Small Off-Road Utility Engines (SORE) Market by Application Type, by Engine Power Type, by Equipment Type, by Fuel Type, and by Region, Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2020-2025

This report studies the small off-road utility engines market over the trend period of 2014 to 2019 and the forecast period of 2020 to 2025 in terms of both unit shipments as well as in value. The report studies the Pre-COVID as well as the Post-COVID scenarios and figures out the possible loss of the business due to the pandemic. Furthermore, the report aims to address the industry concerns regarding when and how the recovery will take place in the market. The report estimates the current and future demand for small off-road utility engines at the global, regional, as well as country level. The report also studies all the major suppliers of small off-road utility engines across the globe.

The Small Off-Road Utility Engines (SORE) Market: Highlights

Small off-road utility engines (SOREs) are non-road small engines that are rated less than or equal to 19 kilowatts (or 25 HP). Engines in this category are used in applications, such as lawn and garden equipment comprising lawnmowers, chainsaws, trimmers, etc.; as well as other small commercial engine applications covering portable generator, pumps, compressors, pressure washers, etc. The small off-road utility engine market is extremely affected by various macro-economic and social factors, such as economic uncertainty, industrial recession, weather conditions, seasonality, new housing trends, and consumer behavior. The market stakeholders experience fluctuations in their demand with such unpredictable factors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought distress in the market, which is creating a serious plunge in the demand for small off-road utility engines to an unprecedented level. The global small off-road utility engines market is likely to experience a ferocious double-digit decline of in a YoY basis in 2020. Currently, it is exceedingly difficult to state a tangible impact of the COVID-19 as it is still spreading and taking the economies in its deadly grip. Based on primary interviews with industry stakeholders, the industry needs more than five years to hit back its Pre-COVID sales figure. By 2025, the global small off-road engine sales are estimated to be 106.6 million units, slightly lower than its 2019-sales figure.

The possible impact of the pandemic would be like the Great Recession (2008), tumbling the sales in 2020 to the below of the Great Recession Level. Furthermore, it is anticipated that there would be a further decline in 2021, followed by a gradual recovery in the sales of SORE from 2022 onwards. There is a great push in the market towards the reduction in NOx, HC, and CO emissions from engines. Leading players have been incorporating various new technologies, such as direct injection, advanced sensors, and integrated electronics for intelligent operations, to meet or exceed the emission limits set by regulatory authorities such as EPA and CARB.

The publisher has firstly segmented the small off-road utility engines market based on the application as lawnmower, chainsaws, generators, pumps, compressors, trimmers, and others. Lawnmower is likely to remain the dominant application type in the coming five years, driven by strong demand from the USA, western European countries, and Australia. Among lawnmowers, walk-behind lawnmowers hold a significant share in the market; however, robotic lawnmowers have been experiencing the highest growth. Emerging Asian economies have a higher demand for commercial/industrial small engines, especially for compressors and generators.

Our analysis based on the market segment of engine power type suggests that the < 5kW engine is likely to remain the most dominant type in terms of unit shipments among < 5kW, 5-10kW, and 10-19kW segments. Electric engines are gaining traction in the low-power range engines (< 5kW), creating new revenue pockets for players supplying lithium-ion battery engines. Ride-on mowers and generators are some key applications that own a relatively high penetration of high-power engines (10-19kW).

Based on the fuel type, the market is segmented as gasoline engines, electric engines, and other engines. Gasoline engine is likely to remain the dominant fuel type in the market in the coming five years; however, there has been an increasing demand for electric engines with the replacement of gasoline engines. For instance, lawnmowers, which have four-stroke gasoline engines, have been witnessing a paradigm shift towards electric lawnmowers, especially robotic lawnmowers. Improved NVH performance, emission reduction, and low cost are some key driving factors for electric engines over gasoline and diesel engines.

In terms of region, North America is projected to remain the largest market for small off-road utility engines during the forecast period. The USA is the world’s largest market for small off-road utility engines in the world. The country’s market is marked by the presence of various engine manufacturers as well as outdoor power equipment manufacturers. Significant demand from residential lawn and garden and outdoor power equipment, unlike the developing Asian economies with a relatively high demand for small engines for commercial usage.

The supply chain of this market comprises material suppliers, parts manufacturers, small off-road engine manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, mass merchandisers, and dealers/distributors. The key players in the small off-road utility engines market are Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Chongqing RATO Holding Group Co. Ltd., Chongqing Zongshen Engine Manufacture Co., Ltd., Deutz AG, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Husqvarna Group, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kohler Co., Loncin Motor Co. Ltd., and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd.

Research Methodology

These reports offer high-quality insights and are the outcome of detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders and validation and triangulation with The publisher's internal database and statistical tools. More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact book, press release, journals, investor presentation, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. The publisher conducted about 20 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis
• Market trend and forecast analysis
• Market segment trend and forecast
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities
• Emerging trends
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players
• Key success factors

The small off-road utility engines market is segmented into the following categories:

Small Off-Road Utility Engines Market, By Application Type:

• Lawnmowers (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• Chainsaws (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• Generators (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• Pumps (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• Compressors (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• Trimmers (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)

Small Off-Road Utility Engines Market, By Engine-Power Type:

• < 5 kW Engines (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• 5-10 kW Engines (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• 10-19 kW Engines (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)

Small Off-Road Utility Engines Market, By Equipment Type:

• Non-Handheld Equipment (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• Handheld Equipment (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)

Small Off-Road Utility Engines Market, By Fuel Type:

• Gasoline Engines (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• Electric Engines (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)
• Other Engines (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, and Rest of the World)

Small Off-Road Utility Engines Market, By Region:

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, and Canada)
• Europe (Country Analysis: The UK, Germany, France, Scandinavia, and Rest of Europe)
• RoW (Sub-Region Analysis: Asia-Pacific and Others)