Motorcycle Helmet Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Full Face, Half Face, Open Face), By Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), and Regional Forecasts, 2021-2028

The global motorcycle helmet market size was USD 7.25 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow from USD 7.92 billion in 2021 to USD 20.09 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 14.2% during the 2021-2028 forecast period. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a higher growth of 9.3% in 2020 as compared to the average year-on-year growth during 2017-2019. The COVID-19 left an unprecedented and staggering impact on global markets, with witnessing a negative global demand shock amidst the pandemic. The rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth, returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.

For most people in developing countries, such as China, India, and Indonesia, motorcycling might be the only affordable means of transportation. In these regions, motorcycles are pragmatic due to lower prices and greater fuel economy. Of all the global motorcycle sales, 58% are in the Asia Pacific and Eastern & Southern Asia regions. However, motorcycles/bikes are mainly used for recreation in developed countries as a status symbol or lifestyle accessory.

Driving bikes on city roads and highways carries the risk of accidents with cars, buses, and trains. According to an estimation projected by NHTSA in 2019, 80% of divulged accidents involving bikes have resulted in severe injury or death. Hence, rider safety is a crucial factor to having an accident-free drive. Therefore, motorcycle helmets are used by bikers while riding a motorcycle for the protection of their heads. The initial objective of a motorcycle headgear is to prevent the rider’s head from any kind of head injury during impact, which will save the biker's life. Strict regulations regarding road safety implemented by governments and increased awareness concerning head injury are the key factors fueling the growth of this market.

Lockdowns, Traveling Restrictions Imposed Due To COVID-19 Declined Motorcycle Helmet Sales

The global outbreak of the COVID-19 caused immense uncertainty and panic in the global industries. To control the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, governments worldwide have adopted lockdown interventions, stern social distancing guidelines. With the widespread of the COVID-19 microbe, people worldwide started practicing social distancing, which caused movement restrictions and assembly and production lines to close. All these factors affected automotive sales in 2020, with global sales at just under 78 million underperforming by 14%.

The scenario in the motorcycle market was similar with the global sales down by 5% in 2020 contrary to the previous year. In 2020, China sold approximately 17 million bikes, a little less than pre-COVID-19 times. Also, India experienced a decline in sales by more than four million units compared to 2019. This reflected into closing of some of the prominent helmet brands such as Vicis and Schutt. However, despite the uncertainty about the impact of the pandemic, company leaders predict that post-COVID-19, motorcycles might be preferred over public transport due to increased comfort with electric motor scooter services such as Scoot and Revel. Hence, this factor may help boost the motorcycle helmet market growth.

LATEST TRENDS

Development of Low Weight and Technologically Advanced Helmets to Set a Positive Trend For Market Growth

Full-face helmets weigh up to 2 kg. Modular helmets weigh even more due to their flip-up mechanisms. Further, strict safety standards cause an addition to the weight of the helmet by adding new accessories. To reduce the overall weight, the companies have developed lightweight and technologically advanced helmets. For instance, in June 2021, Helicoid Industries launched their ‘Helicoid’ helmet. It is developed using fiber-reinforced composites, reducing the overall weight of the helmet up to 25%.

With the bikes being upgraded technologically, helmets are also being upgraded using updated technology. Helmet manufacturers are developing helmets that facilitate a biker to interact with their bikes. The helmets are equipped with noise cancellation, Bluetooth connectivity, rear and front view HD cameras, and voice control. For instance, in May 2021, Kickstarter launched their smart helmet, ‘Crosshelmet.’ It is equipped with sound management, Bluetooth features, and combines an integrated HUD (head-up display) with 360-degree visibility for the riders. Hence, helmets being upgraded technologically will propel the market growth.

DRIVING FACTORS

Increasing Number of Motorbikes and Sports Bike Enthusiasts Will Drive Market Growth

In developed nations, bikes are essentially used for recreational activities, and thus more often owned in addition to a car. In developing countries, a motorcycle is more often the primary mode of transport. Bikes are gaining a stronghold in the commercial sector as well. They are mainly used for food delivery and delivery of e-commerce items. Also, after lockdown, the demand for bikes has escalated substantially due to the bike-sharing business gaining traction. According to NHTSA, in the U.S., consumers bought 780,000 motorcycles in 2020, 67% more than in 2019. As of 2021, Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the average price of two-wheelers remained stable at USD 11,894. Also, the number of sportbike owners in the U.S. is more than in any other region. However, in India, people’s approach toward bikes is different. India is the world’s largest motorcycle market, and though they made losses during the pandemic, the motorcycle sales in the region are projected to increase by 32% in 2022. Also, according to new Road Transport Office (RTO) regulations, it is mandated for the dealers to provide helmet with new registered two-wheeled vehicle. Therefore, as the helmets market is dependent on the motorcycle market, the growth of the motorcycle market will propel the helmet market growth.

