The automotive anti-pinch power window averts the winding up of car windows if it detects any obstacle in the path of the glass. It identifies the obstacles with the help of an electric motor that is attached to a sensor, which can sense the force restraining the motion of the glass. The closing of the window stops as soon as the motor senses an obstacle, and it starts moving in the reverse direction. Owing to this benefit, these windows have been made mandatory in vehicles by several countries.
With the increasing awareness regarding advanced safety features and rising electrification of vehicles, the installation of anti-pinch power windows has surged in recent years. Automakers are largely introducing this technology in passenger cars, due to the rising demand for them, especially in the developing countries of India, Brazil, South Africa, and China. This reason will fuel the automotive anti-pinch power window system market at a CAGR of 12.0% during 2017–2023. The market stood at $1,690.2 million in 2016, and it is projected to reach $3,611.2 million by 2023.
Moreover, developing nations are also generating a high demand for luxury cars due to a surge in the disposable income here. Luxury cars are mostly equipped with the anti-pinch feature, with the adoption of such features soaring over the years on account of the increasing awareness regarding vehicle safety. Leading automakers, such as General Motors, Audi, Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Toyota Motors, and Honda, provide anti-pinch power windows as standard or optional in their cars.
These auto giants are primarily focusing on installing automatic anti-pinch windows to adhere to the strict safety legislations laid down by several governments and regulatory bodies across the world. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and automotive technology vendors are developing advanced variants to comply with the safety standards and cater to the safety concerns of customers. In addition, the widescale adoption of luxury cars and passenger cars in developed and developing countries is already pushing up the integration rate of such windows.
According to P&S Intelligence, Europe and North America cumulatively dominated the global automotive anti-pinch power window system market in the past. This can be ascribed to the stringent vehicle safety norms, technological advancements, high demand for passenger and luxury cars, and strong presence of automakers and OEMs in these regions. For instance, Europe is home to auto giants such as Audi, BMW, Renault, Jaguar, Land Rover, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Volkswagen, and PSA Group. Similarly, North America hosts automakers such as General Motors, Ford, and Tesla.
Several leading automakers are adopting anti-pinch power widows offered by Tier 1 auto component companies, such as Robert Bosch GmbH, NXP Semiconductors, Magna International Inc., Continental AG, Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co., DENSO Corp., Inteva Products LLC, and Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG. These companies have been mostly focusing on partnerships and product launches to expand their presence, gain a competitive edge and, most importantly, increase the safety of passengers.
Therefore, with the growing consciousness regarding vehicle safety, the demand for automotive anti-pinch power windows will soar in the coming years.