Wheelchairs Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)

Wheelchairs Market Overview

The Wheelchairs Market is forecast to reach $9.1 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period 2024-2030. The growth of the Wheelchairs Market can be attributed to increasing applications of Electric wheelchairs in homes, hospitals, rehab centers, sports and athletics, and others. The Wheelchairs Market is anticipated to rise with the adoption of new technologies such as AI in the manufacture of self-driving electric wheelchairs for airport passengers, sports, and other applications.

The electric wheelchair market is witnessing a surge in technological advancements, enhancing user experience and mobility. Customization options, such as adjustable seating and control features, are gaining popularity. Smart connectivity, lightweight designs, and sustainable solutions are key trends, catering to users' evolving needs. Improved battery technology, coupled with a focus on eco-friendly materials, contributes to the market's growth. As the global aging population expands, the demand for innovative, accessible, and connected electric wheelchairs continues to rise, driving the industry toward a more inclusive and advanced future. In the electric wheelchair market, a prominent trend is the integration of smart connectivity features. Electric wheelchairs are increasingly equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, mobile apps, and remote-control options, providing users with enhanced control and convenience. This evolution in technology not only improves user experience but also reflects a broader shift towards incorporating intelligent, connected solutions in assistive devices. As the demand for more accessible and user-friendly mobility solutions grows, smart connectivity remains a pivotal element shaping the future of electric wheelchairs.

Market Snapshot: 

Wheelchairs Market Report Coverage

The report: “Wheelchairs Market – Forecast (2024-2030)”, by IndustryARC covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Wheelchairs Market.
By Type: Electric Wheel Chair (Centre Wheel Drive Electric Wheel Chair, Front Wheel Drive Electric Wheel Chair, Standing Electric Wheel Chair, Rear Wheel Drive Electric Wheel Chair, Others), Non-Electric Wheel Chair
By End User: Hospitals, Rehab Centers, Home, Sports and Athletics, Others.
By Geography: North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Rest of World (RoW)

Key Takeaways

• The Wheelchairs Market is a consolidated market with the top 5 players accounting for a market share of 65.2% in 2023. 
• Center Wheel Drive Electric Wheel Chair is the fastest-growing type and has a major share in the market owing to the high adoption of these chairs in homes by disabled and old age people.
• Geographically, North America holds a major share owing to an increase in the advanced medical care facilities and healthcare expenditure
• The adoption of electric wheelchairs by patients suffering from spinal cord injury, physical disability people, and elderly population is set to drive the electric wheelchairs market.

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Wheelchairs Market Segment Analysis - By Type

The electric wheelchair market is gaining prominence owing to the high adoption of central wheel drive electric wheelchairs in homes, hospitals, and rehab centers. Centre Wheel Drive Electric Wheel Chair held a major share of 34% in 2023 of the global Wheelchairs Market and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 13.7% during 2024-2030. These electric wheelchairs position their wheeldrive directly below the user’s center of gravity and have small turning circumferences, providing better movement in indoor areas. Additionally, it offers six wheels that facilitate stability on uneven surfaces such as slopes, rugged terrains, and others. Movement of electric wheelchairs in small doorways and narrow spaces is much easier with a center-wheel drive electric wheelchair. 

Wheelchairs Market Segment Analysis - By End User

The Wheelchairs in-home application held a major share with 49% and is poised to grow at a CAGR of 11.8% during 2024-2030. The adoption of electric wheelchairs in home applications is increasing due to high usage by disabled people and the elderly population. According to United Nations Statistics, Globally, the proportion of people 65 and older is predicted to increase from 10% in 2023 to 16% in 2050. Also in 2023, women made up 55.7% of people 65 years of age or older worldwide. The growing elderly population and people with disabilities are set to increase the adoption of electric wheel wheelchairs, as these chairs are suitable to drive on an inclined plane, soft terrains, grass, or uneven gravel with less requirement of human effort when compared to manual wheel chairs.

