In its annual July report, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) noted a few bright spots for car audio.
Rear view cameras should see a 30 percent hike in units from this year through 2018. Aftermarket rear view camera sales to dealers are expected to hit 480,000 units this year, climbing to 658,000 units in 2018, said the CEA. In dollars (wholesale) the category will bring in $62 million this year, rising to $70 million in 2018.
The average selling price of a backup camera is about $130 to $140 now and will drop to about $100 wholesale by 2018.
For in dash head units, the CEA says CarPlay and Android Auto may help boost aftermarket sales. Currently, the car audio aftermarket has narrowed to a core of mainly enthusiasts. But Apple and Google getting into the automotive OS market, might help the aftermarket attract more mainstream customers looking for an easy way to link their phone to the car.
“The conjunction of smartphones and vehicles represents the best hope the aftermarket has seen in many years and could whet consumer appetites for aftermarket solution,” said the CEA.
Below are total sales figures and predictions by the CEA for the automotive aftermarket including factory car audio.
