Automotive AHSS Market Trends

Automotive AHSS Market Overview

The Automotive AHSS Market is projected to grow from 19.3 USD Bn in 2021 to 42.4 USD Bn by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) 9.7% during the forecast period (2023 - 2032). The Automotive AHSS market has been experiencing continuous growth and the results are clearly indicated through various statistical reports. The increasing demand for lightweight vehicles with advanced technologies without compromising safety has been some such factors that have driven the growth of the automotive AHSS market towards inclination.

Advanced high strength steel or AHSS have been considered as major ingredients for the innovation and development of various technical consumer goods so as to cater to increasing consumer demands. The automotive sector is one such sector that has easily adopted advanced steel with a desire to improve the efficiency of its production and also to fulfill consumer demands.

Focus on lightweight vehicles has been gradually increasing and thereby the need to manufacture fuel-efficient vehicles with fewer carbon emissions has become mandatory for the automakers for which they rely on AHSS and thus the market size expands.

The automotive AHSS market has been experiencing vast growth and is expected to have a growth rate of around 9.8%with a market valuation of $23.45 billion in the year 2023. Thus, the market share is expected to rise and the major contributions are expected from North America.

COVID 19 Analysis:

The recent rise of Covid 19 has affected each and every business in a proportionate manner where every business is bearing losses due to a decline in customer base and the ever-increasing lockdowns. The covid 19 pandemic has slowed down the production and trade within the AHSS market in the first half of 2021. Many key suppliers have shut down their production units and have halted the supply of raw materials to produce AHSS. The covid 19 pandemics has significantly reduced the market value and the initial growth which seemed more attractive has now come to a standstill.

The COVID-19 pandemics across the globe have created economic hardship and uncertainty for automakers and component manufacturers since the start of 2020. Dramatic changes in the global economy and developments across legacy and developing markets have imposed numerous challenges in the automotive sector. However, the Government has also tried to boost the Automotive AHSS industry by reducing the cost of raw materials, making compulsions for eco-friendly vehicles, and providing benefits towards the automotive AHSS market.

Competitive Landscape:

The big market leaders manufacturing AHSS are:

• AK Steel Holding Corporation (U.S.)


• ArcelorMittal S.A. (Luxembourg)


• China Baowu Steel Group Corp Ltd. (China)


• Kobe Steel Ltd.( Japan)


• POSCO (South Korea)


• SSAB AB (Sweden)


• Tata Steel Limited(India)


• ThyssenKrupp AG(Germany)


• United Steel Corporation (India)

These key players hold a significant automotive AHSS market share, the production of steel, and contribute maximum revenue in their respective regions.

Recent Developments:

October 2023: Volvo is yet again teasing its all electric EM90 MPV as the forthcoming car debuts on November 12, it previewed some of its safety features and luxurious cabin. The MOV sector will see Volvo enter for the first time with the EM90 which wants to be known as a quality leader.

Regarding safety, Volvo explains that it uses high-strength steel with boron steel in their construction to help reduce collision forces. A significant part of this MPV’s build is the two-layered roof pillars that not only enhance outward vision but also improve rigidity in case of accidents. In addition to ensuring maximum protection for occupants, however, Volvo has also focused on safeguarding its precious battery pack that supports the MPV.

For that reason, among other things, “state-of-the-art battery protection technologies,” which include a combination of both steel and aluminum have been put in place by Volvo. Several other safety as well as advanced driver assistance systems are available such as HD cameras, surround view cameras, millimeter-wave radar and ultrasonic sensors.

A lot of effort has gone into creating a plush and relaxed cabin for them by Volvo. An air purification system will come standard featuring air inside the cabin cleaner than what you would breath outside. It does this through pre-ionization and fibrous filter capable of removing up to 95% PM2.5 particulates from coming into your vehicle space. Additionally installed are front headrests featuring speaker built-ins and Bowers & Wilkins’ 21-speaker audio system rated at 2460 watts.

This means that while comfort and peace of mind is important; this model was designed with Scandinavian simplicity in mind. The base platform for the Volva EM90 is Zeekr 009 presently available in China. Intriguingly enough, local pre-orders begin on November 12th making China be where this vehicle shall debut initially.

Market Dynamics

Drivers:

The prominent leaders and the players of the automotive AHSS market use and implement certain strategies for long-term employee retention and increasing customer base. The main aim of the automakers in the automotive AHSS sector is to manufacture lightweight, fuel-efficient vehicles with fewer carbon emissions in an effective and efficient manner so as to fulfill customer needs and also maximize their profit. The various factors which are critically viewed for the development of new steel grades are crash performance, weight ability, formability, rigidity, etc.

The steel manufacturers were driven through the ever-increasing demand for such automobiles and thus the market revenue experienced an upward inclination attracting new players in the market.

Restraints:

Though the Automotive AHSS industry seems to be offering and attracting new players in the market due to its wide consumer base, it also has certain restraints which act as a barrier to the entry of new players and also to existing manufacturers. The advanced high strength steel(AHSS) is said to face stiff competition from its substitutes such as aluminum and carbon fiber composites which offer the same features just as the AHSS and are much cheaper which attracts the eyes of the automakers. The entry of new manufacturers is also restricted through licensing as the key players create a monopoly of themselves which is indeed very difficult to overcome.

Technological Analysis:

The automotive AHSS market in itself is a technologically driven market where the automakers are shifting towards new technological developments in the form of the use of advanced steel to manufacture lightweight vehicles with fewer fuel requirements. However, the market trends keep on shifting and therefore, the technological needs also keep varying. The process of formation of the AHSS involves steelmaking, casting, rolling, coating, and annealing which is similar to the traditional method of manufacturing steel but has now been made technologically advanced and more autonomous.

Segment Overview:

The automotive AHSS market size and value is expected to have a growth in the upcoming years with most of the automakers shifting their preference towards the AHSS. However, it is not the AHSS in itself which is going to lead the market to an upward trend whereas it's the whole segment that makes the market grow and the segment is based as follows:

⇒ By product type

• Dual-phase steel


• Martensitic steel


• Boron steel


• Others

⇒ By vehicle type

• Passenger vehicles


• Commercial vehicles

⇒ By Application

• Body and closures


• Suspensions


• Bumpers


• Others

⇒ By Region

• North America


• Europe


• Asia-Pacific


• ROW

The main segments of the market have been equally contributing towards the growth of the market. The Asia-Pacific region has been contributing the most towards the market revenue since the demand for AHSS oriented vehicles is high. 

Regional Analysis:

The automotive AHSS market value has been constantly rising with revenue coming in from all parts of the world. The regional analysis provides for the region-wise contribution towards the overall market share of the market.

Seemingly, the Asia-Pacific region has been contributing significantly towards the market share due to an extravagant demand for automobiles in countries of this region.

Factors such as the availability of low-cost labor and innovation in engineering, focus on fuel efficiency and sustainability, and the rising vehicle production levels have been responsible for the growth of the market. This region has been known as the manufacturing hub because of the large-scale production of automobiles.

India and China have been the dominant countries in this region where the demand for automobiles is on a high with a special demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.

On the other hand, Europe is anticipated to dominate the market as it has been generating a major source of market revenue for the market. The global market trends show that Germany is expected to be the largest market in Europe as it is the largest steel-producing country along with a high demand for automobiles.

Report Overview:

The Global report helps the investors to gain meaningful information about the market and make decisions wisely. The report discusses the steps taken by the market leaders to boost the market growth and inflate market valuation for their good. The report fully summarises the ongoing market scenario in the Automobile AHSS market which would help the intended audience to seek more information about the market.