Global market review of fuel tanks – forecasts to 2013

Global market review of fuel tanks – forecasts to 2013

just-auto estimates that the total tonnage of steel lost in 2006 to plastic fuel tanks was nearly 348,000 tonnes, and that figure could reach 419,000 tonnes by 2013.

Plastic fuel tanks have superseded steel to the point where most of all light vehicles built for the European and North American market are now plastic, and plastic fuel tank manufacturers are quick to point out the benefits of plastic over steel, i.e. lighter weight, non-corrosive, geometric flexibility. They believe that the trend in favour of plastic fuel tanks will continue to grow until the market is saturated.

However, although plastic seems to have become the material of choice, steel tank manufacturers argue that producing a multi-layered plastic tank with different barriers in it makes it virtually impossible to recycle. They also believe that the increasing price of oil will make the price of polyethylene more expensive, thereby prompting concern among those buyers of plastic tanks.

In this fourth edition of just-auto's fuel tanks report, we address these issues, as well as reviewing the key market drivers for fuel tank systems, and updating the market analysis. We include forecasts by volume and value and by major car-producing region for fuel tank systems, discuss recent innovations in the sector, and provide profiles of the major manufacturers.

The report also includes a Q&A session with Bosch, talking about issues relating to diesel fuel storage, the effect of design of injection systems, regional differences and the impact on the network of service centres. Plus, exclusive interviews from:

• Sharon Lemieux, manager, Emission Research Section, Mobile Source Control Division at CARB where she explains the work of the CARB.
  
• Peter Mould, programme manager of SASFT (Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks), and;
  
• Dr Paul Wouters, vice president, research at Inergy Automotive Systems are provided.

Chapter 1: Introduction - A brief overview of the market.

Chapter 2: The market - This extensive chapter looks at the emerging markets, market trends, shares and players.
We discuss the key trends in the sector and include an exclusive interview with Dr Paul Wouters, vice president, research at Inergy Automotive Systems. Market shares (by manufacturer) for plastic fuel tanks for Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific are included, along with a number of brief company profiles, from Aethra Componentos Automotivos Ltda to Visteon.

Product fitment forecasts for plastic and steel fuel tanks (by volume and value) worldwide, and by major car producing region from 2003 through to 2013 are also provided.

Chapter 3: Technical review - In addition to storing fuel, there are a number of technical requirements that a fuel tank must fulfil. In this chapter we define the elements of a fuel tank, and provide a look at recent innovations in the sector, such as Inergy's DINOX. We discuss the future for fuel tanks, and take a look at what else is happening in the sector.

Chapter 4: Manufacturers - This chapter provides profiles for the major manufacturers, namely Inergy Automotive Systems SA, Kautex Textron, TI Automotive and Visteon. They include information on mergers and acquisitions, products, facilities and their locations, sales and customers.

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 The market
Market trends
Q&A with Bosch
Market players
Inergy Automotive Systems
Kautex Textron
TI Automotive
Visteon
Others
Aethra Componentos Automotivos Ltda
Donghee Industrial Co Ltd
Elsa LLC
Fuel Systems LLC
Horie Metal Co Ltd
Magna Steyr
Martinrea International Inc
Metalsa
Spectra Premium Industries Inc
Unipart Eberspacher Exhaust Systems Ltd
Emerging markets
Market shares
Worldwide
Europe
North America
Asia-Pacific
Market forecasts
Plastic fuel tanks
Steel fuel tanks

Chapter 3 Technical review
Defining the elements
Recent innovations
Tomorrow’s fuel tanks
Other innovations
Chapter 4 Manufacturers
Inergy Automotive Systems SA
Kautex Textron
TI Automotive
Visteon

List of figures
Figure 1: World fuel tank (steel and plastic) market shares for passenger car and light truck applications, 2006 (% of volume)
Figure 2: European plastic fuel tank market shares for passenger car and light truck applications, 2006 (% of volume)
Figure 3: North American plastic fuel tank market shares for passenger car and light truck applications, 2006 (% of volume)
Figure 4: Asian plastic fuel tank market shares for passenger car and light truck applications, 2006 (% of volume)
Figure 5: Inergy Automotive Systems’ sales by customer, 2006 (%)

List of tables
Table 1: Plastic fuel tanks: percentage fitment rates in Western Europe, North America, Japan and China, 2003-2013 (%)
Table 2: Plastic fuel tanks: volume in Western Europe, North America, Japan and China, 2003-2013 (‘000s units)
Table 3: Plastic fuel tanks: market values in Western Europe, North America, Japan and China, 2003-2013 (EURm)
Table 4: Steel fuel tanks: percentage fitment rates in Western Europe, North America, and Japan, 2003-2013 (%)
Table 5: Steel fuel tanks: volume in Western Europe, North America, Japan and China, 2003-2013 (‘000s units)
Table 6: Steel fuel tanks: market values in Western Europe, North America, Japan and China, 2003-2013 (EURm)
Table 7: Volume of steel lost as plastic tanks takes over in Western Europe, North America, Japan, 2003-2013 (tonnes)
Table 8: Inergy Automotive Systems sites worldwide, 2007
Table 9: Kautex Textron’s sites worldwide, 2007
Table 10: Visteon’s fuel storage and delivery systems facilities worldwide, 2007