Status : Published Published On : Dec, 2023 Report Code : VRAT4090 Industry : Automotive & Transportation Available Format : Page : 220
2025
2030

Global Automotive Differential Market – Analysis and Forecast (2025-2030)

Industry Insights by Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, Light Commercial Vehicle, Heavy Commercial Vehicle), by Drive Type (Open Differential, Locking Differential, Limited Slip Differential, Electronic Limited Slip Differential, Torque Vectoring Differential), by Off-Highway Vehicle (Construction & Mining Equipment, Agriculture Tractors, Forklift)

Industry Overview

The Global Automotive Differential Market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.9 percent from 2025 to 2030. It is expected to grow from a market size of USD 18.8 billion in 2023 to USD 26.2 billion by 2030. The demand for improved road traction and fuel efficiency are two major factors driving the growth of the automotive differential industry. With vehicle demand, the automotive differential market has a lot of room for development. A major driver for the differential market is the increasing demand for all-wheel-drive vehicles.

Automotive Differential Market

Since the outer wheels must occupy a greater diameter, the automotive differential assists in smooth operations by assisting the wheels to revolve at different speeds. It is a component of the rear axle assembly of rear-wheel drives, consisting of rear drive axles and rear axle housing, which splits or allows the power produced to move the wheels independently.

Market Segmentation

By Vehicle Type

•    Passenger Car
•    Light Commercial Vehicle
•    Heavy Commercial Vehicle

In terms of volume and value, the passenger car market is the highest. The main factors influencing passenger car sales in various countries are rising per capita income and improved living standards.

By Drive Type

•    Open Differential
•    Locking Differential
•    Limited Slip Differential
•    Electronic Limited Slip Differential
•    Torque Vectoring Differential

The open differential market is expected to dominate the automotive differential market in terms of differential form. Due to its low cost and the fact that it offers better traction on good roads, most vehicles are fitted with an open differential.

By Off-Highway Vehicle

•    Construction & Mining Equipment
•    Agriculture Tractors
•    Forklift

With a market value of over USD 10.1 billion, agriculture tractors are the market leader. Agriculture tractors are the fastest-growing segment in the automotive differential, owing to the rising global population, declining soil fertility, and unpredictable climatic changes.

By Region

•    Asia Pacific
•    Europe
•    North America
•    RoW

During the forecast period, Asia Pacific is projected to account for the largest market share. China and Japan, for example, are major vehicle manufacturing centres in the area. The demand for automotive differential is expected to rise significantly as vehicle output increases. Off-road vehicles and sports cars have also grown in popularity in Asian countries, thanks to an increasing preference for all-wheel and four-wheel drive integrated vehicles. During the forecast period, these factors are likely to contribute to overall market growth. However, due to the high volume of vehicles produced in the area, the overall demand for differential is the highest.

Global Automotive Differential Market Report Coverage

Report Metric

Details

Historical Period

2018 - 2023

Base Year Considered

2024

Forecast Period

2025 - 2030

Market Size in 2023

U.S.D.  400.6 Billion

Revenue Forecast in 2030

U.S.D.  1000.43 Billion

Growth Rate

CAGR 20.1%

Segments Covered in the Report

By Product, By Delivery Mode, By Component, and By End User

Report Scope

Market Trends, Drivers, and Restraints; Revenue Estimation and Forecast; Segmentation Analysis; Impact of COVID-19; Companies’ Strategic Developments; Market Share Analysis of Key Players; Company Profiling

Regions Covered in the Report

North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Rest of the World

Market Trends

COVID-19 has caused a drop in vehicle demand, which has a negative impact on the overall automotive differential market. However, the automotive differential market is expected to expand in the coming years due to a projected steady recovery in vehicle production by Q1-Q2 of 2021. China and Japan, for example, are major vehicle manufacturing centres in the area. The demand for automotive differential is expected to rise significantly as vehicle output increases. Off-road vehicles and sports cars have also grown in popularity in Asian countries, thanks to an increasing preference for all-wheel and four-wheel drive integrated vehicles. During the forecast period, these factors are likely to contribute to overall market growth. However, due to the high volume of vehicles produced in the area, the overall demand for differential is the highest.

Market Drivers

The global automotive differential market is expected to be driven by rising demand for commercial vehicles and the growing penetration of AWD and 4WD vehicles. However, declining automotive production and sales over the last two years, as well as an increase in the production of vehicles with in-wheel electric motors, are expected to limit demand growth over the forecast period. Furthermore, winning contracts/agreements is a key strategy for gaining a competitive edge, and electronically limited-slip differential output is expected to complement the global automotive differential market development. As a result, these trends are projected to improve the market's growth prospects shortly.

