The all-wheel drive market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
•In the past few years, there has been substantial growth within the all-wheel drive market. The sector will expand from a worth of $40.43 billion in 2024 to a value of $43.73 billion in 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%.
Factors that fueled this escalation during the historic period include the rising demand for sports utility vehicles, the surge in popularity of racing cars, government measures to cut down emissions, escalation in consumer purchasing power, and a consistent need for bettered vehicle safety stability and advanced driving dynamics.
The all-wheel drive market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• Strong expansion is anticipated in the all-wheel drive market in the coming years, reaching a value of $59.96 billion in 2029. This growth, projected at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%,
is fueled by the growing attraction towards luxury vehicles, augmented demand for SUVs and cuvs, higher investment in data, rising demand for electrically powered vehicles, and increasing requirement for automated power distribution systems. Other significant trends that will shape the forecast period include the introduction of electric and hybrid All-wheel drive systems, advanced driver support systems, growing preference for intelligent all-wheel drive systems, increased demand for off-road applications, and the integration of autonomous vehicles.
The rising popularity of electric vehicles is anticipated to spur the expansion of the all-wheel drive market in the future. An electric vehicle is described as a vehicle powered by electrical energy stored in batteries or other storage devices, which drives one or more electric motors. Often, electric cars equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD) have an electric motor for each axle or wheel, enabling control of all wheels simultaneously. For example, as per the records of the International Energy Agency, an autonomous intergovernmental organization based in France, electric car sales in June 2024 exceeded 3 million in the first quarter, marking a 25% increase from the previous year. This added to a cumulative total of 14 million EV sales in 2023, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 35%. Furthermore, electric cars constituted 18% of global car sales, with China accounting for 60% of sales, Norway achieving a 93% EV share and battery production reaching 2.5 TWh in 2023. By 2030, this is anticipated to surpass 9 TWh. Consequently, the surge in demand for electric vehicles is fuelling the growth of the all-wheel drive market.
The all-wheel drive market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Type: Automatic All-Wheel Drive, Manual All-Wheel Drive
2) By Propulsion: Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicle, Electric Vehicle, Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Hybrid Electric Vehicle, Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
3) By Component: Differential, Transfer Case, Propeller Shaft, Power Transfer Unit, Final Drive Unit
4) By Vehicle: Passenger Vehicle, Commercial Vehicle
5) By Application: On-Road, Off-Road
Subsegments:
1) By Automatic All-Wheel Drive: Full-Time Automatic All-Wheel Drive, Part-Time Automatic All-Wheel Drive
2) By Manual All-Wheel Drive: Selectable Manual All-Wheel Drive, Locking Manual All-Wheel Drive
Major firms involved in the all-wheel drive market are concentrating their efforts on creating novel products like all-wheel drive systems within the automotive sector, in response to growing demand. All-wheel drive systems distribute power evenly across all four vehicle wheels, by supplying each wheel independently with torque, thereby improving traction, stability, and overall performance under varying driving conditions. For example, in June 2023, Smart, a car manufacturer based in Germany and known for compact two-seater vehicles such as the Fortwo, unveiled the Smart #1 Pulse. This new variant of the Smart #1 electric model features an all-wheel drive functionality along with other high-end features. The Smart #1 Pulse makes its mark in the all-wheel drive market due to its dual motor setup, which offers enhanced traction for added safety under diverse driving conditions. With high-quality features like a 360° camera, a halo roof, a 10-inch head-up display, and a gesture-controlled tailgate, the 1 Pulse not only satisfies the surging demand for all-wheel drive systems, but also presents an enticing mix of technological and safety improvements. This ultimately adds to the overall progression and attractiveness of all-wheel drive choices within the automobile industry.
Major companies operating in the all-wheel drive market include:
• Volkswagen AG
• Toyota Motor Corporation
• Stellantis NV
• Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Mercedes-Benz
• Honda Motor Company Ltd.
• Ford Motor Company
• Hyundai Motor Company
• Tesla Inc.
• Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.
• Audi AG
• Kia Motors Corporation
• Volvo Group
• Magna International Inc.
• AISIN SEIKI Co. Ltd.
• Land Rover
• Subaru Corporation
• Valeo SA
• Lincoln Motor Company
• Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
• JTEKT Corporation
• American Axle & Manufacturing Inc.
• OC Oerlikon
• Lucid Motors Inc.
• Continental AG
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the all-wheel drive market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the all-wheel drive market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.