The Market for Auto-Dimming Interior Mirrors Remains Huge - with 82% of the Market Still Left to Capture

DUBLIN, Ireland--Feb. 2, 20062, 2006--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c33353 ) has announced the addition of Global Market Review Of Automotive Rearview Mirrors - Forecasts To 2011 to their offering.

Todays exterior rearview mirrors offer a number of features such as auto-dimming, electric in-car mirror adjustment with memory function, electric power-fold, heated glass, integrated turn signals and approach lights. As with other value-added automotive technology, innovations are typically introduced in the premium segment and subsequently appear in the high-volume segment as awareness of these products and their usage increases. For example, Schefenackers exterior rearview mirror with integrated turn signal designed initially for Mercedes-Benz in 1998, has since been adopted by Volkswagen in the Golf V.

Given that a driver typically looks at the interior mirror once every 15 seconds, it would seem the ideal location to display a variety of information. Compasses and temperature displays, remote keyless entry receivers, trip function displays, telematics capabilities and microphones are all typical of the added-value functions found in todays mirrors.

By far the most promising added-value rearview mirror technology to date is auto-dimming - reducing headlamp glare from following traffic. At a global level, Gentex Corporation estimates that in 2004, 18% of all light vehicles worldwide had an interior auto-dimming mirror and over 5% had at least one exterior auto-dimming mirror. "Although auto-dimming has been available for the past 15 years, its penetration is still relatively small in the global vehicle industry," said Garth Deur, CEO of Gentex Corp, in an exclusive interview. "Last year, approximately 18% of vehicles built globally used an auto-dimming interor mirror. That means 82% of the market is left for us to go after. In the current environment when vehicle production is flat or in some cases down, we still have the opportunity of higher penetration."

In this, the third edition of this report, we review the key market drivers for automotive rearview mirrors, and we update the market analysis and include comments from the key players.

More specifically, this report considers how the humble rearview mirror is being transformed into a high-tech hub of auto electronics, prospects for auto-dimming mirrors, signal mirrors, power-folding mirrors, different use of materials, recyclability issues and forthcoming legislation. It also provides detailed analysis of the market for interior and exterior rearview mirrors.

Despite its apparent maturity, the rearview mirror market has significant opportunity for growth. Over the past ten years, there have been a number of technological advances made to the exterior rearview mirror, including auto-dimming glass, wide-angle spherical mirrors and signal mirrors. Our six-page review of new product developments also considers recent technical advances.

The report concludes with brief profiles of the major mirror manufacturers, namely: Ficosa International, Gentex, Ichikoh, Magna Donnelly, Murakami Kaimeido and Schefenacker.

Topics Covered
Chapter 1.
Introduction
The future is bright for dim mirrors
Report coverage

Chapter 2.
The market
Market trends
Market players
Market shares
Exterior rearview mirrors
Interior rearview mirrors
Auto-dimming rearview mirrors
Market forecasts
Capital investments

Chapter 3.
Technical review
Defining the elements
Rearview mirror innovations
Auto-dimming mirrors

Chapter 4.
Manufacturers
Ficosa International
Gentex
Ichikoh
Magna Donnelly
Murakami Kaimeido
Schefenacker

List of tables
List of figures

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c33353