Europe and North Africa Automotive Window Regulator Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Scissor Regulator, Cable Regulator, Flexible Shaft Regulator, and Others), By Vehicle Type (Passenger Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle), and Regional Forecast, 2023–2030

The Europe and North Africa automotive window regulator market size was valued at USD 2.91 billion in 2022. The market is projected to grow from USD 3.28 billion in 2023 to USD 6.26 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period.

An automotive window regulator is a device that controls how a vehicle's window glass moves. It's usually found in vehicles with power windows to precisely raise or lower the window after pressing a button or switch. The window regulator system includes parts such as the motor, regulator assembly, tracks, sliders, and attachments that work together to turn the motion of the motor into straight line movement for the window glass. This lets the user adjust the window for ventilation, communication, and other needs while keeping it securely in place when desired.

The rising demand for effortless and efficient window regulators in the upcoming vehicles drives market growth. Additionally, integrating new and compact window regulators in the vehicle allows more room for manufacturers to enhance vehicle safety functions. Thus, these few factors are driving the demand for the market.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Pandemic-Driven Economic Slump Triggered Temporary Halt in Production Activities

The impact of COVID-19 varied across different regions. The European and North African countries were severely affected due to government-imposed lockdown restrictions. The temporary production shutdown at OEM facilities halted the supply of automotive chassis and body components. This severe impact resulted in significant revenue loss and a decline in overall value, which hampered the Europe and North Africa window regulator market growth. However, the market perceived a fast recovery owing to increasing demand for vehicle chassis components due to increased vehicle production rate, as most vehicle OEMs aimed toward clearing backlogs and additional demand. This created a significant headstart for the industries within the automotive sector, leading to a steady flow within the European automobile sector.

LATEST TRENDS

Increasing Demand for Technological Advancements in Passenger Cars and EVs Drives Market Growth 

The growing demand for passenger cars with advanced safety features owing to the rising disposable income of consumers in the regions is anticipated to drive the demand for this market. Rising vehicle production, surge in sales, and investments in the automotive sector in Africa are expected to propel market growth. As per the OICA report, in 2022, passenger car sales in Morroco, stood at 143,265 units.

Power window systems used in modern cars are very advanced in technology. These days, most advanced and high-end cars are equipped with multiple powered components such as power windows, doors, and ORVMs (Outside Rear View Mirrors). Such advancements in technologies in the field of the automotive sector are expected to increase the Europe and North Africa automotive window regulator market share over the forecast period.

DRIVING FACTORS

Post-Pandemic Vehicle Production Surge Fuels Unprecedented Demand Driving Market Growth

The increased car production in Europe, especially in France, Italy, and Spain, has escalated the demand for automotive window regulators. According to the OICA report, In 2022, car production stood at 1,010,466 units in France, 473,194 in Italy, and 1,785,432 in Spain. According to European Automobile Manufacturer’ Association, during the first three quarters of 2022, approximately  8 million cars were manufactured in the European Union, an increase of 5.8% during the same period in 2021.

Growing FDI in the automotive sector in North Africa, owing to supportive government investment policies and free trade agreements with Europe, the U.S., Turkey, the UAE, and others, are some of the major factors supporting the market growth in North Africa. Morocco is an emerging automotive manufacturing hub; international vehicle manufacturers are setting up production plants in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, and Rwanda. For instance, In November 2022, Stellantis Group, one of the leading global automakers, announced a new investment of over USD 300 million in its Kenitra manufacturing facility to double the site’s production capacity and launch the smart car platform. Thus these factors are predicted to drive the Europe and North Africa automotive window regulator market growth.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Growing Reliability on Electrical Systems Raises Risks of Premature Wear and Malfunctions

Depending on the type of car, the particular vehicle might be susceptible to power window failure. Usually, the window regulator is a major cause behind window failure, causing a significant safety issue. The window regulator controls the window’s ability to roll up or down. Since the regulator consists of many smaller pieces, it usually requires replacement when it shows signs of malfunction or premature wear to avoid the hassle of a window that won’t roll up or down.

A common cause of a broken window regulator is cable detachment. A cable is required to provide this movement for the window to move smoothly up and down. The line is part of a pulley system of the window regulator. This important cable has the potential to wear down with age and frequency of use. Thus such factors might restrain product adoption, thus hampering the market during the forecasted period.

