive environment of the market.

The global automotive hill descent control market can be segmented on the basis of vehicle type and geography. Based on vehicle type, the global market can be classified into passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles. Passenger vehicles dominated the market, acquiring the highest share of the global market in 2016. This can be attributed to the mandatory installation of the electrical stability control feature in all automobiles in the developed nations, particularly in Europe and North America.

Furthermore, the increasing sales of premium segment cars across the global is also triggering the growth of passenger vehicles as hill descent control is a mandatory feature included in the electronic stability control package in premium cars. The global automotive hill descent control market can be further segmented geographically into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America and Middle East and Africa. Europe is expected to witness maximum growth of the market during the forecast period, primarily driven by The Euro New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) ratings which focus on safety systems installed in automobiles.

The global automotive hill descent control market is characterized by the presence of a few established players who have already included such systems in the driver assistance system packages, offered to the automotive manufacturers. The established players in the global market are integrating the controlled descent devices with other advanced technologies for making automobiles more economical and safe. Moreover, these players are heavily investing in research and development activities for developing the next generation terrain response systems. The report provides the market share analysis of the key industry participants operating in the industry.

The global market comprises a considerable number of manufacturers. These players have been exhaustively profiled and their business overview, financial overview, business strategies and recent developments have been covered under the purview of the report. Some of the major players operating in the global automotive hill descent control market include Robert Bosch GmbH, ZF TRW, Hyundai Mobis, Continental AG and WABCO Vehicle Control Systems among others. Other prominent vendors operating in the market are Delphi Automotive and Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.