Automotive Seat Belt System Market

Automotive Seat Belt System Market - Snapshot

The automotive seat belt system is passive safety equipment mounted across the seats to hold the occupant on the seat during a collision or sudden deceleration of the vehicle. Three-point and two-point belt systems are extensively used seat belt types. Moreover, passenger cars are incorporated with three-point seat belts.

Increase in demand for safety equipment for vehicles has led to the development of advanced technology seat belts. Rising stringency of safety standards and increase in sales of sports utility and performance vehicles are driving the automotive seat belt market. Rise in per capita income in developing countries has led to the emergence of several first-time consumers, thus spurring vehicle production. This, in turn, fuels the demand for automotive seat belt. Government initiatives in India and China to boost vehicle production in these countries is driving the seat belt market in Asia Pacific. Emergence of the automotive industry in ASEAN is projected to boost the seat belt market in the sub-region. Increase in demand for occupant safety among consumers is a primary driver of the automotive seat belt market. Buckling up of seat belts effectively reduces the chance of serious injuries during collision, which prompts a high number of consumers to buckle up while driving. Furthermore, significant drop in traffic fatality rates in the U.S. after taking stringent action on driving without seat belt has led to the adoption of similar actions in other countries. Increasing usage of active safety features in modern vehicles in order to enhance safety of passengers and continuous developments in the field of safety equipment carried out by major manufacturers, such as Autoliv, Inc. and ZF Friedrichshafen AG, are anticipated to propel the demand for the seat belt system during the forecast period. Wearing seat belts on regularly has caused the appearance of rashes on some occupants, which in turn is discouraging some people from utilizing seat belts. This, in turn, is anticipated to hamper the seat belt market during the forecast period. Moreover, integration of advanced seat belts in premium vehicles with enhanced comfort and additional equipment are likely to propel the seat belt market during the forecast period. 

The global market for the seat belts has been segmented based on technology, design, component, seat, sales channel, vehicle, and region. 

Based on technology, the passive segment held a major share of the market, as it is a conventional technology and is being preferred for integration in standard class vehicles owing to its high cost-effectiveness. On the other hand, active seat belts system is highly advanced and consists of several intelligent components, which in turn effectively propels the cost of these belts. Moreover, the active seat belt system is integrated in vehicles that are renowned for their safety features, such as Volvo.

Based on design, three-point seat belt systems are highly popular and hence, the three-point segment held a prominent share of seat belt market, owing to its application in most vehicles. Three-point seat belts comprise lap as well as shoulder restraining belts and are considered more effective and easily accessible as compared to the other types. The two-point segment followed the three-point segment and accounted for a notable market share; however, due to the limited application of two-point seat belts, such as in rear mid-seat of passenger cars and passenger seats of buses, the segment held a limited share of the market. 

In terms of component, retractor and pretensioner segments held major share of the seat belt system market. Retractors are a key components of seat belt systems and are integrated in almost all three point seat belt systems. Furthermore, the high cost of retractors is a key factor attributed to the prominent share held by the segment of the seat belt system market. On the other hand, pretensioners are mostly integrated within retractors and play a major role in protecting the occupants during a collision. Based on the seat, the rear seat segment held a major share of the market, owing to the presence of a higher number of rear seats in passenger vehicles; while, the number of front seats can be two in most vehicles. Rising demand for sports utility vehicles (SUVs) is likely to play a major role in boosting the rear seat segment, as SUVs contain significantly higher number of rear seats. 

Based on sales channel, the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) segment accounted for a major share of the seat belt market in 2018. It is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, due to the rising production of vehicles coupled with high lifespan of seat belt systems. Moreover, seatbelts are replaced only in case of collision, as once the pyrotechnic pretensioner of the seat belt is activated, it needs to be replaced. Development in infrastructure and improvement in road safety measures are likely further hamper the aftermarket segment of the seat belt system market during the forecast period. 

In terms of vehicle, the passenger vehicle segment accounted for a notable share of the seat belt system market, owing to the significantly high production of passenger vehicles as compared to commercial vehicles. Moreover, higher number of seat belts are integrated in passenger vehicles as compared to the commercial vehicles, which in turn has propelled the passenger vehicle segment. Active technology seat belts are mostly employed in passenger vehicles. 

In terms of region, Asia Pacific dominated the global seat belt system market owing to high production capabilities of China, India, South Korea, and Japan. The market in countries in Asia Pacific and Latin America, such as India, Indonesia, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile, is expected to expand at a notable growth rate during the forecast period, due to the rising demand for vehicles in these regions and rising investment by automakers in these countries. Europe held a significant share of the global market and it comprises a large number of vehicles with active seat belt systems, as compared to those in other regions. 

Key market players operating in the global automotive seat belt system market include APV Safety Products, Autoliv Inc., Beam's Seatbelts, Belt-tech, BERGER GROUP, Continental AG, DENSO Corporation., Far Europe Inc., Goradia Industries, GWR Co., Joyson Safety Systems, Robert Bosch GmbH, Seatbelt Solutions LLC, TOKAIRIKA,CO, LTD, and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. Autoliv, Inc. and ZF Friedrichshafen AG are at the forefront in the development of the seat belt system and hold a major share of the global automotive seat belt system market.