Automotive starters and alternators market in India

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "Automotive Starters and Alternators Market in India" to its offering.

Electric start feature to spark potential of starter motors in two-wheeler apps
With two-wheelers accounting for the majority of India's rapidly expanding vehicle production, the starters and alternators market is on the fast track to exponential unit shipment growth.

The popularity of sub-125-cc motorcycles, which require starters for their electric-start feature, is all set to catapult the market into the top league. This market segment is primed for growth because kick start still dominates it, but the more convenient electric start is making quick inroads into it.

The starter and alternators market is expected to get another boost with India emerging as the manufacturing hub for small cars. The ambitious export plans of manufacturers of small cars are likely to drive the overall demand for starters and alternators.

"For starters and alternators, the OEM segment is more lucrative due to the high volume of business, while the aftermarket lacks the necessary attractiveness to focus all resources," observes the analyst.

The aftermarket offers little scope for revenue growth because vehicle owners and garages prefer repairing the faulty or worn out part to outright replacement of a component. This trend has prompted OEM suppliers to also supply a complete range of service components in the aftermarket for their products.

However, the high concentration of the OEM market has resulted in a sluggish rate of technology change. As the OEMs are established suppliers, they leverage their position and relations to acquire steady business from vehicle manufacturers.

"Meanwhile, OEMs' trend towards working with fewer and stronger suppliers in an attempt to trim costs is making the market difficult to penetrate," says the analyst of this research.

"The intense competition among the OEMs necessitates the need to focus on higher quality levels coupled with competitive pricing." OEMs typically source starters and alternators from a single supplier and in some cases, two.

In such markets, companies with strong OEM presence and joint-ventures with globally renowned manufacturers will have a competitive edge. Starters and alternators manufacturers need to increase production capacity and target export markets. India being a high-quality and low-cost manufacturing base, can exploit this strategy.

"Participants can leverage joint-venture partners' OEM tie-ups in other countries and export these products at more competitive prices," notes the analyst. "This could translate to higher efficiency through economies of scale."