Automotive Camshaft Market –Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, Commercial Vehicle), By Manufacturing Technology (Cast Camshaft, Forged Camshaft, Assembled Camshaft), By Demand Category (OEM, Aftermarket), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 3.91 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.46%
Fastest Growing Segment	Forged Camshaft
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 5.08 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Automotive Camshaft Market will grow from USD 3.91 Billion in 2025 to USD 5.08 Billion by 2031 at a 4.46% CAGR. The automotive camshaft is a cylindrical rod featuring lobes that regulate the opening and closing of intake and exhaust valves in internal combustion engines. This component is essential for optimizing engine performance and fuel efficiency by controlling air-fuel mixture intake and gas expulsion. Market growth is fundamentally supported by the sustained production of passenger and commercial vehicles, particularly in developing regions where mobility needs are rising. Additionally, stricter emission regulations drive the adoption of advanced variable valve timing systems, necessitating high-quality camshafts to ensure precise combustion control.

Conversely, the accelerating shift toward battery electric vehicles presents a significant obstacle, as these powertrains forgo internal combustion engines entirely. This transition reduces the long-term addressable market for traditional valve train components. Despite this, the conventional market remains vast and continues to generate substantial demand. According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), in 2024, global motor vehicle production reached approximately 92.5 million units. This figure highlights the persistent volume of internal combustion engine vehicles that continue to underpin the global camshaft market.

Key Market Drivers

The rising global production of passenger and commercial vehicles acts as the primary catalyst for market expansion, particularly within developing economies where mobility infrastructure is rapidly evolving. As manufacturers ramp up assembly lines to meet consumer needs, the direct requirement for internal combustion engines ensures a continuous stream of orders for precision-engineered camshafts. This trend is especially pronounced in major manufacturing hubs that supply both domestic and international markets, creating a stable baseline for component suppliers. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, September 2024, in the 'August 2024 Automobile Industry Economic Operation' report, automobile production in China reached 2.492 million units for the month alone, underscoring the immense volume of components required to sustain such output levels.

Simultaneously, the increasing adoption of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) powertrains is sustaining demand for advanced valve train components, counteracting the potential decline from pure electric mobility. Hybrids utilize internal combustion engines alongside electric motors, often employing complex variable valve timing systems to maximize efficiency and minimize emissions during engine engagement. This reliance on combustion technology for hybrid configurations ensures that camshafts remain integral to modern automotive design. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, July 2024, in the 'New car registrations: +4.3% in June 2024' press release, hybrid-electric vehicles increased by 26.4% to secure a 29.5% market share in the European Union. Furthermore, automakers continue to fund internal combustion infrastructure to support this hybrid growth; according to Toyota Motor North America, in 2024, the company announced a new investment of $282 million at its Huntsville, Alabama plant to expand engine production lines.

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Key Market Challenges

The primary challenge hampering the growth of the global automotive camshaft market is the accelerating transition toward battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Unlike internal combustion engines, BEVs utilize electric propulsion systems that do not require intake or exhaust valves, thereby eliminating the necessity for camshafts entirely. As automotive original equipment manufacturers increasingly reallocate capital and production capacity toward electric drive units, the total addressable market for traditional valve train components faces a structural decline. This technological shift means that every unit of market share gained by pure electric platforms represents a direct and permanent loss of volume for camshaft suppliers, effectively decoupling their growth from the broader expansion of the automotive sector.

The scale of this displacement is evident in the rising penetration rates of non-combustion vehicles in major markets. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), in the first eleven months of 2025, battery-electric cars captured 16.9% of the total market share in the European Union. This significant proportion underscores that a material segment of new vehicle demand now bypasses the camshaft market completely. Consequently, manufacturers are forced to contend with a shrinking customer base in the passenger vehicle segment, limiting revenue potential despite the overall global increase in vehicle production.

Key Market Trends

The automotive sector is increasingly prioritizing the adoption of assembled camshaft technology over traditional cast iron counterparts to address stringent fuel efficiency mandates. This manufacturing approach involves assembling high-strength steel lobes onto a hollow tubular shaft, significantly reducing the rotational mass and overall weight of the valve train assembly. By utilizing this modular construction, manufacturers can optimize material selection for specific component properties while achieving necessary lightweighting targets. This shift is substantiated by raw material demand; according to the World Steel Association, April 2024, in the 'April 2024 Short Range Outlook', global steel demand is projected to rebound by 1.7% in 2024, supported by the automotive sector's requirement for advanced high-strength steels essential for lightweight powertrain architectures.

Simultaneously, the implementation of advanced surface coating technologies has become critical for ensuring component longevity in modern, high-stress engines. Manufacturers are applying Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings to camshaft lobes to minimize friction coefficients and withstand the intense pressures associated with downsized, turbocharged powertrains. These surface treatments are particularly vital for hybrid applications where frequent start-stop cycles impose additional wear on valve train interfaces. The commercial relevance of this technology is evident in supplier performance; according to Oerlikon, February 2024, in the 'Full-Year 2023 Results' media release, the Surface Solutions division reported an organic sales increase of 7.3%, explicitly attributing growth to the strong uptake of functional coatings within the automotive market.

Segmental Insights

The Forged Camshaft segment is currently identified as the fastest-growing category within the Global Automotive Camshaft Market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the automotive industry's shift toward high-performance and downsized engines, which require components capable of withstanding superior mechanical stress and thermal loads. Unlike traditional cast alternatives, forged camshafts offer exceptional tensile strength and fatigue resistance, making them essential for modern powertrains designed to meet stringent emission mandates enforced by regulatory frameworks such as the European Commission's Euro standards or the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Consequently, manufacturers are increasingly adopting forged steel components to ensure engine reliability while optimizing power output in both passenger and commercial vehicles.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific currently maintains a dominant position in the global automotive camshaft market, driven primarily by the substantial volume of vehicle production in key economies such as China, India, and Japan. The region benefits from a high concentration of original equipment manufacturers and a robust supply chain for internal combustion engines. Furthermore, stringent emission standards enforced by authorities like the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in China compel manufacturers to utilize precision engine components to ensure compliance. These factors collectively sustain the strong demand for camshafts throughout the regional automotive sector.

Recent Developments

• In January 2025, Linamar Corporation announced a substantial investment of over CAD 1 billion (approx. USD 700 million) to expand its manufacturing operations in Ontario, Canada. This strategic initiative aims to enhance the company's production capabilities for both electric vehicle components and traditional powertrain solutions, including camshafts and other engine parts. Supported by funding from the federal and provincial governments, the expansion will modernize facilities to produce advanced transmission and drivetrain systems. This investment underscores the supplier's dual focus on supporting current internal combustion engine demand while transitioning towards electrified mobility solutions.
• In September 2024, Porsche AG filed a patent for a revolutionary six-stroke internal combustion engine that relies on a novel camshaft and valvetrain arrangement. The proposed design features a crankshaft spinning within a ring on planetary gears, creating a cycle with two distinct top-dead-center and bottom-dead-center positions. This complex mechanism requires a specialized camshaft operation to manage the additional compression and power strokes, effectively creating a "two-times-three" stroke cycle. This research indicates the automotive manufacturer's ongoing commitment to evolving traditional engine technology to improve efficiency and power density alongside its electrification efforts.
• In July 2024, thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components announced that it had secured a major contract to supply truck camshafts to a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. The agreement, which spans ten years, involves the production of approximately 200,000 ready-to-install powertrain components annually at the company's Chemnitz facility in Germany. To support this significant order, the company revealed plans to invest in expanding its existing machinery, including new grinding and turning lines, with production scheduled to commence in the summer of 2025. This deal reinforces the manufacturer's position in the internal combustion engine sector while it simultaneously advances its capabilities in e-mobility components.
• In July 2024, General Motors’ Chevrolet brand launched the 2025 Corvette ZR1, featuring the new LT7 twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which showcases significant advancements in valvetrain technology. The engineering team designed a unique camshaft profile specifically for this high-performance application, optimizing valve timing and lift to manage the forced induction system's demands. The engine utilizes a flat-plane crankshaft and dual overhead camshafts to achieve an output of 1,064 horsepower, making it the most powerful V8 ever produced by an American auto manufacturer. This development highlights the continued innovation in camshaft design for high-performance internal combustion engines.

Key Market Players

• Melling
• Varroc Group
• JBM Group
• MAHLE GmbH
• David Newman (Camshaft) & Co
• Cummins Inc.
• Piper RS Ltd
• Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
• ThyssenKrupp AG
• FERROFOSS Machinery & Foundry Co., Ltd

By Vehicle Type	By Manufacturing Technology	By Demand Category	By Region
Passenger Car Commercial Vehicle	Cast Camshaft Forged Camshaft Assembled Camshaft	OEM Aftermarket	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Automotive Camshaft Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Automotive Camshaft Market, By Vehicle Type:

• Passenger Car
• Commercial Vehicle

• Automotive Camshaft Market, By Manufacturing Technology:

• Cast Camshaft
• Forged Camshaft
• Assembled Camshaft

• Automotive Camshaft Market, By Demand Category:

• OEM
• Aftermarket

• Automotive Camshaft Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE