Automotive Sideshaft Market Size, Share, Forecast, 2033

Automotive Sideshaft Market Overview

The Automotive Sideshaft Market size was valued at USD 7199.81 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 11073.87 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2025 to 2033.

The global automotive sideshaft market is driven by increased vehicle production, electric vehicle adoption, and technological advancements in drivetrain components. In 2024, over 612 million automotive driveshafts were installed across global vehicle fleets, with passenger vehicles accounting for more than 437 million units. Asia-Pacific dominated production with over 58% of the global sideshaft units manufactured, translating to approximately 355 million units. Among these, China alone produced 186 million sideshafts, with 33% integrated into electric and hybrid vehicles.

The increasing complexity of drivetrain architectures and demand for lightweight, fuel-efficient vehicles have resulted in innovations like hollow sideshafts, which accounted for 41% of newly manufactured sideshafts in 2024. The average weight of hollow sideshafts was reduced by 21% compared to traditional rigid versions, enhancing overall vehicle efficiency. OEMs increasingly specify corrosion-resistant coatings, with over 72% of new sideshafts coated with zinc or polymer-based layers. Technological integration of torque sensors and vibration-damping features in premium vehicle segments drove demand for enhanced sideshaft designs. Light commercial vehicles used 86 million sideshafts, while heavy commercial vehicles installed approximately 53 million units globally in 2024.

Key Findings

Top Driver reason: Increased demand for high-performance and lightweight drivetrain components in electric and hybrid vehicles.

Top Country/Region: China led the global market with over 186 million sideshafts produced in 2024.

Top Segment: Passenger vehicles remained the dominant segment with over 437 million sideshafts in use globally.

Automotive Sideshaft Market Trends

The automotive sideshaft market experienced accelerated transformation in 2023 and 2024 due to rapid electrification, evolving material science, and precision engineering demands. In 2024, approximately 118 million sideshafts were integrated into electric vehicles (EVs), an increase from 94 million units in 2023. OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers focused on reducing component weight to meet regulatory emission targets. Advanced hollow steel designs and carbon fiber-reinforced composites reduced individual shaft weight from 8.2 kg to 6.4 kg, enhancing powertrain efficiency.

Increased consumer preference for all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations boosted sideshaft demand in premium SUVs. Over 92 million AWD vehicles were manufactured globally in 2024, each requiring a dual-sided shaft setup. Consequently, the sideshaft market grew significantly in North America and Europe, with AWD components making up 39% of total sideshaft demand in those regions.

Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance improvements became a critical trend, especially in electric vehicles. Over 130 million sideshafts integrated dynamic vibration absorbers in 2024, a 22% increase from the previous year. Moreover, constant velocity (CV) joints with thermoplastic elastomer boots were introduced in over 61 million units, extending lifespan and reducing maintenance.

Retrofitting of older internal combustion engine (ICE) platforms with upgraded sideshafts compatible with hybrid modules saw uptake in South America and parts of Asia. Approximately 43 million replacement sideshafts were sold for fleet modernization efforts globally in 2024. This replacement trend, combined with growth in e-mobility, has created a hybridized market structure encompassing traditional and advanced designs.

Automotive Sideshaft Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rising demand for efficient drivetrains in electric vehicles

In 2024, electric vehicles represented 32% of new automotive production, accounting for 118 million sideshaft installations globally. These drivetrains require precision-aligned sideshafts capable of handling high torque outputs up to 370 Nm. Lightweight sideshaft designs improved EV range by approximately 3.2% per vehicle, encouraging OEMs to increase adoption. As a result, manufacturers introduced over 120 new sideshaft variants in 2024 specifically engineered for e-mobility platforms.

Restraints

Fluctuations in raw material costs affecting production margins

The cost of chromium steel, a key material in sideshaft production, increased by 16% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Molybdenum and vanadium, essential for strength and durability, also saw price spikes of 11% and 9%, respectively. These fluctuations affected procurement cycles and led to temporary production halts in 78 facilities worldwide. Smaller manufacturers faced a 13% reduction in margins due to price volatility, impacting sideshaft supply across light and heavy commercial vehicle segments.

Opportunities

Rising retrofitting demand in older vehicle fleets

In regions such as Latin America and Southeast Asia, more than 67 million vehicles older than 12 years are currently operational. In 2024, 29 million of these vehicles were retrofitted with new-generation sideshafts equipped with upgraded CV joints and enhanced corrosion resistance. Fleet operators in Brazil and Indonesia reported a 14% improvement in vehicle uptime and a 12% reduction in drivetrain failures following sideshaft replacements. This growing aftermarket demand is expected to expand the addressable market for sideshaft refurbishing and replacement services.

