Global Automotive HVAC Market Size, Share, Forecast Report, 2020-2027

HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) is the technology used for maintaining a pleasant temperature and ambient indoor conditions in an automobile. The temperature inside the automobile is adjusted to a degree relative to the temperature of the surrounding. HVAC, thus helps maintain temperate conditions that are conducive for drivers to stay inside the automobiles comfortably for longer durations. The system is useful in case the outside temperatures are either too high or too low, causing discomfort to automotive rider. Earlier, the use of automotive HVAC systems was considered a luxury, and not all automobiles were fitted with HVAC. However, it is now a pre requisite feature in every automobile due to the basic automotive safety and comfort standards, which are accepted globally.

There are several factors responsible for the growth of the global automotive HVAC market. Firstly, there is an increasing demand for thermal systems and automatic climate control features in the automobiles. Secondly, people travel in their personal automobiles for long distances in the urban sector, and hence the need for HVAC is higher. Thirdly, due to the global warming and climate change, global temperatures are rising, which leads to greater demand for ambient temperatures inside the automobile. Additionally, the awareness regarding the use of environment friendly refrigerants and automotive coolants in HVAC system leads to the demand for advanced and technically evolved HVAC systems, thus increasing their sales. All these reasons, justify the consistent expected growth of the global automotive HVAC market, which is expected to expand at a 9% CAGR (2018 to 2023).

Automotive HVAC Market by Segmentation:

On the basis of technology, the market is segmented into manual and automatic. Budget vehicles generally install manual HVAC. These systems involve all the functional components of the HVAC system, which requires being switched on manually. The system thus requires the physical effort of kick-starting the HVAC system in motion, and does not sense the outside temperature. Therefore the temperature inside the automobile is required to be set manually, according to the individual requirement of the passengers or the driver. The automatic HVAC system, senses the outside ambient temperature and is set in motion automatically. The outside temperature is measured by a sensor, which feeds this data to a central electronic unit (CEU). The CEU is also provided with data containing the temperature readings of the automobile interiors. The CEU compares the two temperatures and automatically starts the HVAC and brings the required temperature inside the automobile to a level where the passengers would be comfortable. The system also starts when the automobile engine is started and requires constant real-time temperature data of the outside and inside of the automobile.

Of the components, the HVAC system is made up of components such as the Evaporator, Compressor, Condenser, Receiver/Drier, and the Expansion Device. Air from the outside atmosphere is sucked into the compressor with the help of rotating fans, which are powered by an electric motor. This air is thus sucked into the compressor whose primary responsibility is to compress the coolant liquid entering into the compressor from the evaporator at ambient temperature. The compressor compresses the coolant liquid at high pressure, consecutively increasing the temperature of the liquid in the process. This high-pressure high-temperature liquid is passed through the condenser where the vapor coolant changes to liquid state. This unit condenses the vapor causing a drop in temperature. This low-temperature liquid coolant passes through an expansion valve, where it experiences further temperature and pressure drop. This low-temperature liquid cools the air, which blows inside the automobile, thus getting heated in the process. Thus, hot air is again sucked in by the compressor, and the process continues.
Key Players

The key players in global automotive HVAC market are Sensata Technologies (U.S.), The Keihin Corporation (Japan), Calsonic Kansei Corporation (Japan), Sanden Corporation (Japan), Valeo (France) and Denso Corporation (Japan). Hanon Systems (South Korea), MAHLE GmbH (Germany), Johnson Electric Holdings Limited (Hong Kong) and Japan Climate Systems Corporation (Japan) are among the other players in this market.