In this report, Technavio covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV) market for 2017-2021. The report includes the entire range of fuel cell vehicles available in the market segmented based on geography into Asia-Pacific (APAC), 

Forging is a metal forming process wherein a workpiece is bent and reformed by the application of compressional forces to attain the desired shape.The forging market comprises closed die, open die, and seamless ring forgings,which are primarily used in the automotive sector. The market is segmented on the basis of end-user, forging type, and geography.The global forging market was valued at 28.21 million tons in terms of production in 2016. The market is forecast to grow during the forecast period and reach 36.60 million tons by 2021.

Advances in automotive technology have taken vehicle comfort and convenience to another level. Automotive seat systems now perform numerous functions such as giving the driver a massage, accurate and comfortable driving posture, and air or warmth during travel using different sensors and devices. Nowadays, automotive seats are a combination of electronically adjustable systems, intelligent seat configuration, and health and wellness systems. Hence, these seats provide closed-loop comfort systems to the driver while traveling long distances. With the development of these seats, seat manufacturers are now able to address safety as well as health concerns. The smart seats are available as standard fitment in most luxury cars in the form of multiple axes seat adjustment and predefined seat memory functionality.

The global automotive industry is highly competitive, and due to the nature of the competition, product life cycle, and consumer demand, it goes through dynamic growth phases. Presently, the industry is characterized by companies relocating their production centers from developed to developing regions. During the 2008 and 2009 global financial crisis, the industry experienced a considerable decline in demand. However, the markets have slowly stabilized primarily due to the relative economic stability in developing nations.

The global automotive market is evolving rapidly with the expansion of product portfolios, entry of new players, advanced system offerings, and advances in technology. The mindset and buying criteria of the consumers are changing rapidly, thereby changing the dynamics of the global automotive industry. The consumers are becoming more aware and informative, and are seeking various aspects, such as comfort, technology, and safety in an automobile.

Temperature sensors are widely used in powertrain applications and climate control functions in the automotive industry. The use of sensors in the powertrain allowed the rapid electrification of mechanical components such as the development of automatic transmission in passenger cars. As a result, the automotive industry is progressively witnessing the adoption of temperature sensors. In addition, the growth in the automobile market will be the main driver for the growth of the global temperature sensors market. The drive for the autonomous vehicle has increased the use of automotive sensors in the vehicle. This will be a crucial driver for the adoption of the temperature sensors in the automotive segment.

Automotive sunroofs may be fixed, vent, or sliding roofs that allow light and fresh air to enter the vehicle and also protects against the sun and wind. They can be operated manually or can be driven by motors. They are available in different sizes, shapes, and styles.The first company to come up with sunroof as a standard fitment was Nash Motors Company in 1937. In the subsequent decades, sunroofs became a premium feature among the ultra-luxury vehicles. During the 1990s, sunroofs gradually made way into premium and mid-segment cars as the large-scale investments by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and component manufacturers made it relatively affordable. Currently, many companies are coming up with sunroofs as a standard fitment, which can be operated manually or electronically. While manual sunroofs use levers for the sliding motion, electronically operated sunroofs use motor-driven cables. Most sunroofs that are currently available are electronically driven. Sunroof systems can be factory installed or can be installed aftermarket.

The automatic soft-close door is a door locking mechanism in automobiles. These systems help enable the door to be closed gently rather than banging it with significant force. In this system, the sensor mounted near the latch detects the door within half an inch and actuates a motor that pulls the door to a complete shut position. The system releases the door to prevent any injuries if the sensors detect an obstruction between the door and the latch. The different components of the system include working gear, support cantilever, electric drive, door position sensor, control unit, and a cable. This feature is crucial in terms of from safety and convenience as it ensures that the vehicle doors are shut and prevents injury to passengers that occur in the case of accidental unlatching of doors.

Mechanical keys used in vehicles have given way to high-end innovative electronic entry systems using integrated circuits that imply electromagnetic signals to lock or unlock the door. An RKE system allows vehicle entry without the need for a mechanical key, offering security and convenience. RKE systems were introduced in early 1985 in the luxury vehicle segment and gained popularity among mid-segment vehicles by 1990. Although this system took time to be adopted by end consumers, they have gained considerable traction over the years. By the mid-2000s RKE evolved into a technology that allowed drivers to lock and unlock vehicle doors with no effort, using high frequency radio signals emitted from a keyless fob, which communicates with the vehicle without the driver’s intervention. This made it possible for a driver walking toward his parked vehicle to unlock the doors just by moving within a specific range of the vehicle. This was called the passive keyless entry (PKE) system. In terms of volume sales, RKE systems dominate the automotive market as they are cheaper than PKE systems. On average, PKE systems cost $90-$150 in the aftermarket, which is five times the cost of RKE systems, priced an average of $20-$25. Although a small percentage of vehicles continue to use mechanical key systems, this is expected to reduce during the forecast period as keyless entry systems become cheaper and adoption rates increase.