Research and Markets: Global Market for Road Wheels: Market Trends, Companies and Forecasts to 2010
DUBLIN, Ireland, May 31, 2005 -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c18423) has announced the addition of Global Market For Road Wheels: Market Trends, Companies And Forecasts To 2010 -- 2nd Edition to their offering.
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Since being rolled out by the Ancient Greeks around 3500 BC, the wheel has been constantly reinvented. Today, the main development trends in the automotive wheels industry centre on producing larger, brighter and cheaper wheels.
Wheels for passenger cars and light trucks are made of steel or aluminium. Steel and aluminium offer vehicle makers a range of options. Steel wheels, which are heavier than aluminium wheels, are typically low-cost, high-volume production items that consist of two separate pieces -- a rim and a centre -- welded together. Aluminium wheels are generally lighter in weight, more readily styled and more expensive than steel wheels. Aluminium wheels are around 20% lighter than steel wheels, but the material and manufacturing costs are considerably higher, making them at least three times more expensive than steel wheels.
Given that aluminium wheels are lighter and more easily styled than steel, it is hardly surprising to see increasing fitment rates either as standard or optional fitment. In North America, more than half of all new cars feature aluminium wheels while over one-third of cars in Europe now come equipped with them. Although alloy wheels are easier to style, the material and manufacturing costs associated with them makes them more expensive to build. For that reason, we are unlikely to see the total eclipse of alloy over steel.
This report covers the global road wheel market which it divides into two segments: OE (original equipment supplied to the vehicle makers) and aftermarket. The scope of this report is confined to OE supply of road wheels.
Chapter two identifies the OE aluminium and steel wheel market shares in Europe, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific region and other regions. The product fitment forecasts in this study extend to 2010, determining the market worldwide (and by major car-producing region) for alloy and steel wheels by volume and value. The forecasts for OE volumes and values in this report are dependent on the underlying drivers of supply and demand. The estimates are supported by interviews with experts at wheels manufacturers and OEMs across Europe, North America and Japan. All in all, this report includes 15 product forecast data sets plus share analysis of five markets. This section concludes with a roundup of recent merger and acquisition activity and a summary of the main wheel producers' business activities.
Chapter three provides brief profiles of the major road wheel manufacturers (both aluminium and steel), namely, Accuride, Alcoa, Amcast, ArvinMeritor, Hayes Lemmerz, Otto Fuchs, Superior Industries and Topy Industries.
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c18423
Laura Wood Senior Manager Research and Markets press@researchandmarkets.com Fax: +353 1 4100 980Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040820/RESEARCH