Wiper blades to dominate wiper systems aftermarket

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Friday, August 18, 2006 -- (Business Wire India) The wiper blade aftermarket expects to be the major revenue generator in the wiper systems aftermarket with its fast advancing technology and increasingly better-informed consumers.

"Within the wiper systems aftermarket, demand for wiper blades and wiper motors is likely to increase as consumers continue to keep their vehicles longer," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Sanjay Vasudevan. "The consequent increased need for repairs and replacements drives demand for wiper systems components."

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (www.transportation.frost.com), North American Wiper Systems Aftermarket, reveals that the market earned revenues of $477.0 million in 2005 and projects to reach $731.6 million in 2012.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the North American wiper systems aftermarket, then send an e-mail to Ravinder Kaur and Tolu Babalola Corporate Communications, at ravinder.kaur@frost.com / tolu.babalola@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address. The brochure will be e-mailed to you upon receipt of this information.

The diversity and escalating number of vehicles in North America necessitates a wide variety of component part numbers in stock. Wiper blades have increased in part numbers for comprehensive coverage of vehicles by make and model, with an extensive array of connection styles for wiper arms. This factor contributes to the overall rise in unit demand for wiper system components.

Vehicles equipped with the rear wiper system also have an aftermarket potential for replacement. This third wiper is becoming more popular on newer models, driving unit shipment in this product category in the aftermarket.

"With parts proliferation, manufacturers should be able to supply the increasing number of stock-keeping-units (SKUs) and also promptly adapt to the changing design and technologies," says Vasudevan.

Manufacturers of wiper blades in North America are introducing more innovative and easy-to-install products. One of the recent innovations is the Silicone squeegee of the blade. Unlike traditional squeegees, these are more resistant to harsh weather conditions and are not easily susceptible to frequent wear and tear. Major industry participants claim that silicone blades can last up to four times longer than traditional rubber blades. The most prominent introduction into the aftermarket is the Flat-Blade or Beam-Blade technology, which expects to be the future of wiper blade designs and positioned as a premium offering.

As several innovative and integrated wiper blades are entering the market, their popularity increases as they can be installed on vehicles originally equipped with traditional wiper blades, using specific adapters for easy installation. This boosts the involvement of the do-it-yourself category of consumers.

Although the demand for wiper blades has increased considerably, cost competition poses a serious challenge for manufacturers. Increasing prices of steel, the primary raw material for manufacturing wiper system components, has significantly contributed to this trend. Wiper motors, arms and blades have high steel content. With windshields getting longer and larger, the average length of the wiper arms and blades has expanded. Therefore, a hike in steel prices will cause a simultaneous rise in average prices.

Wiper refills is a cost effective replacement option to blades for price-sensitive consumers. Since refills are sold in pairs, consumers benefit from changing both the refills of the wiper blades at a much lower cost. However, with cheaper and easier-to-install wiper blades coming in from Asian countries, end users are looking to replace wiper blades instead of just the refills. This has led to a decline in the wiper refills aftermarket.

Overseas competition is expected to increase in the wiper systems aftermarket. As competition gets more intense, top manufacturers will find it hard to compete on value lines. To counter the low cost imports, some reputed domestic manufacturers are positioning their products with product quality as the key proposition, targeting quality and brand-conscious consumers.

The North American Wiper Systems Aftermarket is part of the North American Automotive Aftermarket subscription. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Analyst interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit www.frost.com.

Source: Frost & Sullivan Friday, August 18, 2006 12:50 PM IST (07:20 AM GMT)