Automotive Filters Market Size, Share & Analysis

[382 Pages Report] The global automotive filters market size is projected to grow from USD 12.9 billion in 2024 to USD 14.6 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 2.1% during the forecast period. The automotive filter market's growth is primarily driven by technological advancements leading to more efficient filtration media and stringent emissions regulations necessitating adopting environmentally friendly solutions. Additionally, increasing vehicle production, rising demand for low-emission vehicles, and the expanding market for electric and hybrid vehicles contribute to the market's growth.

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Market Dynamics

DRIVER: Replacement demand created by increasing vehicle parc and miles driven

The expansion of global vehicle fleets, propelled by improvements in road infrastructure and heightened vehicle sales, is set to increase the demand for automotive filters significantly. These essential components, including air, oil, and fuel filters, enhance engine performance and prolong vehicle lifespan. As vehicles accumulate mileage, these filters gradually accumulate contaminants, impairing their effectiveness and potentially jeopardizing engine functionality. Timely replacement of these filters is imperative, as failure to do so can lead to diminished vehicle performance and even mechanical breakdowns.

In the passenger car segment, replacement intervals for essential filters typically align with OEM recommendations, necessitating annual replacement for air, oil, and fuel filters, with cabin filters requiring replacement biannually. Similarly, heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses adhere to distinct replacement schedules, regularly replacing air filters. Given the projected growth in passenger and heavy commercial vehicle fleets, a robust aftermarket demand for automotive filters emerges. This escalating demand underscores the significance of filter manufacturers and suppliers in meeting the evolving needs of the automotive industry.

RESTRAINT:  Surge in adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs)

The escalating adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), characterized by a 42% surge in sales in 2023 compared to 2022, is poised to significantly impact the automotive filter market. Unlike Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, BEVs eliminate the necessity for oil and fuel filters due to the absence of an engine and combustion process. Furthermore, BEVs employ regenerative braking systems, reducing brake strain and potentially decreasing the demand for replacement air filters.

The inherent design of BEVs, with fewer moving parts and the absence of combustion-generated contaminants, reduces maintenance requirements compared to ICE vehicles. Consequently, this translates into a diminished need for replacement filters. As BEVs continue to gain traction in the automotive market, their influence on reducing filter demand is anticipated to be a notable factor for businesses operating within the automotive filtration sector to consider.

OPPORTUNITY: Progress has occurred in filtration media technology.

A vehicle filter's media composition is crucial for ensuring optimal engine performance and reliability. Different types of media, such as cellulose, synthetic, glass fiber, and activated carbon, are utilized in automotive filters, with premium filters leveraging advanced media to gain a competitive edge. Technological innovations in filter media present significant opportunities for manufacturers in the automotive filtration sector.

While cellulose media remains a cost-effective choice for most vehicle air intake filters, synthetic media is gaining traction due to its superior characteristics. Synthetic media offers advantages such as increased airflow, enhanced performance, and excellent water resistance, leading to improved combustion efficiency, fuel economy, and reduced emissions. Manufacturers like Mann+Hummel are developing synthetic ultra-fine fiber media to enhance filter lifespan and efficiency.

Introducing innovative filter media solutions, such as Ahlstrom's Ahlstrom ECO, which incorporates renewable and sustainable materials like lignin-based impregnation, signifies a shift towards eco-friendly filtration technologies. These advancements maintain filter durability and contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing reliance on fossil-based resources. Such technological progressions are poised to drive growth within the automotive air filters market, presenting lucrative opportunities for manufacturers to capitalize on evolving consumer demands and regulatory requirements.

CHALLENGE: Fluctuating Raw Material Costs

Filters are manufactured using steel, aluminum, rubber, and synthetic fibers. These have experienced significant price fluctuations in recent years due to global economic conditions, geopolitical issues, and supply chain disruptions. When raw material costs surge, it becomes easier for filter manufacturers to maintain their profit margins. They are caught in a squeeze between rising input costs and the need to remain competitive in the global automotive filters market. To manage rising costs, some manufacturers might be tempted to reduce the quality of raw materials used in their filters.