SEGMENTATION

By Type Analysis

Growing Demand for Compact Window Regulators Drives demand for Cable Regulators

Based on type, the market is segmented into scissor regulators, cable regulators, flexible shaft regulators, and others.

The cable regulator segment held the largest market share in 2022 and is also expected to be the fastest-growing segment, with a 10.6% CAGR from 2023 to 2030. Cable regulators are extensively used in most new vehicles, thus propelling the segment's growth. Integration of cable regulators provide automotive manufacturers with increased room for additional fitting of electronics and safety systems such as airbags in the vehicle. Thus, increasing number of vehicle manufacturers are integrating cable regulators for their vehicle models.

The scissor regulator segment also held a significant share in 2022 and is expected to grow at a higher CAGR owing to the robust structure of the window regulators.  The flexible shaft and others segment registered a decent growth rate due to the increased adoption of various regulators such as rack and pinion for vintage and special models.

By Vehicle Type Analysis

Rising Demand for Next-gen Passenger Vehicles Propels Passenger Vehicles Growth 

Based on vehicle type, the market is categorized into passenger and commercial. Passenger vehicles segment dominated the market share in 2022. Passenger vehicle demand is consistent in high-volume in Germany, France, and other European countries. Thus, leading to a higher integration rate of these regulators in passenger vehicles.

The commercial vehicle segment is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment, with a CAGR of 13% during the forecast period. Growing technological advancement within the commercial vehicle sector is expected to influence the market growth for commercial vehicles throughout the forecasted period.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

The regional analysis section covers the market analysis, including the trends and demand in European and North African regions. European market is expected to dominate, with Germany and France accounting for a larger market share. Portugal is expected to be the fastest-growing region, with the highest CAGR of 11.3% between 2023 to 2030. The increasing penetration of vehicle production units is driving product growth.

North Africa accounted for a minimal market share in 2022. It is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. The North African automotive market is expected to grow significantly owing to the focus of OEMs on setting up new manufacturing and assembly parts in the African region. Thus, this market is expected to grow significantly in North Africa throughout the forecasted period.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Companies Focus on Developing Automotive Window Regulators for Commercial Vehicles to Widen Customer Base

Various regional and international players consistently develop advanced window regulators technology to support the changing needs within the vehicle body. Many companies are forming mergers, partnerships & collaboration strategies to enable the market growth. In April 2023, Grupo Antolin (Antolin) announced that its integrated and intelligent solutions would be presented at Auto Shanghai 2023, including the ITACA concept car, Consumer Electronics Show (CES) award-winning Vehicle Access System, and door mechanism.

List of Key Companies Profiled:

• Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. (Germany)


• Magna International Inc. (Canada)


• Valeo (France)


• Grupo Antolin (Spain)


• Inteva Products, LLC (U.S.)


• HI-LEX Corporation (Japan)


• Guizhou Guihang Automotive (China)


• Dorman Products (U.S.)


• Kuster (Germany)


• Continental AG (Germany)


• Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• February 2023 – Dorman launched 400 new repair solutions covering 130 aftermarket exclusives and dozen OE FIX innovations. The company’s new products include an addition to Dorman’s expensive lineup of window regulators (751-888). The new addition is engineered to be a cost-effective direct replacement for certain models of 2018-2019 Ford Explorer & Police Interceptor Utility vehicles.


• February 2023 – Algo Group announced its market expansion by introducing its new range of auto window regulators and handels for aftermarket solutions. The company revealed a list with innovative products including 58 new references for window regulators and 16 for handles.


• January 2023 – Bosch officially opened a new production unit in its actuators factory in Pećinci, Serbia. The new production will manufacture car window lifters. The new production unit will employ 300 employees. Through this expansion, the company is improving its product range.


• September 2022 – At Detroit Auto Show, Brose showcased automotive comfort solutions. These new solutions were based on electrification as the industry transitioned into modern mobility. The company presented new side door closure systems, door drive technology, power swing doors, and side steps.


• April 2020 – AISIN World Corp. Of America, launched its program for window regulators in Europe with more than 1,400 SKUs which cover approx. 90% of the European and Asian vehicle models.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report provides insights into this market. It focuses on key aspects such as leading companies and company profiles, product/service, and leading product applications. Moreover, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors above, the report encompasses several factors that contributed to the market's growth in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation