Domestic technical textiles Industry Segment-wise consumption of ...

Helmets market - Domestic
usage
Quantity
2007-08 2012-13
16.7 million
nos.
27.6 million
nos.
Value Rs 250 crore Rs 759 crore
Source: Industry survey, IMaCS Analysis
The helmet market in India is estimated as Rs. 250 crore in 2007-08. By 2012-13, the average price of
a branded helmet is expected to increase from Rs 300 at present to around Rs 500. Thus, the total
market size is expected to increase to around Rs 759 crore by 2012-13.
Key players manufacturing helmets
The size of the helmets industry in India was only around Rs 50 crore in 1997. The market was
pegged at around Rs 100 crore in 2003-04 by the industry experts, of which only 20% was organised.
The existing capacity of helmet manufacturers in India is around 18 million helmets per year. Of
these, the 28 large players (BIS certified) account for around 50% of the market. The existing market
of helmets is estimated as 16.7 million units and Rs 250 crore approx. The sharp increase in the
helmets market size has been due to regulations forcing use of helmets.
Consumers are shifting from low end to high end helmets. Therefore, various international players
like KBC (price range from Rs 3,600 to Rs 11,500) and Sparx (price range from Rs. 3,600 to 5,600)
are launching their helmets in India. The famous Indian brands of helmets are Spark, Wrangler,
Steelbird etc.
Quality Control and Standards
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has made quality control mandatory for all helmets across
India, although non-BIS-approved helmets are also available in the market. Now, all helmets sold
across India are required to have an ISI mark — IS: 4151 — to meet BIS standards.
Certain internationally followed standards are:
• Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) is one of four regional economic commissions set up by
the United Nations and not limited to the EU.
• The Federal Government’s Department of Transportation (DOT) sets minimum standards that all
helmets sold for motorcycling must meet. The standard, developed in 1974, is the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 218, but is commonly known as the DOT standard.
• The Snell Memorial Foundation was founded in 1957 for William “Pete” Snell after he died from
massive head trauma he sustained in a race car accident. It is a non-profit organization that is