Automotive Airbag Fabric Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2023-2028

Market Insights

Airbag fabric refers to the specialized material used in the construction of airbags. The fabric is engineered to withstand the high forces and rapid inflation associated with airbag deployment. It is made from polyamide or polyester fibers, which are woven to create a strong and flexible textile.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the automotive industry to the core, compelling industry participants to restructure their strategies and prioritize survival. The automotive airbag fabric market could not escape and witnessed a decline of 11.7% in 2020. In 2021, the market experienced an impressive growth rate owing to the recovery in automobile production, especially in China.

An increase in light vehicle production, especially in China and India, growing awareness about vehicle safety, and increasing safety standards/regulations regarding the deployment of airbags in automobiles are the major drivers of the airbag fabric market. Overall, the automotive airbag fabric market is likely to experience a promising CAGR of 5.3%, in the long run, to reach US$ 3.3 billion in 2028.

Recent Product Developments: Lightweight, low cost, and eco-friendliness are the indispensable focus areas of the leading players while airbag fabric developments. Recently, in January 2023, Toray Industries, Inc. developed recycled nylon 6,6 recovered from silicone-coated airbag fabric scrap cuttings “Ecouse AMILAN™”, which is an environmentally friendly product.

Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions: Inorganic growth remains one of the most preferred strategies for market stakeholders over the eons. Major players have acquired a series of companies over the years to better position themselves in the market. For instance, in 2019, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL) completed the acquisition of UTT Technische Textilien GmbH & Co. KG. The acquisition enhances IVL’s position as one of the leading and most integrated suppliers of airbag yarns and textiles.

Based on the vehicle type, the automotive airbag fabric market is segmented into Cars, C/SUVs, Pickups, Vans, MPVs, and Sports cars. C/SUV is expected to remain the market's largest and fastest-growing vehicle type in the automotive airbag fabric market owing to increasing demand for SUVs in major Asian countries, such as China and India, and highly congested cities of the developed economies. Rising customer preference for SUVs for their several attractive features, such as spacious interiors, higher ground clearance, and a smooth & comfortable driving experience, is triggering the demand for SUVs and so on airbag fabrics. Also, the fitment rates of airbag fabrics are higher in SUVs compared to standard cars.

Based on the airbag type, the market is segmented into driver airbags, passenger airbags, side airbags, knee airbags, and curtain airbags. Curtain airbag is expected to remain the dominant and fastest-growing airbag type in the market during the forecast period. Curtain airbags are highly effective in saving occupants from side-impact crashes. They are increasingly being used in developing nations, where frontal airbags already have an excellent penetration level in the automobile fleet. The penetration of curtain airbags in developed nations is significantly high than that of developing nations like China and India.

Based on the fabric type, the market is segmented into flat fabric and OPW fabric. OPW fabric is expected to remain the dominant as well as the faster-growing fabric type in the market during the forecast period. OPW airbag fabrics have high elongation and tensile strength as compared to flat fabric, but they possess comparatively less hardness than that flat fabric. OPW airbag fabrics are highly preferred in curtain airbags.

In terms of coating type, the market is segmented into coated fabric and uncoated fabric. Coated fabric is expected to remain the biggest demand generator in the market during the forecast period. It offers superior properties over uncoated fabric. Silicone elastomer is majorly used as the coating material, as opposed to neoprene, which was previously used for the same purpose. Uncoated fabrics are to register higher growth in the coming years owing to their good tensile strength, high modulus, low shrinkage, excellent creep-resisting, dimension stability, increased flexibility, and low cost.

In terms of yarn type, the market is segmented into polyamide fabric and polyester fabric. Polyamide fabric is anticipated to remain the dominant yarn type in the market during the forecast period. Polyamide 6.6 yarn is the most preferred yarn type in the market owing to its properties, such as elasticity, fatigue resistance, energy absorption, high-tensile strength and wear resistance, high tenacity, small-friction coefficient, and relative density as compared to polyester. Polyester yarn is anticipated to log a higher growth rate in the market owing to an increase in the penetration of side and curtain airbags in vehicles. Another advantage that polyester yarns bring to the table is that they have a significantly lower price than polyamide yarns.

In terms of region, Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the largest market for automotive airbag fabrics during the forecast period. The rapid expansion of light vehicle production in China and India, the growing awareness of passenger safety, and the introduction of safety standards by the respective governments are the major factors driving the growth of the region. However, the Rest of the World is expected to grow at the fastest rate owing to upcoming assembly plants and the increasing penetration of airbags per car.

North America and Europe are also likely to create sizeable opportunities in the coming five years, driven by vehicle production growth coupled with the fitment rates of side, curtain, and knee airbags. The expected rebound in automobile production is likely to create demand for airbags along with their fabrics in the coming years.

The automotive airbag fabric market is segmented into the following categories:

Automotive Airbag Fabric Market, by Vehicle Type

• Car (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• C/SUV (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Pickup (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Van (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• MPV (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Sports Car (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Automotive Airbag Fabric Market, by Airbag Type

• Driver Airbag (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Passenger Airbag (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Side Airbag (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Knee Airbag (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Curtain Airbag (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Automotive Airbag Fabric Market, by Fabric Type

• Flat Fabric (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• OPW Fabric (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Automotive Airbag Fabric Market, by Coating Type

• Coated Fabric (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Uncoated Fabric (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Automotive Airbag Fabric Market, by Yarn Type

• Polyamide Fabric (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Polyester Fabric (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Automotive Airbag Fabric Market, by Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Italy, Russia, and The Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, South Korea, India, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Argentina, and Others)

Key Players

The market is moderately concentrated, with the presence of some regional and global players. Most of the major players compete on some of the governing factors, including price, product offerings, regional presence, etc. The following are the key players in the automotive airbag fabric market.

• Toray Industries, Inc
• Hyosung Corporation
• Kolon Industries, Inc
• HMT (Xiamen) New Technical Materials Co., Ltd
• Indorama Ventures

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s automotive airbag fabric market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants and investors in identifying the low-hanging fruits available in the market and formulating growth strategies to expedite their growth process.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a 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 books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. The publisher conducted more than eight detailed primary interviews with 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 market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for 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, New Product Launches, etc
• COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities
• Emerging trends
• Strategic growth opportunities for existing and new players
• Key success factors.