Demands Are Expected to Increase in Electric Power Steering Due to Its Advantages of Reduced Fuel Consumption and Logistical Benefits

DUBLIN, Ireland--Feb. 17, 2006--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c33081) has announced the addition of Global Market Review Of Automotive Steering Systems - Forecasts To 2011 to their offering.

For many years, power steering technology was focused on hydraulic systems but demand is now favouring electric power steering (EPS) mainly due to fuel consumption and logistical benefits. EPS systems effectively eliminate the traditional hydraulic systems power steering pump, hoses, hydraulic fluid, and drive belt and pulley on the engine. There is no doubt, therefore, that EPS systems are headed for the mass-market worldwide, helped by their potential to save manufacturers money, reduce customers fuel bills, save designers valuable space, and possibly save lives as well.

In the meantime, electro-hydraulic steering appears to be sticking around despite the early assumptions that this was a transition technology before it went to full electric. An auto executive told us: "It is continuing to do quite well. In fact, our volumes of products are continuing to grow which is a good thing. In the early days, everyone thought it would be a transition technology but it has certainly found its place and continues to be out there."

Another executive added: "As far as electro hydraulics steering is concerned, everyone thought this was some sort of transition technology before we went for full electric. But we are now finding that this technology is sticking around. We have got a huge business in electro hydraulic steering, particularly in Europe. These systems are being made more efficient. Another trend is idle torque hydraulic overlay. The BMW 7 Series has got it although it is quite expensive - EUR700 plus. We can do it virtually free with our EPS system."

In this, the third edition of this report, we review the key market drivers for automotive steering systems, and we update the market analysis and include comments from the key players. Our product fitment forecasts in chapter two includes 48 market value and volume data sets predicting in some detail how the market will evolve in Western Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific through 2011 by product type, ie:

Rack Drive EPS;

Pinion Drive EPS;

Column Drive EPS;

Electrically Powered Hydraulic Steering;

Power Rack & Pinion Steering; and

Recirculating Ball Systems.

Our eight-page review of new product developments in chapter three considers recent technical advances in the steering system arena. Chapter four provides brief profiles of the major manufacturers, namely: Delphi, NSK, ThyssenKrupp, Toyoda Machine Works, TRW Automotive, Visteon and ZF Lenksysteme.

Chapter 1 - - Introduction .

Steering towards an electric future

Report coverage

Chapter 2 - The market .

Market trends

Market players

Delphi

Koyo Seiko

NSK

ThyssenKrupp

Toyoda Machine Works

TRW Automotive

Visteon

ZF Lenksysteme

Recent developments in emerging markets

Recent merger, acquisition and joint venture activity

Market shares

Electric steering systems

Hydraulic steering systems

Market size by product type

Western Europe

North America

Asia-Pacific

Market volume forecasts

EPS systems

Electric powered hydraulic steering

Hydraulic power steering

Manual steering

Market value forecasts

EPS systems

Electric powered hydraulic steering

Hydraulic power steering

Manual steering

Chapter 3 - Technical review .

Defining the elements

EPS

Four-wheel steering

Steer-by-wire (SBW)

Steering column innovations

Steering innovations for truck applications

Other steering innovations

Chapter 4 - Manufacturers .

Delphi

Koyo Seiko

NSK

Showa

ThyssenKrupp Automotive

Toyoda Machine Works

TRW Automotive

Visteon

ZF Lenksysteme

List of tables

List of figures

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c33081