Automotive Bearings Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Automotive Bearings Market is projected to expand from USD 51.72 Billion in 2025 to USD 78.71 Billion by 2031, reflecting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.25%. These precision mechanical components are essential for minimizing friction between moving parts and supporting rotational loads within engine, transmission, and wheel systems. The market is primarily driven by increasing global vehicle manufacturing rates and the industry's pursuit of enhanced fuel efficiency, which demands the adoption of lightweight, low-friction designs. Furthermore, the electrification of powertrains is fueling demand for specialized bearings capable of operating at higher speeds while resisting electrical erosion.

Building on this momentum, widespread industrial activity continues to drive component orders across major regions. Data from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) indicates that in 2024, global motor vehicle production reached 92.5 million units, providing a strong foundation for bearing consumption. However, market expansion encounters a significant obstacle due to the volatility of raw material prices, particularly high-grade steel. This price instability creates cost uncertainty and threatens to compress profit margins for manufacturers worldwide.

Market Drivers

The accelerating global adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles is fundamentally altering the technological requirements and volume dynamics of the automotive bearings sector. Unlike internal combustion engines, electric powertrains operate at significantly higher rotational speeds and are prone to electrical erosion, necessitating the development of specialized high-speed, low-noise, and insulated bearings. This transition is creating a profitable sub-segment for ceramic and sensor-integrated bearings designed to improve thermal management and efficiency. The scale of this shift is highlighted by recent sales projections; according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its 'Global EV Outlook 2024' released in April 2024, global electric car sales are expected to reach approximately 17 million units in 2024, a substantial market share that compels bearing manufacturers to retool production lines for electrification-compatible components.

Simultaneously, increasing vehicle production and sales in emerging markets continue to provide a critical volume baseline for standard rolling chassis and transmission bearings. As industrialization expands in regions such as Asia-Pacific, the demand for affordable yet durable components for both passenger and commercial vehicles is surging, directly influencing manufacturer order books. For instance, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) reported in January 2024 that automobile sales in China exceeded 30 million units in 2023, setting a new historical record that underscores the region's dominance as a manufacturing hub. To capitalize on such extensive demand across both traditional and electric platforms, major suppliers are strengthening their financial positions; reflecting this robust activity, Schaeffler reported in 2024 that its Automotive Technologies division generated revenue of 9.77 billion euros for the preceding fiscal year, demonstrating the immense value created by component integration in modern vehicle architectures.

Market Challenges

The volatility of raw material prices, particularly for high-grade steel, constitutes a substantial barrier to the expansion of the Global Automotive Bearings Market. Because bearings are precision components that rely heavily on specific steel grades for durability and performance, unstable input costs directly disrupt financial planning and production stability. Manufacturers frequently operate under long-term agreements with automotive OEMs that do not allow for immediate price adjustments. Consequently, when steel prices fluctuate unexpectedly, bearing producers suffer from compressed profit margins, which restricts the capital available for necessary facility upgrades and market expansion efforts.

This unpredictable cost environment creates significant hesitation within the supply chain, forcing companies to adopt conservative inventory strategies rather than aggressive growth plans. The instability in the raw material sector is evident in recent industrial data; according to the American Iron and Steel Institute in February 2025, steel shipments for the full year of 2024 decreased by 3.6% compared to the previous year. Such fluctuations in raw material movement highlight the uncertainty manufacturers face, directly hampering their ability to consistently meet potential demand despite the underlying strength of vehicle production.

Market Trends

The shift towards sustainable and green manufacturing practices has emerged as a critical priority, accelerating the decarbonization of production facilities and supply chains to meet stringent OEM environmental mandates. Manufacturers are increasingly integrating renewable energy and green steel into their operations, moving beyond simple compliance to make sustainability a core competitive advantage.

This operational pivot is exemplified by major industry players successfully exceeding their climate targets through aggressive facility upgrades. According to SKF's 'Annual and Sustainability Report 2024' released in March 2025, the company achieved a 59% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2024 compared to the 2019 baseline, significantly outpacing its science-based trajectory. Such rapid progress indicates a structural transformation where verified low-carbon manufacturing is becoming a prerequisite for securing long-term automotive contracts.

Concurrently, the proliferation of lightweight and compact bearing units is redefining component architecture to offset the heavy mass of battery systems in modern electric platforms. Engineering teams are successfully reducing the physical footprint of bearings while maintaining durability, directly contributing to extended vehicle range through significant mass reduction.

This technological leap is driven by the need to optimize drive unit packaging and improve overall energy efficiency. As noted by NSK Ltd. in the March 2025 press release 'NSK Develops Compact, Lightweight Deep Groove Ball Bearing for EVs', the company's new bearing design utilizes a narrow-width combined plastic cage to reduce weight by 51% and outer diameter by 10% compared to conventional products. This trend towards miniaturization allows automakers to achieve denser powertrain configurations without compromising load performance.

Key Players Profiled in the Automotive Bearings Market

• JTEKT Corporation
• AB SKF
• Schaeffler AG
• NSK Ltd.
• NTN Corporation
• The Timken Company
• Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
• RBC Bearings Incorporated
• MinebeaMitsumi Inc.
• CW Bearing GmbH

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Automotive Bearings Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Automotive Bearings Market, by Bearing Type:

• Ball
• Roller
• Plain

Automotive Bearings Market, by Application Type:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Wheel
• Steering
• Others

Automotive Bearings Market, by Vehicle Type:

• Two Wheelers
• Passenger Cars
• Light Commercial Vehicles
• Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Automotive Bearings Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Automotive Bearings Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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