The automotive glazing market - France (2024)

1.2 The global Automotive Glass market

The global automotive glazing market stood at $**.* billion in **** and is expected to reach $**.* billion in ****. The market is expected to register a CAGR (***) of *.*% between **** and ****.

Global automotive glazing market size World, ****-****, in billions of dollars CAGR: +*.*% Source: ****

Rising global vehicle production, growing demand for cabin comfort and government regulations aimed at improving vehicle safety are expected to boost the automotive glazing market. On the other hand, rising sales of high-end and luxury cars should boost demand for advanced glass technologies in the years ahead.

1.3 French market down in volume, up in value

Car care

The auto glass market is closely linked to the car care market, since it is an integral part of it. We are therefore studying the trend in sales in the automotive maintenance sector in order to identify general market trends. We will refer to the analysis of NAF code **.**"Automotive maintenance and repair".

This sub-class includes codes :

**.**A "Maintenance and repair of light motor vehicles **.**B "Maintenance and repair of other motor vehicles"

Calculation method: INSEE provides us with the sector's sales base *** in ****. We also have access to the evolution of this index, month after month. Thus, by annualizing the averages of these indices, referred to the **** sales, we can calculate the evolution of sales in France with the following formula: Sales **** * (***). Here, we have also summed the * NAF codes to give an estimate of market size.

Evolution and analysis of NAF code **.** "Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles" France, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****

This sector has been growing since ****, although the health crisis has affected market dynamics. In ****, total sales for the sector (***) will amount to **.*** billion euros.

Automotive glazing According to L'argus, the automotive glazing replacement and repair market for light vehicles is ...

2.1 The French and car maintenance

in ****, there were *.*** million cars in France, up **% on the previous year but down **% on ****. Trend in annual registrations of new passenger cars France, ****-****, in millions of cars Source: ****

According to an IFOP poll, around **% of French people are dependent on the car to get to work, and **% to do their shopping.

Dependence of the French on their car to meet their daily needs France, in ****, in Source : IFOP A majority of French people spend between €*** and €*** a month on their car.

Average budget spent on their car (***) excluding purchase and rental France, in ****, in Source : IFOP To limit the cost of maintaining their car, many French people adopt resourceful strategies. For example, **% of French people say they use used spare parts rather than new ones for repairs, while **% say they plan to repair or maintain their car themselves or with a friend or relative. **% of French people say they would consider going to a community garage. Generally speaking, these percentages increase as family income decreases.

What solutions have been put in place to limit vehicle maintenance costs? France, in ****, in Source: ****

It would appear that the French express numerous reservations, mainly financial, when buying a vehicle, and these apprehensions ...

2.2 Automotive glazing

A survey published in March **** by Bris de glace looks at the relationship between the French and their car glazing. In the first diagram below, we can see that most of the glass involved in car repairs is windscreens, with over **% of respondents. This is closely followed by side windows(***)

What types of glass are involved in auto glass repair? France, March ****, in Source: ****

This brings us to the question of repairers, and the graph below shows that most French people have their car glazing repaired by an independent specialist(***). Only **% go to an independent garage and *% to an auto center.

Where do the French repair their car glazing? France, March ****, in Source: ****

However, this choice is linked to the business model of service providers like Carglass, and over **% of French people go where their insurance recommends. **% go to their usual garage. *% choose their service provider because of advertising.

How do the French choose their service provider? France, March ****, in Source: ****

2.3 Preferred car repair brands

A survey carried out in March **** by OpinionWay on the favorite brands of the French, gives us information on the most popular auto repair chains.

Preferred car repair brands France, in ****, in Source: ****

The graph shows respondents' preferences for different auto repair brands. Carglass stands out with **.*% of respondents indicating a preference for this brand, followed very closely by Norauto at **.*%. Feu Vert, Speedy and Midas are preferred by **.*%, **.*% and **.*% of respondents respectively. A notable trend reveals a high concentration of preferences for the top two brands, Carglass and Norauto, which each garner more than a third of favorable opinions, while the other brands lag well behind.

Share of respondents who like the Carglass brand by age France, in ****, in Source : OpinionWay the graph shows the proportions of respondents who like the Carglass brand according to different age groups. Individuals aged **-** and **-** show the greatest interest in Carglass, with **.*% and **.*% respectively expressing a preference for the brand. The **-** age group also shows a high preference rate at **.*%. In contrast, people aged ** and over show a notably lower interest in Carglass, with only **.*% of respondents in this age category favoring the brand. This observation underlines a clear trend where ...

3.1 Diagram of the automotive equipment maintenance-repair and distribution sector

After analyzing the different value chains in the automotive repair market, of which auto glass is a part, we were able to conclude a generalized diagram of how the sector operates.

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Source: ****

Auto glass can be categorized in four ways:

*- Windshield: the front window of a vehicle is made of laminated glass, i.e. two layers of glass with plastic in between. This prevents the sheets of glass from moving in the event of impact. This type of glass is also ** times more resistant to vandalism than traditional glass. A bonded windshield also contributes to the vehicle's resistance in the event of impact.

*- Rear window: the rear window of a car, which also houses a defrosting system and a windshield wiper, is generally made of tempered glass. Few models are equipped with laminated glass. If a tempered glass pane is damaged, it explodes.

*- Side windows: like the rear window, a car's side windows are also made of toughened glass, although some models are fitted with laminated glass on the sides. Laminated glass offers greater passenger protection, reduces the risk of burglary, and provides much better thermal and acoustic insulation.

*- Rear-view mirrors: ...

3.2 Number of establishments and employees

The automotive repair sector employs a large number of people in several thousand establishments. As the graph below shows, the increase in the number of employees is proportional to the increase in the number of establishments. It is therefore a fairly fragmented market, with relatively high levels of competition. In ****, there will be ***,*** employees in the sector for **,*** companies.

Number of employees in the sector and salaried workforce (***) France, ****-****, in number of establishments, in number of employees Source: ****

The Auvergne Rhone Alpes region has the most car repair businesses, with **** establishments, ahead of Nouvelle Aquitaine, Occitanie and the PACA region.

3.3 An increasingly competitive market

Every year, new players seek to establish themselves under the Carglass franchise, brand license or concession model.

Actiglass, which specializes in mobile centers to get closer to consumers Chrono Pare-Brise, which has opted for an aggressive sales policy with a ***% reimbursed franchise. Glass&Wash, a clever combination of windshield replacement and auto detailing preparation Glastint, which specializes in window films for cars and buildings, and has developed a windshield replacement offer to complement its range. Global Pare-Brise, which offers in-center or at-home replacement to suit customer requirements OuiGlass, which also offers a free franchise, as well as numerous other services such as replacement vehicles, etc. to attract customers: in less than ten years, the group has established around a hundred centers specialized in the repair and replacement of car windows and windshields across France. The most recent center opened its doors in the Occitanie region, in Sigean, a small town on the shores of the Mediterranean. Other centers are already operating in the region, notably in Nîmes (***). SOS Pare-Brise+, which has expanded rapidly, was the first company in history to offer a €* franchise, and also offers its services to commercial vehicles, heavy goods vehicles and more.

3.4 Non-specialists gaining ground

Diversification is also the option chosen by more and more auto center and garage chains. Millions of vehicles pass through their doors every year, but they don't make the most of their expertise in windshield replacement. As a result, for years, they have missed out on part of the financial windfall represented by this activity.

That's why more and more of them are now positioning themselves in the auto glass market. This is the case, for example, of Point S, which has developed the S Glass concept, which consists of dedicating a workshop bay to glazing services, and above all, communicating about it.

By the end of December ****, Point S had converted ** auto centers to the S Glass concept in just one year. We have turned down a good number of external requests, as we want to give priority to our members. The development phase has only just begun, and we're satisfied. We'll have *** S Glass outlets by the end of ****, and *** over the next five years," assures Christophe Rollet, CEO of the Point S Group.

"We have integrated new suppliers and the commercial relationship is going very well. We're not specialists, so they might have been reluctant, but they ...

4.1 Price analysis

with prices for glazing parts set to rise by an average of **.*% in ****, the sector is forecasting a rise in service prices of between * and **% that year. [***]

change in annual consumer price index for vehicle maintenance and repair France, ****-****, index *** base **** Source: ****

The graph shows the evolution of the annual consumer price index (***) for passenger car maintenance and repair from **** to ****. In ****, the CPI was **.* and has risen progressively each year, reaching ***.* in ****, indicating a steady upward trend over this **-year period. A notable observation is the significant rise in CPI after ****, from ***.* to ***.* in four years, representing a relatively rapid increase compared to previous periods. This acceleration may reflect changes in production costs, parts availability, or price adjustments in the automotive services sector.

Automotive repair continues to feel the effects of inflation. The increase observed in the first quarter of **** extended to the whole of the first half of the year. The cost of bodywork parts has risen by *.*% over the last twelve months, an item which accounts for more than half (***) of the bodybuilder's bill.

At the same time, the cost of paint ingredients and labor rose by *.*% and *.*% respectively, accounting for **.*% and **.*% of the repairer's bill. According ...

4.2 Industry innovations: connected windscreens?

In ****, major companies dominate the market, investing heavily in research and development to design glazing that enhances safety and connectivity. The rise of electric and autonomous vehicles is encouraging the adoption of specialized glazing, incorporating sensors and advanced technologies essential for automatic piloting.

In addition, new environmental regulations are prompting the industry to innovate in materials recycling and adopt more sustainable manufacturing processes. [***]

Technological advances in automotive glazing are focused on improving vehicle safety, comfort and connectivity. Major innovations are under development, such as intelligent windshields, sensors for light and temperature management, and advanced driver assistance systems. Research and development is also focusing on impact-resistant glass and noise-reduction technologies.

Leading companies are investing in connected glass technologies, enabling seamless integration with vehicle electronics, improving functionality and safety. These advanced technologies not only enhance existing functionalities, but also pave the way for new applications, such as dynamic tinted windows and windscreens capable of communicating with the outside world, offering safer, more efficient driving.

Ultra-resistant glass

Ultra-strong glass is already being used in the USA in regions hard hit by hurricanes. This glass, recently tested on automobiles, features a structural interlayer welded between two layers of glass. Its resistance is tested by spraying ...

5.1 Transparent vehicle windows

There is legislation on vehicle glazing, the main aim of which is not to reduce or distort driver visibility. These regulations were supplemented by a decree dated April **, ****, which came into force on January *, ****, concerning the transparency of vehicle windows. Failure to comply with these rules constitutes a *th-class contravention (***). The legal texts concerning this prohibition are as follows.

All types of auto glass can be covered by glass-breakage auto insurance. This is part of an all-risk auto policy, and more often part of an extended third-party policy, and covers at least the windshield, rear window and side windows. Coverage for the vehicle's other windows depends on the terms and conditions of each insurance company. Insuring against glass breakage means you won't have to pay the cost of repairing a windshield or replacing a car window. The policyholder only has to pay the excess or deductible specified in the policy. By going through an auto glass professional approved by most insurance companies, the motorist has no administrative formalities to complete. This is the case with Carglass, which takes charge of the entire procedure if approved, or prepares the necessary documents if not.

5.2 The LOM law

Regulation ****/**, which allows maintenance and repair operations to be carried out outside the manufacturer's network, expired on May **, ****. The European Commission then adopted a new set of rules for agreements between manufacturers/dealers and authorized repairers/distributors of spare parts. These new rules, which came into force on June *, ****, meet * objectives: - access by repairers to the technical information required for repairs

the use of spare parts from brands other than those recommended by the manufacturer increased competition between authorized and independent repairers, leading to lower prices.

The LOM law, adopted on December **, ****, set out a timetable for the end of the automakers' monopoly on first reading: full lifting of protection from **** for headlights, mirrors and glazing, then from **** for body parts. Original equipment manufacturers had to wait until January *, **** to market dress parts (***). For other OEMs, design protection would remain enforceable for ** years. After this period, the parts would have fallen into the public domain and opened up to competition. But on December **, ****, the French Constitutional Council censured the provisions concerning the liberalization of the captive parts market. It did not call into question the merits of the provision, but considered that it stood alone in relation to the other ...

5.3 European Union General Road Safety Regulation

The European Union's General Road Safety Regulation, which came into force in July ****, requires all new cars sold in the Union to be equipped with standard safety features, such as automatic emergency braking (***). The operation of these systems relies on vehicle cameras, usually located behind the windscreen, which underlines the crucial importance of the windscreen for their effectiveness.

from July ****, almost all new cars will feature a windscreen-mounted camera, connected to the vehicle's safety systems. The increase in windscreen-integrated technologies, such as cameras and other electronic sensors, means that a single stone impact may require the complete windscreen to be replaced. According to Carglass in Finland, stone impacts within the camera's field of vision require replacement rather than repair, regardless of the size of the impact.

This development is having a major impact on windshield installation and repair, as the calibration of cameras and safety systems becomes an even more essential maintenance step. A windscreen with damage to the camera lens or its field of view compromises the proper operation of the associated safety systems. [***]

6.1 Player segmentation

• Carglass France (D'Ieteren Group)
• Carglass Belron (D'Ieteren group)
• Actiglass
• France pare-brise
• Norauto
• Mondial Pare-Brise
• AD Autodistribution Groupe (D'Ieteren Groupe)
• Oscaro.com (D'Ieteren Groupe)
• Roady (ITM Intermarché)
• Fuyao Glass Group
• Asahi Glass
• Xinyi Glass
• AGC Glass Europe NordGlass
• Saint-Gobain Sekurit Service
• Sisecam
• Guardian Industries
• Euro Pare-brise
• Euro pare-brise Plus
• Feu Vert
• 123 Pare Brise