Challenges

Increased complexity in multi-powertrain compatibility

Modern vehicles often integrate multiple propulsion systems, such as hybrid-electric or plug-in hybrid platforms, which complicate side shaft design. In 2024, OEMs released 47 new vehicle models requiring modular side shaft configurations with adjustable torque transfer capabilities. However, engineering such flexible systems increased R&D costs by 22% for Tier 1 suppliers. Moreover, cross-platform compatibility testing extended development timelines by an average of 6.4 months, delaying mass production for certain hybrid models.

Automotive Sideshaft Market Segmentation Analysis

By Type

Hollow Sideshafts: Hollow sideshafts accounted for 41% of total market volume in 2024, equivalent to 251 million units. These shafts are 21–25% lighter than rigid types, reducing overall drivetrain weight by approximately 8 kg per vehicle. Adoption in hybrid sedans and electric crossovers grew significantly, with Asia-Pacific accounting for 147 million hollow shaft installations.
Rigid Sideshafts: Rigid sideshafts remained prominent, particularly in heavy commercial vehicles and entry-level ICE cars. In 2024, 361 million rigid sideshafts were installed globally. These shafts offered superior torque transfer durability, with average torque capacity reaching 420 Nm. India and Russia collectively consumed over 97 million rigid sideshafts, mainly for trucks and budget passenger vehicles.

By Application

Passenger Vehicle: Passenger vehicles utilized over 437 million sideshafts in 2024, making up nearly 71% of the market. Compact sedans and SUVs led consumption with 282 million units combined. CV-joint-equipped shafts dominated this category due to smoother ride requirements.
Light Commercial Vehicle: Light commercial vehicles installed approximately 86 million sideshafts in 2024, largely in delivery vans and utility pickups. These sideshafts featured enhanced grease sealing and longer wear cycles to support logistics fleets.
Heavy Commercial Vehicle: Heavy trucks and buses used 53 million sideshafts globally. Reinforced shafts with advanced CV joints and heat-treated forgings were standard, especially in vehicles exceeding 20-ton gross weight.

Automotive Sideshaft Market Regional Outlook

North America

accounted for 112 million sideshafts across passenger and commercial vehicles. The U.S. alone installed 87 million units, with 34 million used in AWD and EV platforms. Canada and Mexico collectively produced 38 million units, mainly for light trucks and crossovers.

Europe

installed over 143 million sideshafts in 2024, with Germany producing 51 million units. Electric vehicle sideshafts constituted 38% of total installations in the region. Western European automakers prioritized hollow shafts, with France and the U.K. consuming 26 million hollow units combined.

Asia-Pacific

dominated global production, contributing more than 355 million shafts in 2024. China accounted for 186 million units, while Japan and South Korea produced 84 million combined. Electric vehicle platforms drove 48% of sideshaft demand in this region. India added 47 million side-shaft installations, primarily in compact and subcompact vehicles.

Middle East & Africa

The region installed over 45 million sideshafts in 2024. South Africa and the UAE represented the bulk of demand, with 19 million units collectively. Local manufacturing remained limited, with most sideshafts imported from China and Europe. The commercial segment accounted for 61% of total usage due to infrastructure and construction vehicle demand.

List of Top Automotive Sideshaft Companies

American Axle & Manufacturing
Dana
GKN
Gestamp
Hyundai Wia Corporation
IFA Rotorion
Jtekt Corporation
Meritor
Showa Corporation
ZF Friedrichshafen
Kingtime Group

Top Two Companies

GKN: Produced over 122 million sideshafts in 2024, supplying more than 60 OEM platforms across 28 countries.

Dana: Delivered 106 million shafts globally, with 42% allocated to electric vehicle platforms.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

In 2024, global investments in the automotive shaft market exceeded $3.7 billion, aimed at capacity expansion, advanced material integration, and localization of manufacturing hubs. Asia-Pacific received the highest investment inflow, with over $1.9 billion dedicated to shaft production infrastructure. China led this surge with 18 new sideshaft production facilities established in Hebei, Zhejiang, and Guangdong provinces, collectively increasing national production capacity by 62 million units per year.

In India, investments totaling $420 million were directed toward lightweight and EV-compatible sideshafts. Three Tier-1 suppliers added 14 new forging and assembly lines in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, increasing localized EV sideshaft output by 17 million units annually. These investments allowed domestic manufacturers to meet over 84% of national OEM demand in 2024, reducing dependency on imported components.

In North America, electric mobility startups and traditional automakers invested over $680 million in side shaft co-development programs. For example, one Michigan-based R&D center developed dual-stage CV-joint sideshafts for AWD EVs, resulting in torque efficiency improvements of 7.4% and reducing component weight by 0.9 kg per shaft. U.S. production capacity increased by 16.3 million units in 2024 due to these R&D-backed initiatives.

European sideshaft innovation clusters received approximately $340 million in funding from public-private partnerships. Germany and France invested in carbon fiber composite sideshaft R&D, launching pilot programs that successfully manufactured 980,000 units with 28% less rotational inertia. These lighter shafts are being used in prototype EVs and luxury sedans.

