Abstract
This Intelligence Set includes the 2006 edition of our Automotive 4WD
transmissions report, along with profiles of Aisin Seiki, American Axle,
BorgWarner, Dana, GKN, Magna, Toyoda, Visteon, ZF.
It offers excellent value for money and will allow you to discover where the
market is heading, what the latest innovations are, and how your competitors
are performing.
The 4WD market is changing. In Europe and North America, consumer perceptions
of several key factors within the automotive industry is driving a shift in
attitudes towards the concept of AWD technology and towards the vehicles with
which such technology is commonly associated.
There are a relatively large number of suppliers in the global 4WD market,
compared to certain other sectors, such as engine management or turbochargers
for example. just-auto estimates the overall global market to be worth around
US$18bn in 2005.
One interesting factor within the sector is the relatively high level of
in-house operations that remain around the world. Approximately 18% of the
market is carried out by OEMs' own chassis and powertrain operations. Examples
include GM and DaimlerChrysler in North America, and BMW in Europe. Given that
this is equivalent to the turnover of GKN Driveline, the largest 4WD supplier
in the world, there should be opportunities for outsourced business to
increase, especially as new technologies come through, and OEMs choose to
retire plant at end-of-life.
The most significant trend anticipated in the global 4WD market is the
continuing shift to electronic control of torque distribution.