Automotive Steering System - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The automotive steering system market size was valued at USD 34.98 billion in 2025, is estimated to grow to USD 36.85 billion in 2026, and is projected to reach USD 47.77 billion by 2031, growing at a 5.33% CAGR over 2026-2031. This report is Segmented by Component (Hydraulic Pump, Electric Motor, and More), Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles), Mechanism (Electronic Power Steering (EPS), Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS), and More), Sales Channel (OEM and Aftermarket), and Geography (North America, South America, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Global Automotive Steering System Market Trends and Insights

Rapid EPS Penetration in ICE and XEV Platforms

EPS is often described as an EV-led technology, but the bigger volume engine in the automotive steering system market still comes from ICE and hybrid vehicle production. Removing the hydraulic pump reduces parasitic engine load and improves fuel economy by 3-5%, keeping EPS relevant even where combustion platforms still account for most vehicle output. EPS is also the controllable actuator used for lane keeping, automated parking, and steering correction, so its role is expected to grow as more vehicles add assisted driving features. The lower-cost column-assist format still matters for high-volume programs, yet heavier SUVs and larger electrified vehicles need more torque than standard C-EPS can usually deliver. Nexteer responded in April 2025 with a High-Output Column-Assist EPS that extends assist capacity to 110 Nm for crossover and entry EV programs, which sit above the normal C-EPS range. This keeps the automotive steering system market on a stepwise migration path, where suppliers move through larger vehicle classes and higher-output variants rather than relying on a single wave of EPS adoption.

Steer-By-Wire Deployment in Premium EVs From 2025

Steer-by-wire moved from technical promise to serial production during 2025 and 2026, adding a new premium growth layer to the automotive steering system market. ZF began series production for NIO’s ET9 in February 2025, and Mercedes-Benz brought steer-by-wire into European series production in April 2026 on the refreshed EQS using ZF hardware. Nexteer also began ASIL-D-certified steer-by-wire production in April 2026 for a Chinese NEV manufacturer, marking its first full-scale production program in this architecture. China remains the most important catalyst because GB17675-2025, effective July 1, 2026, removes the mandatory mechanical steering link and gives commercial deployment a clear legal basis. The presence of programs from NIO, XPeng, BYD, and Li Auto shows that adoption is already moving below the ultra-luxury tier and into broader EV price bands. ZF’s planned capacity of 380,000 steer-by-wire sets a year in Zhangjiagang also shows that suppliers are now committing capital on the assumption that the automotive steering system market will absorb meaningful production volume rather than pilot-scale output.

Rare-Earth Magnet Price Volatility Inflates EPS BOM

Rare-earth exposure remains one of the clearest supply risks in the automotive steering system market because NdFeB magnets are central to EPS motor performance. China accounts for 91% of globally refined rare earth output and 94% of sintered NdFeB magnet manufacturing, so policy changes there move cost curves quickly across the rest of the supply chain. MOFCOM’s April 2025 export licensing action on seven medium and heavy rare earth elements tightened the outlook further because dysprosium and terbium are important for the high-temperature performance needed in steering motors. From the start of 2026 to later that year, NdPr oxide prices experienced a significant surge before easing. This substantially increased bill-of-materials pressures for EPS programs, particularly in the most price-sensitive vehicle categories. In response, suppliers are forging non-Chinese sourcing agreements and delving deeper into ferrite-based motor designs tailored for applications with lower demand. Concurrently, producers like Lynas are ramping up NdPr capacity beyond China's borders. Despite these measures, the automotive steering system market grapples with a lopsided cost burden: mainstream EPS assemblies have tighter pricing constraints compared to their premium steer-by-wire counterparts.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• OEM Demand For ADAS-Ready "Fail-Operational" Architectures
• Cyber-Secure ECU Mandates in UNECE R155 Markets
• Automotive MCU Shortage Through 2026

Segment Analysis

Steering Column/Rack accounted for 38.74% of the automotive steering system market in 2025, making it the largest component group across all steering architectures. That lead reflects the fact that columns, racks, shafts, joints, and gear mechanisms remain present in EPS, EHPS, and the remaining hydraulic programs, even as more value moves into electronics and software. Revenue in this area stays resilient because every vehicle still needs the mechanical path that translates commanded steering input into wheel angle, regardless of how the assist function is delivered. Within the automotive steering system market, this makes the column-and-rack set the anchor content layer, while electronics increasingly determine product differentiation. The hydraulic pump sub-segment is now under sustained pressure because new passenger car platforms continue to move away from hydraulic steering in favor of electric assist.

That shift is shifting value toward electric motors, ECUs, and sensing elements rather than eliminating demand for components. ECU revenue is rising because EPS controllers now manage torque overlay, sensor fusion inputs, and increasingly software-defined steering behavior, rather than handling only assist logic. The sensors layer is also deepening because ADAS-ready systems require multiple torque, angle, and position measurements to meet diagnostic coverage expectations, thereby increasing content per assembly. Electric Motor is projected to grow at 8.53% CAGR from 2026 to 2031, making it the fastest-growing component in the automotive steering system market as higher-output EPS and fail-operational designs spread across more vehicle classes. Dual-winding brushless DC motors are becoming a more common baseline for L2+ applications because each winding must maintain partial steering authority after a single fault. The steer-by-wire transition adds another layer of demand because the rack actuator motor is separate from the steering-wheel feedback simulator motor, which increases motor content per system. Nexteer’s 2025 booking mix, with a significant share tied to fully EV and split EV-and-ICE platforms, shows that this content shift is already evident in active business awards. As a result, the automotive steering system industry is seeing the value center steadily shift toward electronically integrated motor assemblies without diminishing the fundamental importance of mechanical steering hardware.

