Global Automotive Torque Converter Market - Segmented by Type, End-user, Vehicle Type, and Geography - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2022 - 2030)

The global market for torque converters is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.45% during the forecast period. The torque converter in an automatic transmission serves a purpose similar to a clutch in a manual transmission. The demand for torque converters is directly related to the increased use of automatic transmission in modern vehicles. The key characteristic of a torque converter is its ability to multiply torque when there is a substantial difference between input and output of the engine’s rotation. A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling that allows the engine to spin to some extent, independent of the transmission.

There are four components inside the torque converter- pump, turbine, stator, and transmission fluid. The one factor that is key to the torque converter’s ability to multiply torque lies in the capacity of the stator. For any other fluid coupling mechanism, periods of high liquid slippage cause the fluid flow returning from the turbine to the impeller to oppose the direction of impeller rotation, leading to a significant loss of efficiency, and generation of a considerable degree of waste heat. Under the same conditions in a torque converter, the returning fluid is redirected by the stator so that it helps in the rotation of the impeller rather than obstructing it.

The considerable degree of torque multiplication produced by a converter is dependent on the size and shape of the turbine and stator blades and occurs only when the converter is at or near the stall phase of operation. The fall in efficiency of a torque converter can be primarily attributed to the loss of kinetic energy caused by the curvature of the turbine blades (critical to torque multiplication). There is always a trade-off between torque multiplication and coupling efficiency while designing the turbine blade that needs to be adjusted.

Rising Demand for Driver Assistance Systems to Push the Market

The growth of the automatic transmission market will be driven by the rising demand for driver assistance systems, along with the increased use of electronics in the vehicle, and this will further augment the demand for torque converters. The increased concern for vehicle safety, especially in the heavily congested traffic of Asia-Pacific roads, will also help to significantly maneuver the demand for automatic transmission in the global market.

Advents in the torque converter will increase the appeal of this mechanism to a significant extent, with modern cars equipped with torque converters that have a lockup clutch. When the two halves of the torque converter get up to speed, this clutch locks them together, reducing any form of fluid slippage to a minimum and improving efficiency.

North America was estimated to have the largest revenue share in the market in 2017 and is expected to continue to do so by the end of 2023. A major challenge for the market is the high labor cost associated with the replacement market. The prospects for growth of the torque converter market in America will be significantly affected by the increased adoption of automatic transmissions in heavy-duty and medium trucks. High fuel efficiency, comfort, ease of driving, and low driving skill requirements will compel the fleet owners to opt for an automatic transmission in heavy and medium-duty trucks. These will also draw end consumers to the passenger vehicle segment. In addition, increased adoption of automatic transmission in passenger vehicles will drive the market for torque converters significantly in this segment.

Key Developments in the Market:

• March 2018: Ford Mustang GT Automatic with latest torque converter unveiled.
• March 2018: Mercedes revealed face-lifted C-class with a 9-speed torque converter equipped automatic transmission.

Major Players: AISIN, BORGWARNER, CONTINENTAL, DELPHI, EXEDY, ISUZU, SUBARU, amongst others

Reasons to Purchase the Report:

• The report analyses how the increasing government regulations will drive the global automotive torque converter market
• Analyzing various perspectives of the market with the help of Porter’s five forces analysis
• Study on the torque converter type that is expected to register the highest growth rate in the market
• Study on the regions that are expected to witness fastest growth during the forecast period
• Identify the latest developments, market shares, and strategies employed by the major market players
• 3 month analyst support, along with the Market Estimate sheet (in Excel)

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