These market forecasts for component sectors are derived from just-auto’s sector intelligence service and issued as part of the Interiors Management Briefing

Market forecasts – front seats

In addition to monitoring technological developments in the vehicle seating sector, just-auto provides a forecast service, setting out market volumes and values of front and rear seats across the major car-producing regions of the world. 
 
For example, the following table sets out our estimates and forecasts of the market volume and value of vehicle front seating for passenger cars produced in Europe.  In addition, and given the sheer volatility of the global economy at present, we have set out an ‘expected’, ‘best case’ and ‘worst case’ scenario applied to vehicle seating.  On balance, we believe this provides a more realistic framework for our component forecasts. Overall, we estimate that the European front seating market volume totaled about 31 million units in 2009, with potential to reach 44 million by 2016. The sudden decrease in market volumes in 2009 reflects the cutbacks in vehicle production during that period. 

Market volume of front seats for passenger cars assembled in Europe, 2006 – 2016, expected, best case and worst case scenarios, ‘000s of units
	2007	2008 GlobalData Strategic Intelligence US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate? Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis. By GlobalData Learn more about Strategic Intelligence	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Europe	39,032	37,026	31,038	29,594	32,614	36,742	39,922	42,550	43,400	44,268
Europe: best case 3% higher than expected				30,482	33,592	37,844	41,120	43,827	44,702	45,596
Europe: worst case 3% lower than expected				28,706	31,636	35,640	38,724	41,274	42,098	42,940

Market forecasts – instrument clusters

According to Bosch, the digital instruments fitted up to the 1990s displayed information using vacuum fluorescence display technology and, later, liquid crystal technology, but they have now largely disappeared.  Instead, conventional analog needle instruments are used in combination with displays.  At the same time, there is an increase in the size, resolution and colour representation of the displays.  Here, we define the ‘instrument cluster’ as that part of the instrument panel — typically set directly in front of the driver — showing speed and engine revolutions plus two smaller instruments showing engine temperature and fuel gauge. This cluster may also incorporate odometer and trip meter and a variety of other information processed via an ‘on-board computer’.

Using Bosch’s product definition, the following table sets out and extract of  just-auto’s estimates and forecasts of the market volume of instrument clusters for passenger cars in North America.

See also June 2010 management briefing: Automotive interiors report

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