Automotive Gas Springs Market Size, CAGR & Forecast, 2025-2035

Gas springs keep their place on most vehicles even as powered liftgates take the premium end

Sold into vehicle plants and repair shops worldwide, automotive gas springs generated USD 1.62 billion in 2025; Radial Insights forecasts USD 1.67 billion in 2026 and USD 2.26 billion by 2035, which equals a 3.38% CAGR for 2025-2035. The rate is modest because the largest application, tailgate support, is partly moving to electromechanical drives.

The study covers nitrogen-charged gas springs, lockable gas springs, traction (tension) gas springs and gas dampers used on passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles. Applications include tailgates and liftgates, hoods, trunk lids, seats and interior compartments, plus tonneau covers, cab tilt systems and storage lids. We exclude electromechanical spindle drives that open powered liftgates, suspension shock absorbers and struts, and gas springs used outside vehicles in furniture, medical or industrial machinery.

The best public window on the market is Stabilus, the largest specialist. Its Automotive Gas Spring unit earned EUR 322.4 million in fiscal 2025, down 7.8%, while its Powerise unit for electric tailgate drives fell 12.4% to EUR 384.4 million. Both declines reflect weaker vehicle builds in the Americas and price pressure in China, not a collapse in demand for the part.

The fastest-growing segment in our model is seats and interior applications at a 4.95% CAGR, as more vehicles add adjustable seat mechanisms, folding consoles and storage lids. Lockable gas springs, which hold a seat or lid at any position, grow at 4.62%, the fastest product type. Tailgate and liftgate demand grows only 2.41% because powered liftgates replace at least one gas strut on premium SUVs.

Asia Pacific (APAC) holds 47.80% of 2025 revenue and Africa is the fastest-growing region at a 4.30% CAGR, while Europe grows slowest at 2.55%. Overall, the automotive gas springs market depends far more on global vehicle production, which reached 96.4 million units in 2025 according to OICA, than on any change in content per vehicle.

Seats, interiors and the aftermarket grow faster than the tailgate core

The 3.38% headline hides a split between mature tailgate and trunk applications and faster-growing interior and replacement demand. The table below gives the 2025-2035 CAGR for each segment of the automotive gas springs market.

Compression gas springs dominate volume, while lockable gas springs grow fastest at 4.62%

Standard compression gas springs lift and hold tailgates, hoods and trunk lids on most cars and remain the volume product, but their 3.12% growth trails because their main application is maturing. Lockable gas springs let a seat back, headrest or lid stop at any point and grow at 4.62% as vehicle makers add adjustable interiors. Gas dampers, used to slow glove boxes, consoles and armrests, grow at 3.84%. Traction gas springs, which pull rather than push, serve niche hinges and cab mechanisms and grow at 3.55%.

Seats and interior lead at 4.95% while trunk lids trail at 2.08%

Interior uses are expanding fastest because electric vehicles add front trunks, sliding consoles and reclining rear seats, each of which can use a small gas spring or damper. Hoods grow at 3.36%, steady with production. Tailgates and liftgates grow at 2.41%: Stabilus' Powerise revenue of EUR 384.4 million in fiscal 2025 shows how much tailgate value has shifted to electromechanical drives. Trunk lids grow slowest at 2.08% because sedans keep losing share to SUVs.

Light commercial vehicles grow at 3.72%, ahead of passenger cars at 3.31%

Vans and pickups use gas springs on rear doors, tonneau covers, toolbox lids and bed covers, and electric delivery vans add new storage compartments. Heavy commercial vehicles grow at 3.58% thanks to cab tilt, hatch and battery-compartment covers. Passenger cars remain the largest segment but grow at 3.31% because tailgate and trunk content is under pressure.

Aftermarket gas springs grow at 4.41% against 3.05% for OEM

Gas springs lose pressure with age and heat, so a tailgate that will not stay up is one of the most common replacement jobs on older cars. Stabilus reported 5% growth in its distributors, independent aftermarket and e-commerce segment in fiscal 2025 even as its automotive OEM revenue fell, which supports a higher aftermarket rate. OEM demand follows vehicle builds and grows at 3.05%.

Market Trends

Powered liftgates are taking value from tailgate gas springs

Electric spindle drives open and close tailgates at the press of a button and are now common on mid-size and premium SUVs. At Stabilus, Powerise revenue of EUR 384.4 million exceeded Automotive Gas Spring revenue of EUR 322.4 million in fiscal 2025. Many powered systems still pair one drive with one gas spring, so the shift reduces rather than removes gas spring content.

China price pressure is reshaping Asian supply

Stabilus' APAC revenue fell 12.4% to EUR 273.0 million in fiscal 2025, which the company linked to tariff uncertainty and price pressure in China's automotive business. The decline deepened to about 31% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, reported in January 2026, as domestic Chinese suppliers won share on cost.