Wheelchairs Market Segment Analysis - By Geography

North America holds a major share of 32% in the Wheelchairs Market and the usage of Electric wheelchairs has been increasing in hospitals and homes owing to a rise in advanced healthcare facilities. According to the Population Reference Bureau, it is predicted that the number of Americans 65 and older will climb by 47%, from 58 million in 2023 to 82 million in 2050, and that their proportion of the overall population will increase from 17% to 23%. Data from 2023 show that there are approximately 58 million adults in the United States who are 65 years of age or older, making up 17.3% of the total population. Advanced healthcare facilities and high adoption of electric wheelchairs by disabled and aged people in the U.S., Canada and Mexico are set to drive the demand for electric wheelchairs in the North American region. 

Wheelchairs Market Drivers

Enhancements in Technological Advancements

The adoption of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the manufacturing of electric wheelchairs has become a trend in recent years. The AI-integrated electric wheelchair combines an eye-tracking system and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology which is used to generate a 360-degree map of the user’s environment. The eye tracker in the wheelchair will input the eye moments to the AI and then the AI program defines the movement of the wheelchair and guide the chair to avoid obstacles. The adoption of AI by OEMs in the manufacturing of electric wheelchairs has been attracting customers and it is poised to drive the electric wheelchairs market.

Growing Demand for Advanced Electric Wheel Chairs from the Sports Industry

Electric wheelchairs are used in sports activities such as power wheelchair football, power wheelchair hockey and others. For instance, in 2023, those hosting Over 300 wheelchair basketball players from around the world, representing 16 men's and 12 women's teams, will gather in the United Arab Emirates for the showcase tournament, which will span twelve days of competition. In October 2023, the world's top inventor in daily wheelchairs and made-to-measure sports, RGK Wheelchairs, announced its cooperation with the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF). The wheelchair races at the 2022 London Marathon will be the richest in history owing to a $57,800 increase in the total prize fund. All these factors are contributing to the growth of the market.

Wheelchairs Market Challenges

High Cost of Electric Wheel Chairs

The high cost of electric wheelchairs with respect to manual wheelchairs is poised to pose a tough challenge to market growth, in developing economies where healthcare expenditures are prominently lower than the developed economies. But apart from the initial cost, there are other costs related to the maintenance of electric mobility aids such as battery maintenance, servicing, and others for uninterrupted operation. This impedes the adoption of electric wheelchairs.

Stringent Regulations and Standards

The increasing stringency on quality assurance of electric wheelchairs for uncompromised safety and operation is also analyzed to be a constraint to the market growth. The new entrants or new products so developed must be in compliance with the regulations such as before its introduction into the market. This poses a significant challenge for market growth as the new products must be in compliance with several safety regulations, thereby increasing its cost and hindering its adoption. 

Market Landscape

As of 2023, the market for the Wheel Chairs market was consolidated with the top 5 players accounting for 65.16% of the market share. Major players in the Electric Wheel wheelchair market include Invacare Corp, Sunrise Medical Corp, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, Hoveround Corp, and Permobil AB among others. Acquisitions of the companies and product development are the key strategies of the players in the Wheelchairs Market. 

Partnerships/Mergers/Acquisitions

• In January 2022, The Invacare Corporation launched the Invacare® AVIVA® STORM RXTM rear-wheel drive power wheelchair in a new, more compact model.
• In July 2022, A $14.8 million Series B funding round was secured by a Chinese business developing smart wheelchairs. An intelligent wheelchair by Bang Robotics. About 110 patents, including three foreign ones, have been obtained by the startup thus far.

Wheelchairs Market Research Scope: 

• The base year of the study is 2023, with forecasts done up to 2030. The study presents a thorough analysis of the competitive landscape, taking into account the market shares of the leading companies. These provide the key market participants with the necessary business intelligence and help them understand the future of the Wheelchairs Market. The assessment includes the forecast, an overview of the competitive structure, the market shares of the competitors, as well as the market trends, market demands, market drivers, market challenges, and product analysis. The market drivers and restraints have been assessed to fathom their impact over the forecast period. This report further identifies the key opportunities for growth while also detailing the key challenges and possible threats. The key areas of focus include the types of Wheelchairs Market, and their specific applications in hospitals, rehab centers, sports and athletics, homes, and airports.

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