Market Insights
The demand for automotive diagnostic scan tools is expected to witness strong growth due to the increasing electrification of vehicles worldwide. Automotive diagnostic scan tools are a combination of electronic devices and software that are used as interfaces with the diagnostic systems in vehicles. These tools are used for identifying faults or malfunctions in the electric systems of vehicles by simply plugging a cable into a diagnostic connector and running a full scan. Advancements in technologies have enhanced these diagnostic tools to detect faulty areas in electronic systems with ease. Increasing preference for automated diagnostic systems over conventional manual systems has accelerated demand for diagnostic scan tools for automobiles.
The increasing production of vehicles and the complexity involved in connected cars are some other factors fueling the adoption of diagnostic scan tools. Stringent emission norms introduced by governments across the globe for continuously monitoring vehicle emissions are further enhancing market growth. For instance, in India, BS-IV emission norms have been enforced since April 2017. In 2016, the government of India announced that the B.S. V norms would be skipped, and the country would altogether adopt the BS-VI norms by 2020. In line with these norms, vehicles will equip onboard diagnostic systems for emission control. Prior to the introduction of automotive diagnostic scan tools, robust procedures and a large number of tools were required to identify defects in vehicles. The process was carried out manually, which consumed a huge amount of time and was tiresome. Thus, in order to overcome this challenge, garage equipment manufacturers introduced state-of-the-art diagnostic tools for quickly identifying and rectifying faults in vehicles.
Another factor facilitating the growth of the automotive diagnostic tools market is the rising consumer preference for technologically advanced high-end vehicles with sophisticated architecture. Moreover, a rising number of independent vehicle service stations is anticipated to further spur the growth of the automotive diagnostic tools market in the coming years. On the other hand, complexities involved in the functioning of the diagnostic scan tools coupled with the limited presence of a skilled workforce for handling technologically advanced equipment are some of the major factors acting as hindrances to the market’s growth.
Automotive diagnostic scan tools are used increasingly across various service stations for all types of vehicles, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The vehicle type segment was led by passenger cars in 2017. The dominance of passenger cars is reflective of their greater production share over commercial vehicles. In terms of geography, North America led the overall automotive diagnostic scan tool market in 2017. The region’s market is primarily supported by rising demand for technologically advanced high-end vehicles. Additionally, growing consumer preference for accurate and easy fault detection mechanisms is facilitating market growth in the region. On the other hand, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness strong growth during the forecast period. Growing demand for luxury and comfort cars and stringent government emission norms are some of the major factors contributing to the growth of automotive diagnostic scan tools in the region.
The global automotive diagnostic scan tools market is segmented on the following basis:
Equipment Type
- Wheel Alignment Tester
- Handheld Thread
- Digital Battery Tester
- Automotive Paint Inspection Equipment
- Vehicle Emission Test System
Vehicle Type
- Commercial Vehicle
- Passenger Cars
Geography
- North America
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- U.K.
- Russia
- Rest of Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- India
- China
- Japan
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Rest of Latin America
- Middle East and Africa
- GCC Countries
- South Africa
- Rest of Middle East and Africa
Key players identified in the global automotive diagnostic scan tool market include but are not limited to:
ACTIA Group, AVL List GmbH, Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, Inc., Continental AG, Delphi Technologies, Denso Corporation, DG Technologies, DSA Daten- und Systemtechnik GmbH, ETAS Group, Fluke Corporation, General Technologies Corporation, Hickok, Inc., KPIT Technologies Ltd., Snap-on Incorporated, and Softing Automotive Electronics GmbH, among others.