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

The Global Automotive Trailer Market is projected to escalate from USD 23.09 Billion in 2025 to USD 36.48 Billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 7.92%. This industry involves the manufacturing and sale of non-motorized vehicles designed to be towed by powered units for transporting freight, materials, or recreational gear. The market's growth is primarily fueled by the robust expansion of the global logistics sector and the increasing need for efficient cargo mobility solutions. Furthermore, infrastructure development and the growing cold chain sector for perishable goods bolster the demand for specialized trailers. Reflecting regional activity, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) reported that new trailer registrations in Germany totaled 12,879 units in December 2024.

A significant obstacle to market progress is the volatility of raw material prices, particularly steel and aluminum, which drives up manufacturing expenses. This instability, coupled with strict regulatory standards for vehicle safety, forces manufacturers to incur higher compliance costs. These financial burdens are often passed on to fleet operators, which can delay fleet renewal cycles and restrict market growth during periods of economic uncertainty.

Market Drivers

The growth of the Global Logistics and Freight Transportation Sector acts as the primary engine for the automotive trailer market, fundamentally driven by the rising volume of goods requiring overland transport. As supply chains become more integrated and consumer delivery expectations tighten, fleet operators are compelled to acquire additional dry van and curtain-side trailers to handle increased throughput. This trend is supported by projections of sustained freight accumulation, which necessitates a corresponding expansion of fleet capacities. For instance, the American Trucking Associations reported in January 2025, in the 'U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast to 2035', that total truck tonnage was expected to rise from an estimated 11.27 billion tons in 2024 to 13.99 billion tons by 2035, requiring trailer production to align with these logistical demands.

Concurrently, the rising demand for Cold Chain Logistics and Refrigerated Transport is significantly reshaping market dynamics, driving the need for specialized insulated trailers for pharmaceuticals and perishables. This segment is expanding rapidly as global food trade and rigorous safety regulations increase the demand for temperature-controlled mobility solutions. Highlighting this capacity growth, the Global Cold Chain Alliance noted in April 2025, in the '2025 Global Top 25 List', that temperature-controlled capacity among the top 25 global operators increased by 640 million cubic feet year-over-year. Despite these strong drivers, manufacturers face a complex environment; Schmitz Cargobull’s September 2025 'Annual Report 2024/25' cited production volumes of approximately 42,300 vehicles and revenue of €2.16 billion amidst fluctuating market conditions.

Market Challenges

Volatility in raw material prices, especially for steel and aluminum, presents a formidable barrier to the growth of the Global Automotive Trailer Market. Since these metals are essential for manufacturing trailer chassis and body structures, production costs are highly sensitive to market fluctuations. When material prices rise unpredictably, manufacturers must adjust their pricing to protect margins, often passing the elevated costs directly to buyers. This instability disrupts financial planning for production and creates a challenging pricing environment that discourages long-term supply contracts.

Consequently, transferring increased manufacturing costs to fleet operators results in a measurable contraction in market demand. Faced with higher capital expenditure requirements, logistics companies often delay fleet renewals or cancel expansion plans, leading to stagnation in new trailer registrations. This hampering effect is evident in recent industry data; the North American Trailer Dealers Association reported that the trailer industry saw a year-over-year decline of approximately 6.8% in the first quarter of 2025. Such figures underscore how cost pressures, driven by raw material instability, directly constrain purchasing power and impede the market's overall momentum.

Market Trends

The Integration of Telematics and Smart Trailer Connectivity is transforming asset management by converting standard trailers into intelligent, data-generating nodes. Beyond basic location tracking, these advanced systems monitor critical health metrics like tire pressure and brake status in real-time, enabling fleet operators to shift from reactive repairs to predictive maintenance strategies. This connectivity is vital for optimizing utilization rates and ensuring cargo integrity through granular environmental monitoring, directly addressing the efficiency needs of modern logistics. Emphasizing the value of this technology, Teletrac Navman’s March 2024 'Telematics Survey 2024' revealed that 96% of global respondents reported tangible savings through streamlined administration, improved fuel efficiency, or reduced operational costs.

The Development of Electrified Trailers and Regenerative E-Axles represents a pivotal technological shift aimed at decarbonizing heavy-duty transport and meeting stricter emissions regulations. These systems utilize regenerative braking to capture energy lost during deceleration, storing it in onboard batteries to power auxiliary equipment or provide propulsion assistance to the towing vehicle. This architecture not only reduces diesel dependency but also effectively hybridizes internal combustion fleets while extending the range of electric trucks. Validating this efficiency potential, Transport Topics reported in January 2024, in the article 'Range Eyes May Debut of Its Next Electric Trailers', that preliminary third-party testing of Range Energy's electric trailer platform demonstrated fuel efficiency gains of up to 36.9% for semi-trucks.

Key Players Profiled in the Automotive Trailer Market

• Bockmann Fahrzeugwerke Gmbh
• China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd.
• Dennison Trailers Ltd.
• Great Dane LLC
• Humbaur Gmbh
• Hyundai Translead
• Ifor Williams Trailers Ltd.
• Schmitz Cargobull Aktiengesellschaft
• Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company, LLC
• Wabash National Corporation

Report Scope

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

Automotive Trailer Market, by Vehicle Type:

• Two-Wheelers
• Passenger Cars
• Commercial Vehicles

Automotive Trailer Market, by Trailer Type:

• Dry Van and Box
• Refrigerator
• Chemical and Liquid
• Tipper
• Flatbed
• Others

Automotive Trailer Market, by Axle Type:

• Single Axle
• Tandem Axle
• Three or More Than Three Axle

Automotive Trailer 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 Trailer 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).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.