Emerging economies like Brazil, Vietnam, and South Africa attracted over $240 million in investment focused on aftermarket and replacement parts manufacturing. In Brazil, the establishment of two new heat-treatment units allowed local companies to produce 5.6 million sideshafts annually, specifically for older commercial vehicles and fleet maintenance.

New Product Development

The automotive sideshaft industry launched more than 180 new product variations between 2023 and 2024, focusing on electrification, weight reduction, and modular adaptability. Among these, 57 designs were tailored specifically for electric vehicles, featuring torque sensors, self-lubricating joints, and hollow shaft technology. For instance, a German supplier introduced a 6.3 kg hollow composite shaft used in EVs that reduced overall energy losses by 5.6% during test cycles.

Dana developed a dual-split hollow sideshaft with integrated cooling channels, targeting heavy-duty electric trucks. The product, rolled out in Q3 2024, is already in use in 12 OEM electric truck platforms and supports torque loads exceeding 600 Nm. The U.S. and Canada alone adopted 430,000 units within six months.

GKN launched an intelligent CV joint shaft that self-adjusts based on torque distribution in AWD systems. Used in luxury SUVs, the shaft was integrated into 14 vehicle models across North America and Europe by the end of 2024. Units sold surpassed 1.6 million in just one year, and early feedback reported a 10% smoother power transmission under dynamic load shifts.

Asian manufacturers introduced a series of modular sideshafts with interchangeable boots and CV joint configurations. In South Korea, over 960,000 modular shafts were deployed in mid-sized sedans and crossovers in 2024. These allowed local mechanics to reduce replacement time by 38%, thereby increasing the shaft’s popularity in the aftermarket segment.

Hybrid vehicle-focused sideshafts with reinforced splines and improved fatigue resistance were launched in India and Southeast Asia. One model, developed in Thailand, underwent over 1 million testing cycles under dual-mode drivetrain simulation, achieving a 17% longer lifecycle than traditional rigid shafts.

Five Recent Developments

American Axle & Manufacturing commissioned a new $210 million facility in Guanajuato, Mexico, in Q2 2024, with an annual production capacity of 14 million sideshaft units primarily for North American EV platforms.
ZF Friedrichshafen introduced a CV-joint-integrated sideshaft for commercial EVs that increased load-bearing torque by 22%. The product reached 1.2 million units in global sales within its first 10 months.
Jtekt Corporation launched a heat-resistant sideshaft designed for hybrid engines with constant regeneration cycles. It completed field testing in Malaysia, with over 630,000 units deployed.
IFA Rotorion announced the use of bio-based polymer boots in sideshafts to replace traditional synthetic rubber. Over 920,000 of these units were sold across Europe in 2024, with material recycling efficiency increasing by 31%.
Hyundai Wia Corporation partnered with a Korean EV startup to develop a lightweight carbon-steel hybrid sideshaft weighing only 5.2 kg. Over 1 million units were produced by the end of 2024, serving multiple compact EV models.

Report Coverage of Automotive Sideshaft Market

This report offers an exhaustive assessment of the global automotive sideshaft market, encompassing production trends, type-wise segmentation, application analysis, regional breakdown, key players, investments, innovations, and recent developments. In 2024, global sideshaft demand surpassed 612 million units, with 437 million used in passenger vehicles and 118 million tailored specifically for electric platforms.

The report categorizes the market by hollow and rigid sideshafts, with hollow shafts making up 41% of total installations. These shafts offered average weight savings of 1.8 kg per unit and enhanced vehicle fuel economy by up to 3.2%. By application, passenger vehicles dominated, while commercial vehicles, particularly light-duty trucks and vans, followed with strong aftermarket growth.

Regionally, Asia-Pacific emerged as the core manufacturing base, producing over 355 million sideshafts in 2024. China alone contributed 186 million units, driven by domestic EV sales and exports. North America and Europe emphasized innovation, leading to over 180 new product designs in a single year, while Latin America and Africa presented aftermarket potential with 67 million aging vehicles as retrofit targets.

Market dynamics were detailed with a focus on factors such as rising EV production, torque distribution demands, hybrid retrofitting, and high material costs. A key opportunity identified was the modularization of sideshaft components to meet the needs of mixed propulsion platforms and extended product lifecycles.

Recent investments, such as the $3.7 billion global funding into sideshaft facilities and R&D, signal significant growth and competition. Companies like GKN, Dana, and ZF Friedrichshafen led global share with robust production and technological capacity. Innovations such as bio-polymer boots, torque-sensing joints, and integrated cooling shafts are redefining the technical landscape of the industry.

This comprehensive report enables automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, material manufacturers, and investors to strategize for future demand across evolving propulsion systems, regional infrastructure, and sustainability frameworks in the automotive sideshaft market.