Rising Road Safety Awareness Will Drive Market Growth

Protection of the head is the crucial aspect of rider safety, as 80% of bikers killed in road accidents had sustained head injuries. Yet, only 28 countries around the globe have extensive road safety laws concerning speeding, drinking and driving, head protector, and seatbelts. However, organizations such as the World Resources Institute (WRI), United Nations, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), International Road Federation (IRF), and the FIA High-Level Panel (HLP) for road safety are collaborating with governments and working to promote and improve road safety around the globe. Hence, due to the constant efforts of these organizations, people’s rising road safety awareness is observed. Thus, rising awareness on road safety is anticipated to propel the market growth during the forecast period.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Heavyweight, Lack of Comfort and High Prices of Advanced Helmets Can Hinder Market Growth

Some bikers don’t prefer riding with a helmet despite their life-saving benefits. According to the study of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the most frequent reasons for not using a helmet are pain in the neck due to the heavyweight of the helmet, limitation of head movements, feeling of heat, feeling of suffocation, and physical discomfort. Also, premium and advanced motorcycle helmets have a limited customer base due to their high cost and affiliation with premium bike users. Hence, all these factors can hinder the helmet market growth over the forecast period.

SEGMENTATION

By Product Type

Full Face Helmet Segment Dominates Market

Based on product type, the market is segmented into full face, half face, and open face.

A full-face helmet covers the entire head, the base of the skull, and the chin's front. The chin bar is a distinguishing feature of the full-face helmet, securing the rider’s chin during a frontal impact. In an accident, the chin experiences 50% of severe impacts; in such a scenario, only full-face helmets protect the chins due to the presence of chin bars. Most full-face helmets provide ventilation in the helmet, which helps to reduce visor fogging and get rid of the sweat. Moreover, manufacturers are procuring advanced materials such as fiberglass reinforced plastic and carbon fiber to reduce the overall weight of the helmets and make them safer. In addition, new features such as Bluetooth technology, high-end visibility, and visors that adjust to sunlight conditions have been popular in full-face helmets in recent years. Hence, as it provides more safety and can be upgraded technologically, the full face helmet segment is anticipated to lead and exhibit a higher CAGR during the forecast period.

Open face helmets are full-face helmets without the chin bar. The overall weight of the open-face helmet is a little less than the full-face helmet due to the absence of the chin bar. However, the exposure of the face of the rider significantly reduces its safety. Also, it does not provide the rider protection against road debris, mud, and weather conditions. To protect the face from exposure to sunlight, they are equipped with either partial or full-face visors. Hence, this segment will exhibit steady growth due to lack of safety and convenience compared to full-face helmet.

Half helmets are structurally similar to a cap made up of carbon fibers. It only covers the top of the rider’s head and provides minimal shielding from moisture, road debris, or sunlight. While these helmets facilitate the biker with maximum airflow, they offer much less protection than a full face or an open face helmet. Many half-face helmets are not equipped with a visor or face shield and they cannot be upgraded technologically as there isn’t any space for the features to be implanted and installed. Hence, due to the minimal protection and technological features, this segment is expected to exhibit slow to steady growth during the forecast period.

By Distribution Channel

Online Segment Will Hold Largest Motorcycle Helmet Market Share

Based on distribution channel, the market is segmented into online and offline.

The offline sales segment holds the largest share in the global market currently. While e-commerce websites are experiencing a huge boom, the majority of helmet sales occur offline. The dominance can be credited to customers’ preference to buy helmets personally rather than shopping online. Offline shopping benefits the customer by examining the product and even trying the helmet to check the comfort level.

