Europe Automotive Seat Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Europe Automotive Seat Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The Europe automotive seat market was valued at USD 11 billion in 2020, and it is expected to reach USD 18 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 5.2% over the forecast period (2021-2026).

The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the automobile industry as many countries had imposed lockdowns. The subsequent disruptions among supply chains have led to a decline in production operations and even temporarily stopped the flow of raw materials and finished goods, halting manufacturing as a result. The automotive sector is cautiously looking forward to growing in the post-pandemic period. As many economies are recovering, it is expected that the industry would witness positive growth in the coming years.

The rising vehicle sales are boosting automotive seat production to meet the increasing demand. Increasing passenger comfort has become one of the most important considerations in the passenger car market, and seats are of much significance in this aspect. Consumer demand for safety and comfort in automobiles is a vital factor driving the changes in the manufacturing of automotive seats. Luxurious, comfortable, and safe automotive seating systems are gaining preference among consumers, which, in turn, is prompting OEMs to seek automotive seats that could satisfy consumer expectations.

Growing concerns about the use of plastic and plastic disposal are causing automotive seat manufacturers to invest heavily in the research and development of new materials for manufacturing automotive seats.

As seating plays an important role in personnel safety, they are designed with respect to guidelines of thorax, knee, and head support inclination angle to dissipate the impact energy and thus, minimize the impact of a collision.

The powered seat and ventilated seat segments are expected to record a high growth rate on account of the rising sales of luxury vehicles and the increasing adoption of such seats in the mid-segment cars. Ventilated seats help in temperature regulation, which helps in reducing energy emissions through air conditioners, sunroofs, etc. Increased awareness about the intelligent seating solutions offered by manufacturers has enhanced the perceived quality.

Germany is one of the key markets, not only in Europe but globally. In Europe, most of the seats are imported from other European countries, in which Germany is the largest seat producer and France is the largest seats importer.

Over the years, the demand for lightweight seats is observed to be rising. With concerns about fuel efficiency, the seats are focused on cutting down weight to aid the performance of vehicles. Additionally, sustainability is gradually becoming a key factor influencing consumer decisions, a pervasive trend that is estimated to boost the demand for lightweight automotive seats for the production of fuel-efficient and high-performance vehicles.

Heated seats are gaining prominence in Europe owing to climatic conditions as they offer better comfort and convenience compared to conventional seats. On the other hand, powered seats are also seeing a noticeable demand, especially in premium luxury vehicles. This trend is likely to continue during the forecast period on account of rising consumer purchasing power in the emerging economies and increasing demand for SUVs and luxury vehicles.

The factor likely to fuel the demand in the Europe automotive seat industry is the growing production of electric vehicles. Ventilated seats, which are used in electric vehicles, may witness a surge in demand over the future years as more customers start purchasing electric vehicles. Among the European countries, the Netherlands and Norway have been the leading markets in the electric vehicle industry, and the demand for ventilated seats is likely to witness significant growth over the forecast period in the region.

Heavy investments are being made in the R&D of automotive seats by top-tier companies to meet the demand by offering the latest features. Also, autonomous cars are revolutionizing the seating arrangements and car interiors. For instance, in August 2020, Lear and Gentherm introduced INTU™ Thermal Comfort Seating with ClimateSense™ Technology. The system aims to create an ideal personal climate through its intelligent software, using ambient cabin conditions to provide optimized comfort.

Germany leads the Europe automotive seat market, followed by Spain and France. Europe has a potential capability in manufacturing advanced seats, which led the region to capture a significant share in automotive seat exports in the global market. When it comes to seat manufacturing capabilities by country, Germany dominates the major share in the production of seats in Europe, followed by United Kingdom and the Czech Republic.

With major carmakers in the region, automotive seats also have significant production facilities across the country. Germany has the largest and most industrious economy in Europe. Germany's automotive seat market reflected a steady growth trajectory in 2020 despite weak market sentiment in overall car sales. The overall car sales of the country decreased by around 19.1% in 2020 compared to 2019. Being home to the largest automotive seat manufacturers, Germany leads the way both in terms of production and revenue.

The Europe automotive seat market is consolidated and majorly dominated by few players, such as Adient PLC, Faurecia, and others. The market is highly driven by factors like advanced technology, more comfort, growing investment in R&D projects, and a growing market of electric and autonomous vehicles around the region. To provide a more luxurious experience to the people, major automotive seat manufacturers are establishing a joint venture with seat manufacturers. For instance-

In July 2020, Faurecia officially launched its new Seating joint venture with BAIC, which has four plants in Beijing, Chongqing, Huanghua, and Xiangtan.

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