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

Car upholstery: Seat cover fabrics
Woven seat cover is one of the important contributors of technical textile in an automobile. With
gradual improvement in vehicle models and increased emphasis on luxury and comfort, the seat cover
market has witnessed uptrend in the market. Seat covers are made from cotton, vinyl, velvet and
leather.
Product characteristics
The fabric used for the manufacture of seat covers is woven on looms. The desired product
characteristics are durability, ultra-violet fade and wear resistance, water-proofing, flexibility and
stretchableness. The type of seat cover used varies based on the automobile model and desired styling
of the upholstery. The yarn required for the seat covers is in the range of 500 deniers to 1300 deniers.
Market dynamics and key growth drivers
The primary growth driver for seat cover fabrics is the sales of passenger cars, MUVs and SUVs
(explained in the beginning of the Mobiltech segment). The commercial vehicles (buses and trucks) as
well as two-wheelers use PVC / PU / resin for manufacturing seat covers.
Key manufacturers of seat covers
The major producers of seat covers include Faze Three Limited, Shamken Multifab and Bhilwara
Melba Limited. The production figures of the key producers of seat covers are as given below:-
Manufacturer Product Year Quantity
(million
meters)
Value
(Rs crore)
Unit Price
(Rs / meter)
Installed
capacity
(million meters)
Faze Three Made-ups 2006-07 1.77 117 Rs 403 3.0
Shamken Multifab Plush fabrics 2006-07 0.29 5.77 Rs 218 ~1.97
Source: Capitaline
Bharat Seats and Krishna Maruti Ltd are the major manufacturers of automotive seats. Bharat Seats
produces 3.18 lakh seats in 2007-08 with value of Rs 221 crore (for the seat including cover). In
addition to the large producers, a large number of small producers are also supplying to the Indian
market.
Consumption norms, market size and future forecast of seat covers