Specialists are restructuring and refocusing portfolios

Stabilus launched a transformation program in September 2025 with an EUR 18 million restructuring provision and expected savings of about EUR 32 million a year from 2028. In June 2026, it closed the sale of its Fabreeka and Tech Products units to VMC Group, recording a cash inflow of EUR 79.2 million in the quarter.

Aftermarket and e-commerce channels gain weight

Replacement gas springs are simple to fit and easy to ship, which suits online parts retailers. Stabilus' distributor, independent aftermarket and e-commerce segment grew 5% in fiscal 2025 while automotive OEM sales fell 10%, a clear sign that replacement demand is steadier than new-vehicle demand.

Restraints and Challenges

Flat vehicle production in Europe and the Americas

Data from OICA show 2025 vehicle production fell 0.8% in Europe to 17.2 million units and 2.1% in the Americas to 18.74 million. Because most gas spring demand is tied to new vehicles, weak builds hit supplier revenue directly; Stabilus' Automotive Gas Spring revenue fell 12.0% to EUR 74.1 million in its quarter to March 2026.

Substitution by electromechanical drives

Each powered liftgate that uses two spindle drives removes two gas springs from the vehicle. This substitution is concentrated in premium SUVs today but is spreading to mid-range models in China, capping the tailgate segment at 2.41% growth.

Low-cost competition and currency swings

Chinese gas spring makers compete aggressively on price at home and in exports. Currency effects also weigh on reported results: Stabilus attributed about 3.2 points of its 9.8% second-quarter revenue decline in fiscal 2026 to currency translation.

Tariffs and trade uncertainty

Gas springs are low-value parts with thin margins, so tariffs can erase profit on cross-border supply. Stabilus cited tariff-related uncertainty in Asia and US customs policy among the factors behind its fiscal 2025 results, and suppliers are adding local capacity to avoid duties.

Growth Drivers

Rising global vehicle production, led by Asia

OICA counted 96.4 million vehicles built in 2025, up 3.9% from 92.7 million in 2024, with Asia, Oceania and the Middle East producing about 59.2 million of them. China alone built 34.53 million vehicles and India 6.49 million. Almost every passenger car carries at least two gas springs on its tailgate or trunk and often two more on the hood, so each additional million vehicles adds several million units of demand. Local suppliers in China capture much of this added volume, which is why Chinese makers gain share. Hood springs add a second layer of demand on most SUVs and pickups, and commercial vehicles add cab, hatch and storage applications. Because gas spring content per vehicle changes slowly, unit output is the single best predictor of OEM demand, and APAC volume growth of 7.6% in 2025 shows where that demand is concentrated. We estimate that production growth contributes about 1.9 percentage points to the market's yearly growth through 2035, more than any other factor.

More adjustable interiors and storage compartments per vehicle

Electric vehicle layouts free space for front trunks, sliding center consoles and flat-folding rear seats, and each of these features can use a lockable gas spring or gas damper. Seats and interior uses therefore grow at 4.95% in our model, the fastest of any application. Suppliers including SUSPA, Lesjöfors and Bansbach easylift market lockable springs and dampers for seating and interior mechanisms. Chinese electric vehicle brands have been early adopters of features such as zero-gravity reclining seats and large front trunks, and European and Japanese vehicle makers are adding similar features to compete. Each such feature can add one or two small springs or dampers per vehicle at modest cost. This content gain adds roughly 0.8 points of annual growth to the market, partly offsetting tailgate substitution.

An ageing global car parc drives replacement demand

Gas springs typically lose pressure after several years of heat cycles, and replacement is a quick, low-cost repair. OICA recorded 99.8 million vehicles sold globally in 2025, adding to a fleet that is getting older in North America and Europe. Stabilus' independent aftermarket and e-commerce segment grew 5% in fiscal 2025 while its automotive OEM segment fell 10%. Aftermarket brands such as febi bilstein and Tenneco's Monroe line compete for this demand through parts distributors and online retailers. Because a failed tailgate spring is a safety concern as well as an annoyance, most owners replace springs in pairs, which doubles the value of each repair event. The replacement cycle accounts for close to 0.7 points of yearly market expansion in our forecast.

Opportunities

Hybrid tailgate systems that pair one drive with one gas spring

Cost-sensitive vehicle makers in China and India want powered tailgates without the cost of two spindle drives. Systems that combine one electric drive with one gas spring keep gas spring content on the vehicle and give specialists a route into the powered segment.

Commercial vehicle and electric van applications

Electric vans and trucks add battery-compartment covers, charging-port doors and tool storage lids. With light commercial vehicles growing at 3.72% in our model, suppliers with corrosion-resistant and high-cycle gas springs can win new fitments.

Asia Pacific (APAC) supplies nearly half of demand, but Chinese price pressure limits value growth

Asia Pacific (APAC)

Asia Pacific (APAC) accounted for a 47.80% share in 2025, worth USD 774.4 million, and APAC revenue is forecast to reach USD 1,140.7 million by 2035 at a 3.95% CAGR. China built 34.53 million vehicles in 2025, but Stabilus' APAC revenue fell 12.4% to EUR 273.0 million that year, showing how local price competition holds down value even as volume rises in APAC.

