Several States In North America Have Inspection And Maintenance Programs That Require Consumers To Present Vehicles For Testing

DUBLIN, Ireland--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c46490) has announced the addition of “North American Exhaust Components Aftermarket” to their offering.

This Frost & Sullivan research service entitled North American Exhaust Components Aftermarket provides a comprehensive assessment of this market by outlining revenues and shipments in different market segments. It also includes discussion on key market drivers and restraints, trends, and the competitive structure. In this study, Frost & Sullivan’s expert analysts thoroughly examine the following segments: standard replacement exhaust and performance exhaust aftermarket.

Market Sectors

Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:

- Standard replacement mufflers
- Exhaust pipes
- Catalytic converters
- Exhaust manifolds
- Performance mufflers
- Cat-back systems
- Exhaust tips

Market Overview

Standard Replacement and Performance Exhausts Contribute Steadily to Growth of the Market

As the number of light vehicles increase in North America, there are greater instances of replacing exhausts. This positively impacts the standard replacement exhaust segment in the North American exhaust components aftermarket. However, the declining adoption rates due to the deployment of stainless steel exhaust systems in the mid 1990s is expected to improve in the long term, thus boosting revenues, according to the analyst of the study. In comparison, the performance exhaust aftermarket is expected to grow consistently as it is being driven by greater awareness of its benefits and as market average prices increase specifically due to cat-back systems.

Overall, this market is expected to grow steadily as the average age of vehicles increases. In the performance exhaust segment, some consumers remain skeptical about changing their original equipment (OE) exhaust due to warranty concerns. Most consumers prefer to wait until their vehicles are out of warranty before installing a performance exhaust component. The longer the vehicles remain in use, the greater are the chances for consumers to experiment with various performance exhaust products. Also, the average miles driven annually is set to increase marginally, thus leading to increasing exhaust system replacement.

Better Technicians and Stricter Emission Controls Expected to Drive this Market

Several states in North America have inspection and maintenance (I&M) programs that require consumers to present vehicles for testing. Vehicle registration is renewed only if the vehicle passes testing requirements. If it does not pass the test, the defective converter must be replaced. Many states in the region are expected to continue with more aggressive I&M programs during the forecast period that, in turn, is likely to lead to an increase in aftermarket unit shipment.

With growing I&M programs, a few manufacturers have started a project in collaboration with maintenance chains to detect problems with exhaust components. Literature on common defects and solutions is being circulated and toll-free numbers set up to clarify issues. Unless there are overt indications of a defect, consumers do not replace standard exhaust components, notes the analyst. However, an educated technician who identifies it during routine maintenance is bound to spur replacement, which generates increased revenues, and boosts market growth.

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