Analysis of the Braking, Steering & Suspension Markets

DUBLIN, Ireland--Dec. 2, 2005--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c28790) has announced the addition of The global chassis sector report: an analysis of the braking, steering & suspension markets to their offering.

This exclusive new report, concentrates on three of the most important areas within the automotive chassis sector, providing both an up-to-date technological assessment, as well as market analysis and forecasts for:

-- Braking components, modules and systems

-- Suspension and damping systems

-- Steering systems

A significant part of the research findings are based on extensive primary research within the automotive chassis sector. The forecasts for OE volumes in this report are supported by interviews with experts at component manufacturers and OEMs across Europe and North America

The global chassis sector

The chassis of a modern car primarily serves as the interface between the car body, occupants and the road. The components and systems in a chassis perform the functions of steering, stabilising and decelerating the vehicle, and are all geared to providing the optimum road contact at each wheel/tyre corner of the vehicle.

Over time, chassis systems have evolved to offer greater stability, comfort and driver assistance, all of which improves road safety. Both antilock braking and electronic stability control can brake a vehicle and maintain its lateral stability far more effectively than the vast majority of drivers can do manually. Power assisted steering has greatly reduced driver effort in steering input, and active steering varies the degree of power assistance depending on driving conditions and can interact with brake control systems to assist a driver in case of emergency oversteer or understeer.

Damping systems have developed rapidly in the last five years, and several variants of adaptive, or semi-active systems are on the market.

Data coverage

The report includes valuable market share analysis as well as volume penetration and fitment rates:

Volume penetration of adaptive damping systems

Electronic stability control (ESC) fitment rates

Electronic stability control (ESC) market shares

Air suspension systems market shares

Passive damper market shares

Electric power steering (EPS) fitment rates

Answering key questions such as:

Will the indefinite delay in 42v technology and the rejection of EHB as a viable mainstream technology have serious implications for engineers and developers?

What percentage of all new cars sold in Europe were fitted with EPS in 2004, and how does this compare to other regions such as North America and Japan?

How has the spread of lean manufacturing practices and concepts influenced the direction of the suspension module sector?

Why is the growth of electric steering forecast to be slow in North America, and how does this contrast with the forecast growth in other regions?

How many vehicles annually are built using an outsourced axle/suspension module, and how quickly will this trend toward outsourcing grow?

Why are Japanese manufacturers reluctant to adopt the use of supplier assembled modules?

Which OEMs have actively engaged with emerging chassis technologies such as adaptive cruise control and semi-active damping?

Detailed chassis sector supplier profiles on:

-- ArvinMeritor

-- Benteler

-- Bosch

-- Continental Automotive Systems

-- Dana

-- Delphi

-- Kayaba

-- Tenneco

-- ThyssenKrupp

-- TRW

-- ZF Friedrichshafen

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c28790