Opportunities

OEMs use vehicle differential assemblies extensively and often in their manufacturing processes. Open contracts and agreements between OEMs and manufacturers of automotive differential assemblies are seen in this product procurement. These contracts detail the collection of conditions that must be met within the specified timeline. To achieve a competitive edge and maintain long-term market prospects, manufacturers must concentrate on winning contracts and deals with new installations.

Challenges

The growing demand for electric buses and trucks, as well as increased knowledge about electric vehicles, may stymie the automotive differential market in the forecast period. The automotive differential market faces a challenge in developing and delivering electronics that ensure safety.

COVID-19 Impact on the Global Automotive Differential Market

The COVID-19 crisis is causing instability in the automotive differential industry by slowing supply chains, stifling business growth, generating unpredictable demand scenarios, and growing consumer fear. The selling of automotive differentials is inextricably linked to the manufacture and sale of automobiles all over the world. If the country-by-country blockade is prolonged, production loss is expected to rise. In the third quarter of 2020, global automotive production fell by 22.3 percent compared to the third quarter of 2019. Furthermore, global light vehicle sales fell by nearly 20% year over year, from 6,335 thousand in February 2019 to 5,077 thousand in February 2020.

Market Key Players

Some of the key players in the global automotive differential market are:

•    American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. (AAM)
•    BorgWarner Inc. 
•    Dana Incorporated
•    Eaton
•    Hyundai Wia Corporation 
•    JTEKT Corporation 
•    Linamar Corporation 
•    Melrose Industries PLC 
•    Schaeffler Group 
•    ZF Friedrichshafen AG
•    GKN
•    Continental AG
•    Auburn Gear
•    LLC
•    Neapco Holdings LLC
•    Magna International Inc.
•    Drexler Companies Inc.
•    RT Quaife Engineering Ltd.
•    Xtrac Ltd 
•    NSK Ltd.
•    Bharat Gears Ltd.
•    CUSCO Japan Co. Ltd.
•    Zen Technologies Limited
•    Kermanmotor Co.

Recent Developments

•    Eaton debuted an electronically controlled, modular limited-slip differential in August 2020, which works across several vehicle platforms to improve performance and ensure driver safety.
•    Dana introduced a new series of eight Spicer Torque-Hub drives in March 2020, broadening the company's drive and motion technology offerings for crawler cranes and other large tracked vehicles. The new drives deliver versatile packaging and gear ratios to suit manufacturer preferences for tracked and wheeled applications, with torque ratings ranging from 80,000 N-m to 450,000 N-m.
•    GKN Automotive and Delta Electronics announced the joint development of eDrive technology in December 2019 that will allow the rapid acceleration of next-generation integrated 3-in-1 drive systems with power classes ranging from 80kW to 155kW.

The Smart Card IC Market report offers a comprehensive market segmentation analysis along with an estimation for the forecast period 2025–2030.

Segments Covered in the Report

  • Vehicle
    • Passenger Car
    • Light Commercial Vehicle
    • Heavy Commercial Vehicle
  • Drive Type

    • Open Differential
    • Locking Differential
    • Limited Slip Differential
    • Electronic Limited Slip Differential
    • Torque Vectoring Differential
  • Off-Highway Vehicle

    • Construction & Mining Equipment
    • Agriculture Tractors
    • Forklift

Geographical Segmentation

  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • U.K.
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia-Pacific (APAC)
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • Rest of the World (RoW)
    • Brazil
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • U.A.E.
    • Other Countries

 

Automotive Differential Market Size

Source: VynZ Research

Automotive Differential Market Analysis

Source: VynZ Research

Frequently Asked Questions

OEMs use vehicle differential assemblies extensively and often in their manufacturing processes. Open contracts and agreements between OEMs and manufacturers of automotive differential assemblies are seen in this product procurement.
The global automotive differential market is expected to be driven by factors such as rising demand for commercial vehicles and growing penetration of AWD and 4WD vehicles.
Asia-Pacific holds the largest share in the global automotive differential market.
The global automotive differential market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period.
The global automotive differential market was valued at USD 18.8 billion in 2023.

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Research Methodology

  •  Desk Research / Pilot Interviews
  •  Build Market Size Model
  •  Research and Analysis
  •  Final Deliverabvle

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