Passenger Cars held 62.65% of the automotive steering system market share in 2025, reflecting both higher unit production and near-complete penetration of EPS in new passenger models. SUVs remain the most important body style within this vehicle group because their weight and wider tire footprints support demand for rack-assist and dual-pinion EPS solutions with stronger lateral torque handling. Hatchbacks still matter in Europe and South Asia, where urban driving patterns continue to support compact formats, and sedans keep a stable role through domestic Chinese production. Multi-purpose vehicles remain smaller in absolute terms, yet they retain relevance in Southeast Asia, where family-oriented vehicle formats continue to have enduring appeal. Across passenger cars, the automotive steering system market is already shaped by an established EPS baseline in Europe and Japan. At the same time, Chinese NEV platforms increasingly pair EPS with early steer-by-wire preparation.

Commercial Vehicles are projected to grow at a 7.28% CAGR from 2026 to 2031, making them the fastest-growing vehicle category in the automotive steering system market. The near-term lift comes from light commercial vehicle electrification in urban delivery fleets, where electric drivetrains remove the natural fit that hydraulic power steering once had in conventional layouts. Medium and heavy commercial vehicles still rely heavily on hydraulic or electro-hydraulic steering because front axle loads remain very high. Still, the direction of travel is changing as automated highway functions require more precise lane-centering control. That need is prompting truck manufacturers to evaluate redundant EPS designs for future platforms, especially where highway automation or platooning is part of the product roadmap. A U.S. patent application highlighted safe controller switching during commercial vehicle mode transitions, which reflects the functional safety attention now being placed on fault handover at highway speeds. For suppliers, the commercial vehicle opportunity is attractive because the shift starts from a lower electric-assist base, offering more room for conversion. It also broadens the revenue mix of the automotive steering system market by bringing higher-torque steering content into electrification programs that were previously dominated by passenger cars. The automotive steering system industry will therefore depend not only on more EVs, but also on the growing need to electrify steering in heavy-duty applications where control precision has strategic value.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Component
  • Hydraulic Pump
  • Electric Motor
  • Steering Column / Rack
  • Sensors (Torque, Angle, Position)
  • Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
  • Other Components
• By Vehicle Type
  • Passenger Cars
    • Hatchback
    • Sedan
    • Sport Utility Vehicle
    • Multi-Purpose Vehicle
  • Commercial Vehicles
    • Light Commercial Vehicles
    • Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles
• By Mechanism
  • Electronic Power Steering (EPS)
  • Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS)
  • Electro-hydraulic Power Steering (EHPS)
  • Steer-by-Wire
• By Sales Channel
  • Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
  • Aftermarket
• By Geography
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Rest of North America
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Rest of South America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Turkey
    • Saudi Arabia
    • United Arab Emirates
    • South Africa
    • Rest of Middle East and Africa

Geography Analysis

Asia-Pacific accounted for 48.25% of the automotive steering system market size in 2025 and is expected to expand at a 6.52% CAGR through 2031, giving it both the largest base and the fastest growth rate. China remains the most important country within the automotive steering system market because it combines the world’s largest vehicle production footprint with the strongest near-term steer-by-wire pipeline. By 2025, China will have experienced significant growth in new energy vehicle production, reflecting rising demand for EPS and new by-wire platforms. The formalization of the legal pathway for commercial steer-by-wire deployment, set to take effect in 2026 under GB17675-2025, holds significance as major Chinese OEMs have already greenlit programs in this domain. Meanwhile, India bolsters regional momentum with robust EV policy support and investments in domestic manufacturing clusters. Japan, on the other hand, showcases its prowess in precision steering supply and premium by-wire development, as evidenced by the launch of the Lexus RZ 550e F SPORT's steer-by-wire system in 2026.

Europe remained the second-largest regional block in the automotive steering system market in 2025 and continues to be driven by strict safety and emissions rules, plus a dense Tier-1 supplier base. Germany is the center of the region’s steer-by-wire push because ZF and Bosch have both moved into serial supply positions, and Mercedes-Benz introduced the first large-scale European series application on the EQS in 2026. The region’s regulatory path keeps EPS demand firm because assisted-lane and safety features increasingly require electronically controllable steering output, even where older hydraulic solutions were once acceptable. Bosch has already attached major long-range revenue expectations to by-wire systems, which shows how seriously the supplier base views this transition. Eastern European production hubs such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary continue to absorb EPS demand by serving as assembly locations for Western OEM programs. At the same time, Russia faces a slower path due to sanctions and supply-chain isolation, which limit access to advanced semiconductors and top-tier steering systems.

North America remains a major region in the automotive steering system market because its product mix includes large pickups and full-size SUVs that have historically supported hydraulic and electro-hydraulic steering for longer than in other regions. That same mix now creates an important opportunity for higher-output EPS and future steer-by-wire systems as assisted-driving features spread to larger vehicles. South America continues to track the assembly cycles of Brazil and Argentina, with Brazil acting as the main production and distribution base and a growing EPS replacement market emerging as the installed fleet ages. The Middle East and Africa show steadier but smaller gains, supported by fleet growth in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and by Turkey’s export-linked production base, which must meet European steering specifications.

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• JTEKT Corporation
• Robert Bosch GmbH
• ZF Friedrichshafen AG
• Nexteer Automotive Corporation
• NSK Ltd.
• HL Mando Corporation
• Astemo Ltd.
• Hyundai Mobis
• thyssenkrupp Presta AG
• Schaeffler Group
• Denso Corporation
• Knorr-Bremse AG
• China Automotive Systems, Inc.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support