Glazing today plays an important part in vehicle design, providing a combination of aesthetic, functional and structural properties. As a result, vehicle makers are increasingly looking for their glazing suppliers to play a key role in the vehicle development process.

The need for improved passenger comfort and lower vehicle manufacturer assembly costs means that glazing systems with infrared and ultraviolet inhibiting properties, integrated antennas, de-misting, de-icing capabilities and ease of fitting are increasingly required by the OEMs.

This fourth edition of just-auto's glazing report written by Matthew Beecham, expert in other sectors such as roof systems and shock absorbers, provides an overview of the automotive glazing industry, reviewing the key market drivers for glazing systems and providing top level market fitment, volume and value forecasts through to 2012. The report also includes an updated review of new product developments and brief profiles of the major manufacturers.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: One of the things that glassmakers continue to report is the pressure from OEMs to develop their product, whilst keeping costs low. Glazing has significantly advanced in technical functionality, offering value adding features for passenger safety, comfort and security. Glazing innovation is also used as a way of differentiating vehicles, thus making them more appealing to customers. In this chapter read more about the factors affecting glazing design, such as cost reduction, design complexity, high optical quality and weight considerations. We highlight the major market players in the sector from Asahi Glass to PPG Industries, and the regions in which production is highest, considering the established markets of Europe, Japan and North America and emerging markets such as China and Russia. Actual data is given from 2002 and forecasts to 2012 predict in some detail how the replacement glass market will evolve.

Chapter 3: In the automotive glass market, a growing trend toward aerodynamic design and styling is resulting in increasingly complex shaping and a corresponding difficulty in processing.
Find out more about developments in acoustic and thermal comfort, panoramic roof systems and ``switchable`` and plastic glazing in this technical review.

Chapter 4: Keep up to date with major manufacturers' activities with these brief profiles of Asahi Glass, Central Glass, Guardian Industries, Nippon Sheet Glass, PPG Industries, Saint-Gobain and Visteon.

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 The market
Market trends
Market players
Asahi Glass
Central Glass
Guardian Industries
Pilkington Group/Nippon Sheet Glass
PPG Industries
Saint-Gobain Sekurit
Visteon
Emerging markets
Market shares
Market forecasts - volume
Market value

Chapter 3 Technical review
Overview
Defining the elements
Panoramic roof systems
Acoustic comfort
Thermal comfort
Switchable glazing
Plastic glazing

Chapter 4 Manufacturers
Asahi Glass
Central Glass
Guardian Industries
Nippon Sheet Glass
PPG Industries
Saint-Gobain Sekurit
Visteon Corp

List of figures
Figure 1: Saturn Aura
Figure 2: Global shares of the automotive glass market (OE and aftermarket), by manufacturer, 2005 (% of sales volume)
Figure 3: European shares of the automotive glass market (OE and aftermarket), by manufacturer, 2005 (% of sales volume)
Figure 4: North American shares of the automotive glass market (OE and aftermarket), by manufacturer, 2005 (% of sales volume)
Figure 5: Japanese shares of the automotive glass market (OE and aftermarket), by manufacturer, 2005 (% of sales volume)
Figure 6: South American shares of the automotive glass market (OE and aftermarket), by manufacturer, 2005 (% of sales volume)
Figure 7: Asia-Pacific shares of the automotive glass market (OE and aftermarket), by manufacturer, 2005 (% of sales volume)
Figure 8: Australian shares of the automotive glass market (OE and aftermarket), by manufacturer, 2005 (% of sales volume)
Figure 9: Peugeot 908 RC

List of tables
Table 1: Market volume of replacement windscreens for passenger cars, European Union, 2002-2012 (units '000s)
Table 2: Market volume of replacement side and rear windows for passenger cars, European Union, 2002-2012 (units '000s)
Table 3: Market value of replacement windscreens for passenger cars, European Union, 2002-2012 (EUR '000s)
Table 4: Market value of replacement side and rear windows for passenger cars, European Union, 2002-2012 (EUR '000s)
Table 5: Market volume of complete glazing sets for passenger cars in the European Union, North America and Japan, 2002-2012 (units '000s)
Table 6: Market value of complete glazing sets for passenger cars in the European Union, North America and Japan, 2002-2012 (EUR '000)
Table 7: Research Frontiers' licensee supply chain
Table 8: Asahi Glass' automotive glass-related subsidiaries and affiliates
Table 9: AGC Automotive's OEM customers: Asia, Europe, Americas
Table 10: Central Glass' facilities worldwide
Table 11: Guardian Industries' automotive glass facilities and float glass plants
Table 12: Nippon Sheet Glass/Pilkington overview
Table 13: PPG's automotive OEM glass facilities worldwide
Table 14: Vehicles fitted with PPG glass parts in North America, 2005
Table 15: Saint-Gobain Sekurit's sites worldwide