Automotive Airbags Market Size

Automotive Airbags Market Analysis

The Automotive Airbags Market size is estimated at USD 25.09 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 43.26 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of greater than 11.51% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Over the long term, the increasing vehicle sales and production, coupled with the government's stringent regulations to enhance the safety system of vehicles, is expected to serve as the major determinant for the growth of the global automotive airbags market. The increasing awareness about safety among consumers and authorities is also anticipated to lead to significant developments, resulting in improved security and reduced accident fatalities on the road. With further technological advancements, the market is expecting even safer and more reliable airbag modules in cars and commercial vehicles.

• According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), new light commercial vehicle sales touched 19.8 million units in 2022 compared to 18.6 million units in 2021 worldwide, recording a substantial Y-o-Y growth of 7% between 2021 and 2022.
• Similarly, bus and coach production worldwide reached 253.1 thousand units in 2022 compared to 198.5 thousand units in 2021, recording a Y-o-Y growth of 28% between 2021 and 2022.

In addition, the growing focus by premium and luxury car manufacturers on manufacturing new products with enhanced features in developed countries is further fostering the demand for automotive airbags worldwide. With growing awareness of road safety among consumers and a push from government regulations, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) are focusing on designing their new model structures to incorporate curtain airbags covering the side windows.

However, one of the major challenges faced by the industry is vehicle recalls due to faulty airbags being incorporated in cars and commercial vehicles, which negatively impacts the brand value of automakers, affecting their business performance.

• In December 2023, Kia recalled the 2023 Seltos in the United States due to a welding error, causing the diffuser disk to break, resulting in the curtain airbags inflating without warning or deployment command. As per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, a total of 4-part numbers for the side curtain airbag modules had the issue, affecting 1,367 units of the Seltos crossover.
• In May 2023, a major “do not drive” warning was reported for nearly 90,000 BMW vehicles due to a faulty Takata driver-side airbag inflator system. The company stated that the older models of BMW fitted with faulty side airbags could send shrapnel flying into the cabin, in the direction of the front passengers, if nudged, which can pose a serious risk to drivers and other passengers.

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be a major region contributing to the market's growth, followed by Europe and North America. Japan and South Korea are expected to contribute significantly to the growth in terms of revenue due to safety norms and firm government regulations. Due to an increase in the number of serious accidents and an expanded fleet, China is expected to emerge as one of the major countries that contribute significantly to the demand for airbags. Moreover, the preference of consumers toward new-energy vehicles is witnessing a gradual shift in automakers strategizing to electrify their vehicle fleets, which is expected to positively influence the demand for automotive airbag systems in the coming years.