Smart Glass Market Overview
Increasing demand for smart glass for automobiles, rising commercial and residential building construction, and increasing government focus toward energy efficiency are the key factors driving the global smart glass market.
On the basis of technology, the smart glass market has been categorized into electrochromic, suspended particle device (SPD), polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), photochromic, thermochromic, and others; wherein others include nanocrystal and micro-blind technology. Among these, the SPD category held the largest share in the market in 2018. This is due to increasing use of SPD technology in the automotive and aerospace industries for various applications, such as windows, sunroofs, and mirrors. Moreover, SPD-based smart glass reduces the use of electric power that leads to increase energy savings. Owing to this, demand for this glass is high across the globe.
On the other hand, the electrochromic category is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period. The electrochromic glass reduces the response time for applying glass effect at low-voltage consumption, and blocks entering of hazardous ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) rays. Owing to these, the demand for this glass is expected to increase from the automotive and construction sectors during the forecast period.
Based on vertical, the smart glass market has been categorized into construction, transportation, industrial, and others; wherein others include medical and educational institutions. Among these, the transportation category held the largest market share in 2018. Growing automotive market, increasing consumer awareness toward luxury and comfort, and mandatory safety rules and regulations across the globe are the key factors driving the demand for smart glass in this category. Also, smart glass is widely used in windows, doors, sunroofs, and windshields of vehicles. Whereas, the construction category is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the increasing demand for smart glass for energy-efficient buildings, thereby reducing the energy consumption and the carbon impact in the environment.
The construction category has been further bifurcated into commercial and residential. Of these, the commercial category held larger share in 2018. This is due to increasing focus of the government toward investing for smart energy-saving solutions, such as smart glass, and increasing focus toward aesthetic value. For instance, under the Energy Policy Act, the U.S. government offers rebates and incentives to consumers, who are focusing on energy saving in their buildings. By using smart glass in buildings, energy consumption reduces by 20% or more. To reduce energy consumption in commercial and residential buildings, the demand for smart glass is increasing in the country.
Based on region, North America is projected to hold the largest market share throughout the forecast period. This is ascribed to the increasing demand for smart glass for reducing energy consumption in buildings. Moreover, increasing vehicle production and high demand for luxury cars are some of the other factors driving the smart glass market in the region. Whereas, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) market is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the growing real-estate sector and increasing shift of automotive manufacturers from conventional glass to smart glass in their vehicles.
Smart Glass Market Dynamics
Increasing demand for smart glass in the automotive and construction sectors is a major factor driving the growth of the smart glass market. Smart glass is used in mirrors, windows, windshields, and in display systems of automobiles. Due to growing demand for luxury cars in the U.S., China, and in many other countries, the demand for smart glass is increasing. Further, smart glass offers users to control the amount of light entering into vehicles and buildings, as well as helps to control the level of privacy within their cars. Due to these factors, the demand for smart glass is increasing, globally.
Moreover, aircraft manufacturers are increasingly focusing on improving customer experiences in aircraft. The use of smart glass in aircraft increases passenger comfort by providing them with multilayer configuration of interlayers and films, which offer quieter, cooler, and more comfortable environment for traveling. Hence, due to this, the demand for smart glass in the aerospace industry is increasing, globally.
Smart Glass Market Competitive Landscape
With presence of numerous players, the smart glass market is highly competitive in nature. The key players are increasingly launching new products to increase their product portfolios. For instance, in June 2019, Vision Systems, a licensee of Research Frontiers Inc., launched SPD-based smart glass designed for cruise ship to improve passenger experience, providing a cooler ship interior for the passengers.
Some of the key players operating in the global smart glass market include Research Frontiers Inc., Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A., View Inc., AGC Inc., Gentex Corporation, Glass Apps, Pleotint LLC, Polytronix Inc., RavenWindow, Scienstry Inc., Smartglass International Limited, and SPD Control Systems Corporation.
The report will also provide a country-wise analysis. Some of the major countries that are covered in the report include the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, the U.A.E., and Saudi Arabia.
Smart Glass Market Segmentation
Market Segmentation by Technology
- Electrochromic
- Suspended Particle Device (SPD)
- Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC)
- Photochromic
- Thermochromic
- Others (Nanocrystal and Micro-Blind)
Market Segmentation by Vertical
- Construction
- Transportation
- Automotive
- Bus/rail
- Aerospace
- Marine
- Industrial
- Others (Medical and Educational Institutions)
Market Segmentation by Geography
- North America Smart Glass Market
- By technology
- By vertical
- By country – U.S. and Canada
- Europe Smart Glass Market
- By technology
- By vertical
- By country – U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe
- Asia-Pacific (APAC) Smart Glass Market
- By technology
- By vertical
- By country – China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and Rest of APAC
- Latin America (LATAM) Smart Glass Market
- By technology
- By vertical
- By country – Mexico, Brazil, and Rest of LATAM
- Middle East & Africa (MEA) Smart Glass Market
- By technology
- By vertical
- By country – South Africa, Turkey, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, and Rest of MEA