E-commerce websites, such as Amazon and Helmetexpress, are focused on this product category to benefit from the rising product popularity. Also, social media and Google Ads act as a catalyst in altering consumer choice. With online surfing, the biker gets access to a wider range of products. Bikers can shop at any time of the day as it is available 24/7. Also, consumers are entitled to exclusive reward and deals on shopping online. Furthermore, flexible payment options such as paying online from credit and debit cards to Google Pay and PayPal are available. Hence, the online sales segment is anticipated to be the fastest-growing market and lead during the forecast period.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The Asia Pacific region holds the largest share in the global market, accounting for USD 6.15 billion. It is expected to lead the market during the forecast period. India and China, the world’s two largest two-wheeler markets, compete for the top spot. India was leading the two-wheeler market in 2016. However, in 2020, China overtook India with sales at over 17 million, which was slightly less than the pre-COVID-19 figures. In 2019, India had more than 190 million active two-wheelers. It is also a competitive landscape for the helmet manufacturing market, with a current annual production capacity of 35 million helmets.

The rest of the world registered as the second-largest market. The rest of the world consists of Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa regions. Africa is anticipated to contribute significantly to the growth of this market. This can be attributed to the increasing sales of the Chinese and Indian low-cost bikes in the African market. Two-wheeler importers providing more options to African customers are anticipated to propel the market during the forecast period. In 2019, Nigeria accounted for the major share in the Africa two-wheeler market due to increasing economic activity, rising demand for last-mile delivery services, and inadequate public intra and inter-city transport system.

Europe was the third-largest market in 2020. In the first three quarters of 2021, motorcycle registrations in the region rose by 10.6%, totaling 792,819 units. However, it does not account for a significant portion of the worldwide market as Europeans and Americans use bikes for recreational or leisure purposes, whereas Asians and Africans use them as a daily mode of transportation. Hence, with an increasing number of electric motorcycles and mopeds, this region is expected to exhibit the second-largest CAGR during the forecast period.

North America is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to motorcycle and scooter sales up by more than 11% in 2020. The sales of power sports and off-highway motorcycles boomed by double digits over pre-COVID-19 figures. The U.S. ranks first in this regional market due to the presence of most of the motorcycle helmet manufacturers. After a strict lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. reopened, and the bike industry started showing signs of recovery.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS 

Steelbird to Acquire the Top Spot With New Product Launches

Steelbird Helmets is a Delhi-based Indian Motorcycle Helmets manufacturer. In 1960, Steelbird was established to provide helmets with premium quality to customers worldwide. It started with 30 employees, and as of 2021, 235 employees were working. With multiple products launches, the company is expanding its global footprint.

For instance, in November 2021, Steelbird launched its SA-5 helmet, which has a dual certification (DOT & BIS certified). It had multiple air ventilation, an anti-fog shield, and reflective material at the back of the neck pad, which helps the rider while riding at night by increasing the visibility for the person behind the rider. Similarly, in September 2021, Steelbird launched SA-2. This helmet is made from a high-impact thermoplastic material shell. In May 2021, Steelbird launched Blauer open face helmets, which were ECE & ISI certified. It gets dual visors, a tinted one on the inside and a clear one on the outside.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Shark Helmets (Marseille, France)


• ARAI Helmets (Saitama, Japan)


• Manufactures Tomas SA (La Palma, Spain)


• Nolan Helmets SpA (Bergamo, Italy)


• Shoei Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan)


• Bell Helmet (Illinois, U.S.)


• Studds Accessories Ltd. (Haryana, India)


• Schuberth GmbH (Lower Saxony, Germany)


• Steelbird Helmets (Delhi, India)


• Dainese SpA (Colceresa, Italy)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• July 2020 – The Indian Government abolished the weight limit of 1.2 kg for motorcycle helmets, which averted the sale of imported helmets in the country. This will facilitate numerous foreign helmet manufacturers to market, distribute, and sell their helmets in India.


• March 2020- Klim, a U.S. based helmet manufacturer, launched F3 Carbon helmet. The F3 is a series of lightweight helmets. It is manufactured by stripping excess resin during the manufacturing of carbon fiber shell itself, which makes it lighter as well as stronger at the same time.

REPORT COVERAGE

The motorcycle helmet market research report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on crucial aspects such as leading companies, material types, and leading product applications. Besides this, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors above, the report encompasses several factors contributing to the market's growth over recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation