The motor vehicle security market in the UK was worth an estimated £298m at manufacturers\' selling prices (msp) and £333m at end-user prices (allowing for margins of those products that are sold in the aftermarket), in 2005. In 2006, the market was valued at £318m at end-user prices, a fall of 5.5% on 2005.
Press Release Body = Vehicle Security Market Report 2007
Executive Summary
The motor vehicle security market in the UK was worth an estimated £298m at manufacturers\' selling prices (msp) and £333m at end-user prices (allowing for margins of those products that are sold in the aftermarket), in 2005. In 2006, the market was valued at £318m at end-user prices, a fall of 5.5% on 2005.
The market includes: locks; other mechanical devices, such as mechanical immobilisers, clamps and motorcycle anchors, and security marking of vehicles; tracking systems; and other electronic devices, which include immobilisers, alarms and combined alarm/immobilisers, and newer products to combat key theft and hijacking. Most of the demand for vehicle security products comes from the new-vehicle sector rather than the aftermarket.
In 2005 and 2006, the main factors depressing sales in the UK market were a downturn in new vehicle production and a decrease in new car registrations. The reasons behind these negative influences included: the difficulty of competing with car-manufacturing countries in the eurozone and in countries outside Western Europe with lower labour costs; the high cost of motor fuel; and other increases in the running costs of cars.
The economic background in the UK was generally favourable to consumer expenditure in 2005 and 2006, but consumer confidence has been rather fragile. Consumers have had to contend with rises in household bills, a high level of consumer debt, a sterner stance from lenders in 2006 and the fear of interest-rate rises, which materialised in the latter half of 2006 and in early 2007.
There has been a continual improvement in the vehicle crime prevention level since 2003, owing to the use of effective immobilisers and other security measures. However, the theft of keys and identity devices is a growing threat.
A further decrease in the total UK market for vehicle security in 2007 is expected. Thereafter, the volume of the market is likely to be fairly flat, although, with a move towards the higher-value products, inflation is likely to produce some annual growth.