However, this can compromise the performance and durability of the filters, potentially leading to customer dissatisfaction and impacting brand reputation. The fluctuating costs of raw materials create a complex and challenging environment for automotive filter manufacturers. Manufacturers must adopt effective strategies, such as hedging, exploring alternative materials, and optimizing production processes.

Automotive Filters Market Ecosystem

“Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is expected to lead the Filter Type segment in ICE vehicles.

A significant reason for DPF growth is the increasing stringency of emission regulations worldwide. Governments are cracking down on harmful pollutants from vehicles and machinery, forcing manufacturers to adopt cleaner technologies like DPFs. The global brake dust particle filter market will grow from USD XX million in 2024 to USD XX million in 2030 at a CAGR of 5.4%. These filters capture and trap soot particles in diesel exhaust, significantly reducing air pollution. In the Asia Pacific region, DPF dominates the automotive diesel filters market. In 2022, China emerged as the leading market in the Asia-Pacific region for passenger car purchases, selling 23 million units.

The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing significant economic growth, leading to a rise in commercial vehicle sales, including trucks and construction equipment. These vehicles often rely on diesel engines for their power and torque. DPFs become crucial for these vehicles to comply with emission standards. Euro 6 tightened emission regulations, including PM limits. It requires that DPF in most new diesel vehicles comply with the standards. Stricter PM limits in recent China standards, such as China 6, effectively push manufacturers towards using DPFs, especially for heavy-duty vehicles, to meet compliance. Rapid regional urbanization leads to increased traffic congestion and worsening air quality. Public awareness about the health impacts of air pollution is growing, making DPFs a desirable technology to reduce harmful particulate matter emissions from diesel vehicles. The surge in commercial vehicle sales in the Asia-Pacific region is poised to drive the growth of automotive filters due to the increasing demand for environmentally friendly filters.

Particle cabin filters are anticipated to dominate the cabin filter market in terms of material type.

Particle cabin filters are projected to emerge as the leading segment within the automotive cabin filter market, primarily due to their cost-effectiveness compared to activated carbon and electrostatic filters and their above-average performance. These filters feature a low-cost barrier made of entirely synthetic non-woven fabric, offering distinct advantages such as resistance to deformation caused by water due to the non-hygroscopic nature of synthetic fibers. Consequently, this is anticipated to fuel steady growth in the particle filter market in the foreseeable future.

Furthermore, there is a burgeoning demand for air-conditioned cabins in heavy trucks in Europe and North America, primarily driven by government regulations. Notably, the European Commission has mandated the adoption of cabin air conditioning in all heavy commercial trucks, a directive echoed by the Indian government, albeit yet to be fully realized commercially. This regulatory push, coupled with major commercial vehicle manufacturers' installation of air conditioning systems in heavy trucks and buses, is expected to propel the particle automotive cabin air filter market within the heavy vehicles segment.

The Asia Pacific automotive filter market is projected to hold the largest share by 2030.

The Asia Pacific region holds the largest automotive filter market share. China accounts for the largest share owing to shifting consumer preferences, increasing per capita income of the middle-class population, and cost advantages that have led OEMs to increase vehicle production in the region. Thus, strong demand has been noticed in China, India, and Japan, accelerating the automotive filter market growth.

Asia Pacific will contribute 57% of the total vehicle production worldwide in 2022, whereas China will contribute the region's highest production. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and passenger cars hold a significant share, driven by the region's growing automotive industry. LCVs and trucks dominate China, with manufacturers investing in environmentally friendly filters to meet fuel economy standards while prioritizing consumer health and convenience.

In China and India, the four primary filters, oil, fuel, air, and cabin filters, dominate the overall automotive filter market. They are expected to continue their dominance in the forecast period alongside the region's overall growth in vehicle production. Factors like growing vehicle production, increasing demand, rising consumer spending, and emissions norms and standards contribute to their popularity. Many Asian countries are progressively adopting stricter emission regulations aligning with European standards (like Euro 6) or implementing stringent regulations. This requires high-quality filters that meet these regulations, driving demand for advanced filtration technologies.

