Global Market Review of Road Wheels - Forecasts to 2012

Abstract

Countries covered: Global

In this, the third edition of this report, just-auto reviews the key market drivers for road wheels and we update the market analysis and include comments from the key players. Our product fitment forecasts in chapter two predict in some detail how the market will evolve for both steel and aluminium wheels in Western Europe, Japan and North America from 2000 through 2012.

Since being rolled out by the Ancient Greeks around 3500 BC, the wheel has been constantly reinvented. Today, the main development trends in the automotive wheels industry centre on producing larger, brighter and cheaper wheels. From a style point of view, although certain finishes are typically applied to steel wheels, it's hard to ignore the sheer weight compared to alloy. In fact, for some time aluminium wheel penetration in Western Europe and North America has increased due to its weight efficiencies and favourable design characteristics. Aluminium is perceived as a key raw material to help vehicle makers produce more fuel-efficient, lighter and recyclable vehicles.

However, steel wheels are said to be making a comeback as carmakers realise they can save hundreds of dollars per vehicle without sacrifice to quality or performance. Ford, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors and among those switching to steel wheels thanks to the development of new high-strength steels and improved design and simulation technology. So are steel wheels really making a comeback? Is it a myth that consumers prefer aluminium wheels to styled steel wheels? This report addresses these issues as well as a number of topics, including:

Steel wheel makers are faced with the challenge of using styled steel wheels to reduce weight and cost and yet increase profitability. How have they achieved it?
To what extent are imports from the emerging markets posing a threat to alloy wheel makers?
What are the similarities or differences between North American and European wheel markets?
Who leads the European steel wheel market?
Just how fast will the alloy wheel market grow in North America over the next few years?
While wheel size may matter most in terms of design, style ranks a close second. What are the emerging trends in terms of cladding and finishes?
To what extent can high strength steels and new designs that offer large ventilation openings mimic the thin-spoke appearance of some alloy wheels?
How has simulation software improved over the last few years?
What future has magnesium?
How much further can wheel design go?
Chapter four provides profiles of the major road wheel manufacturers, namely, Accuride, Alcoa, Amcast, ArvinMeritor, Hayes Lemmerz, Otto Fuchs, Superior Industries and Topy Industries.

Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
Report coverage

Chapter 2 The market
Market trends
Market players
Accuride
Alcoa
Amcast
ArvinMeritor
Hayes Lemmerz
Otto Fuchs
Superior Industries
Topy Industries
Emerging markets
China
Eastern and Central Europe
Market shares
North America
South America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Rest of the world
Market volume forecast
Aluminium wheels
Steel wheels
Market value forecast
Overview
Aluminium wheels
Steel wheels

Chapter 3 Technical review
Reinventing the wheel
Bigger is better
Road wheel material
Wheel appeal
Tomorrow's wheel

Chapter 4 Manufacturers
Alcoa
Accuride
Amcast Industrial Corporation
ArvinMeritor
Hayes Lemmerz
Superior Industries
Topy Industries

List of tables
Table 1: Main suppliers of steel and aluminium wheels for passenger cars and light trucks, Europe, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific 2005
Table 2: Installation of OE cast aluminium wheels for passenger cars and light trucks in Western Europe, North America and Japan, 2000-2012 (% of volume)
Table 3: Market volume of OE cast aluminium wheels for passenger cars and light trucks in Western Europe, North America and Japan, 2000-2012 ('000s units)
Table 4: Installation of OE steel wheels for passenger cars and light trucks in Western Europe, North America and Japan, 2000-2012 (% of volume)
Table 5: Market volume of OE steel wheels for passenger cars and light trucks in Western Europe, North America and Japan, 2000-2012 ('000s units)
Table 6: Market value of OE cast aluminium wheels for passenger cars and light trucks in Western Europe, North America, and Japan, 2000-2012 (EUR'000s)
Table 7: Market value of OE steel wheels for passenger cars and light trucks in Western Europe, North America, and Japan, 2000-2012 (EUR'000s)
Table 8: Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products' locations
Table 9: Accuride's wheel and wheel-end assembly sites in North America
Table 10: Hayes Lemmerz's wheel manufacturing facilities worldwide
Table 11: Superior Industries' key financial results, 2000-2004 (US$'000s)

List of figures
Figure 1: North American OE market shares of cast aluminium wheels for passenger cars and light trucks, 2005 (% of volume)
Figure 2: North American OE market shares of steel wheels for passenger cars and light trucks, 2005 (% of volume)
Figure 3: European OE market shares for aluminium wheels for passenger cars and light trucks, 2005 (% of volume)
Figure 4: ArvinMeritor's sequence of styled drop centre wheels, cladded and painted integrated wheels and super spoke with wheel cover