Published: May 21, 2009

Research and Markets: Protect your Assets: An Analysis of the North American Spray-On and Drop-In Bedliner Market

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DUBLIN - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/345f51/protect_your_asset) has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "Protect your Assets: An Analysis of the North American Spray-On and Drop-In Bedliner Market" to their offering.

This study combines customer research with Frost & Sullivan's Market Engineering research to create a comprehensive analysis of the size and opportunity for spray-on and drop-in bedliners in North America.

New Applications and Product Lines to Support Bedliner Suppliers Even as Truck Sales Slow Down

In 2008, the sales of bedliners witnessed a steep decline as light truck sales plummeted. However, suppliers have seized the opportunity to venture into new market segments. Bedliners remain on the top of the agenda for pickup truck owners. "While sales of drop-in bedliners are in decline, suppliers of spray-on bedliners have successfully expanded the customer base to cushion the downturn in pickup sales," notes the analyst of this research service. "When the truck market rebounds, these companies will be strongly positioned for revenue growth." Bedliner suppliers can improve business prospects by developing new applications for their current product portfolio and introducing competing or complementary products, providing truck owners the opportunity to optimally accessorize their vehicles. Spray-on coating distributors have found new customers in building contractors. Suppliers of bedliners would fare better by exploring alternative means of bed protection, such as side rails, bed rail caps, tonneau covers, and camper shells.

Nearly 60 percent of new pick-up trucks are equipped with a bedliner within the first 90 days of ownership. Buyers generally choose an original equipment drop-in bedliner from a dealership or the aftermarket. Automakers have started to spray their pickup beds on the factory floor, posing a threat for bedliner suppliers. For instance, Ford Motor Co will introduce a spray-on as a factory option for its 2009 Super Duty pickups. Nissan is another pickup manufacturer that offers an original equipment spray-on bedliner. The demand for drop-in bedliners has outpaced that of spray-ons but the high cost of inventory will remain a stumbling block as technological advances render spray-on bedliners more practical for truck manufacturers, dealers, and buyers.

If bedliners are made a factory option or standard equipment, the size of the aftermarket could shrink dramatically. In order to become a factory supplier to truck manufacturers, bedliner companies must circumvent product quality challenges concerning chalking and fading as well as regulations. Excessive warranty claims arising from defective aftermarket product installation are a great concern for automakers. Weight must also be kept at a minimum to ensure maximum fuel economy. Bedliner suppliers must develop proprietary coatings that address these issues before automakers decide to install the part themselves.

"There has been increased competition against car and truck dealerships to capture vehicle accessory sales and spray-on applicators in the aftermarket have cut into sales of original equipment and aftermarket drop-in bedliners," explains the analyst. "Some applicators are even trying to spray pickups at the port, or railhead, before they are delivered to the dealership." The auto industry's initiative to adopt spray-on bedliners at the factory is a pointer to the importance of innovation for aftermarket suppliers to navigate the evolving market structures.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Method Details

2. Type of Enthusiast

3. Dealership/Retailer Accessory Channels

4. Accessory Investments

5. Information Sources for Accessories

6. Accessory Sequence

7. Details of Current Vehicle

8. Demographics

9. Customer Research Conclusions & Implications

10. Customer Research Appendices

11. Total Bedliner Market Size