Automotive Thrust Washer Market

Thrust washers are usually made of bronze, steel, plastic, and others materials. They are used as a bearing surface for a number of rotary applications in the automotive industry.  Thrust washers are used in a number of automotive applications such as transmission, transfer case, differential case, automotive rear axles, and other parts that require high precision. They offer advantages such as favorable frictional properties, high load carrying capacity, high sliding velocity, and maintenance free operation.

Thrust washers reduce frictional and parasitic losses by maintaining the durability of a transmission system. An increase in performance challenges, demand for fuel efficiency from consumers, stringent emission norms, and high performance standards from OEMs are likely to boost demand for automotive thrust washers during the forecast period. Demand for light weighting of vehicles and the advantages of thrust washers over needle bearing are likely to drive demand for automotive thrust washers during the forecast period. However, rise in the adoption of electric vehicles is likely to hinder the automotive thrust washer market during the forecast period.

The automotive thrust washer market can be segmented based on material, application, sales channel, vehicle, and region. In terms of material, the market can be classified into steel, aluminum, bronze, brass, and others. Increase in the use of aluminum in the automotive industry in order to reduce the overall weight of vehicles for better fuel efficiency and stability is likely to boost demand for aluminum thrust washers during the forecast period.

Based on application, the automotive thrust washer market can be divided into transmission, transfer case, differential case, rear axle, and others. Thrust washers are replacing the larger and heavier metal thrust washers used in transmission systems in vehicles. This reduces the overall size of the transmission, weight, and number of parts. Therefore, vehicles are capable of delivering superior mileage. It also enhances the driving experience. These factors are anticipated to boost the transmission segment in the coming years.

In terms of sales channel, the automotive thrust washer market can be categorized into aftermarket and OEM. High quality automotive thrust washers are available in the aftermarket as per the requirement of consumers. However, OEMs offers high strength material thrust washers with a longer lifespan. This is estimated to propel the OEM segment in the near future.  

Based on vehicle, the automotive thrust washer market can be segmented into passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles. The passenger vehicles segment is anticipated to drive the automotive thrust washer market during the forecast period, owing to a rise in the production of passenger vehicles across the globe.

In terms of region, the automotive thrust washer market can be classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a rapid pace due to the presence of a large customer base and a robust automotive industry in the region. The rapidly expanding automotive industry in China, India, and South Korea is projected to drive the market during the forecast period.

Key players operating in the automotive thrust washer market are BOWMAN International, DuPont, National Bearings Co., SKF, NIM (Northern Industrial Manufacturing).