Key Market Players

 The key players in the automotive filters market are MANN+HUMMEL (Germany), Donaldson Corporation (US), Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Denso Corporation (Japan), Parker Hannifin (US), Sogefi S.p.A (Italy), Cummins Inc. (US), MAHLE GmbH (Germany), Toyota Boshoku (Japan), and AHLSTROM-MUNKSJO (Sweden).  These companies adopted new product launches, partnerships, and joint ventures to gain traction in the market.

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Scope of the Report

The study categorizes the automotive filters market based on the following segments:

Automotive Filters Market By Filter Type (ICE)

• Air filter
• fuel filter
• oil filter
• cabin filter
• brake dust filters
• transmission oil filter
• coolant filter
• oil separator
• steering filter
• urea filter
• DPF filter
• GPF filter
• Crankcase ventilation filter

Automotive Filters Market By Vehicle Type

• Passenger cars
• Light Commerical Vehicles (LCV)
• Trucks
• Buses

Automotive Fuel Filters Market, By Fuel Type (ICE)

• Gasoline filters
• Diesel filters

Automotive Air filter Market By Media type (ICE)

• Cellulose
• Synthetic

Automotive Cabin Filters by Material Type (ICE)

• Particle Cabin
• Activated Carbon
• Electrostatic

Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Filters (OE) Market By Vehicle Type

• Air filter
• Fuel filter
• Oil filter
• Cabin filter,
• Brake dust filter
• Transmission oil filter
• EMI/EMC filters
• Cooling air particle filter

Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Filters (OE) Market By Vehicle Type

• Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Automotive Filters Aftermarket (ICE), By Filter Type

• Oil Filter
• Fuel Filter
• Air Filter
• Cabin Filter
• Coolant Filter
• Transmission Oil Filter

Off-Highway Vehicle Filters Market, By Equipment Type

• Construction Equipment
• Agricultural Tractors

Off-Highway Filters (OE) Market, By Filter Type

• Fuel Filter
• Oil Filter
• Air Filter
• Cabin Air Filter
• Transmission Oil Filter
• Automotive Filters Market By Region
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• North America
• RoW

Recent Developments

• In January 2024, Robert Bosch GmbH launched the FILTER+pro, a cabin filter that ensures the prevention of viruses and mold growth. Its antimicrobial filter layer is finely tuned to effectively combat bacteria, pollen, and allergens. The carbon layer eliminates odors and harmful gases like ozone or smog, while the ultrafine microfiber layer filters out over 98% of particulate matter sized 2.5 micrometers or more significantly.
• In October 2023, MANN+HUMMEL Group finalized its acquisition of a majority share in Suzhou U-Air Environmental Technology ("U-Air"), emphasizing its dedication to fulfilling the increasing worldwide need for cleaner air solutions. This strategic decision further solidifies MANN+HUMMEL's presence in China and Southeast Asia's expanding air filtration market.
• In August 2023, Donaldson partnered with NAPA Auto Parts stores (US). Donaldson Corporation will provide the NAPA United States network with a comprehensive range of heavy-duty air filtration products under the NAPA Gold product line.
• In April 2023, Ahlstrom launched eco-friendly filtration solutions tailored for automotive use. This newly developed renewable and sustainable filter media, created by Ahlstrom, employs lignin-based impregnation, substituting fossil-based resin. The resin formula incorporates a notable portion of bio-based, renewable lignin, ensuring that the mechanical attributes and resilience of the filter media remain intact, even in demanding conditions.
• In April 2022, MANN+HUMMEL developed a cutting-edge filter medium named MULTIGRADE F-MB 2000, providing 99.95 percent separation efficiency for particles sized down to four micrometers. These particles are up to 18 times smaller than the width of a human hair. This filter medium is utilized in the MANN-FILTER WK 11 051 fuel filter, which retains 9,995 out of 10,000 flowing particles.

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