North America

North America held a 21.30% share in 2025, equal to USD 345.1 million, and is expected to reach USD 461.5 million in 2035 at a 2.95% CAGR. The United States produced 10.24 million vehicles in 2025, and Stabilus' Americas revenue rose 2.5% to EUR 480.9 million in fiscal 2025 before falling 11.5% in its quarter to March 2026 on a weaker dollar.

Europe

Europe held a 23.90% share in 2025, or USD 387.2 million, and is forecast to reach USD 498.0 million by 2035 at a 2.55% CAGR, the slowest of any region. European production fell 0.8% to 17.2 million vehicles in 2025, although Stabilus' EMEA revenue still grew 3.2% to EUR 542.2 million that year on industrial and aftermarket business.

Latin America

Latin America captured 3.90% of 2025 revenue, about USD 63.2 million, and should grow at a 3.40% CAGR to USD 88.3 million by 2035. Brazil and Mexico assemble pickups and compact SUVs that use gas springs on tailgates and hoods, and Latin America's older fleet supports replacement sales.

Middle East

The Middle East accounted for 1.80% of the market in 2025, roughly USD 29.2 million, and is projected to reach USD 42.8 million by 2035 at a 3.90% CAGR. High temperatures in the Gulf shorten gas spring life, so Middle East demand leans toward replacement parts.

Africa

Africa held a 1.30% share in 2025, about USD 21.1 million, and is the fastest-growing region at a 4.30% CAGR, reaching USD 32.1 million by 2035. OICA reported African vehicle sales up 22% to 1.29 million units in 2025, and assembly plants in South Africa and Morocco add OEM demand.

Recent Developments

• In August 2026, Stabilus reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of EUR 299.5 million, down 5.2%, with Automotive Gas Spring revenue down 8.7% to EUR 72.4 million, and narrowed its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to about EUR 1.15 billion.

• In June 2026, Stabilus closed the sale of its Fabreeka and Tech Products businesses to VMC Group, booking a cash inflow of EUR 79.2 million.

• In May 2026, Stabilus reported second-quarter revenue of EUR 304.9 million, down 9.8%, as Automotive Gas Spring revenue fell 12.0% to EUR 74.1 million and APAC revenue dropped 26.6%.

• In April 2026, OICA reported global 2025 vehicle production of 96.4 million units, up 3.9%, with Asian output up 7.6%.

• In December 2025, Stabilus confirmed fiscal 2025 revenue of EUR 1,296.1 million, with Automotive Gas Spring revenue down 7.8% to EUR 322.4 million and an adjusted EBIT margin of 11.0%.

• In September 2025, Stabilus launched a transformation program with an EUR 18 million restructuring provision, targeting annual savings of about EUR 32 million from 2028.

Stabilus leads a fragmented field where Chinese makers win on price and European specialists on engineering

The automotive gas springs market has one clear global leader and a long tail of regional manufacturers. OEM supply is concentrated among a few qualified specialists, while the aftermarket is open to many brands and private labels. Competition centers on cycle life, temperature stability, noise and price.

Global OEM specialists

Stabilus, headquartered in Koblenz, Germany, is the largest automotive gas spring supplier, with Automotive Gas Spring revenue of EUR 322.4 million and Powerise revenue of EUR 384.4 million in fiscal 2025; it is known for pairing gas springs with electric liftgate drives. SUSPA, based in Altdorf, Germany, supplies gas springs, dampers and seat height adjusters to vehicle and furniture makers. KYB Corporation, best known for shock absorbers, also produces gas springs for Japanese and Asian vehicle makers.

European engineering and industrial specialists

Lesjöfors, part of Sweden's Beijer Alma group, makes gas springs alongside a wide range of industrial springs and sells into both automotive and aftermarket channels. Bansbach easylift in Germany is known for custom and lockable gas springs. Dictator Technik and ACE Controls supply gas springs and dampers mainly for industrial and vehicle-body uses, while Vapsint in Italy and Camloc Motion Control and Industrial Gas Springs in the UK serve specialty vehicle and equipment builders.

North American and aftermarket suppliers

AVM Industries in the United States supplies gas springs and lift supports to vehicle makers and aftermarket customers. Tenneco's Monroe brand sells replacement lift supports through parts retailers, and febi bilstein offers gas springs within its broad European replacement parts catalog. These brands benefit from the aftermarket's 4.41% growth rate.

Chinese manufacturers

A large group of Chinese gas spring makers supplies domestic vehicle makers and exports to global aftermarket channels. Their cost advantage is the main reason Stabilus' APAC revenue fell 12.4% in fiscal 2025, and they are likely to keep gaining share in Asia Pacific (APAC) through 2035.