Brake Pad Industry Embraces Technological Transformation: Environmental Protection And Intelligence Become Mainstream, With Companies Like Ninebot Accelerating Breakthroughs
With the continuous growth of vehicle ownership and the rising penetration rate of new energy vehicles (NEVs), the brake pad market- a core safety component sector- is experiencing a dual boom in technological iteration and scale expansion. Industry data shows that the scale of China's brake pad market reached 45 billion yuan in 2025 and is expected to exceed 65 billion yuan by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) maintained between 8% and 10%. Environmental friendliness, intelligence, and high-endization have become the core drivers of this growth.
Technological Innovation Makes Breakthroughs in Multiple Areas, with New Materials and Intelligent Systems as Focus
In the field of material innovation, ceramic matrix composites are rapidly replacing traditional semi-metallic materials. Data indicates that the market share of ceramic brake pads is increasing by 3 percentage points annually, and is expected to exceed 25% in 2025. Leveraging advantages such as high-temperature resistance, low noise, and low dust, these materials are particularly suitable for NEVs. Due to NEVs' heavier weight and reliance on regenerative braking systems, they have higher requirements for brake pads' resistance to thermal fading and stability- driving a 12.3% annual growth in demand for NEV-specific brake pads.
Meanwhile, low-dust brake pads have emerged as a policy-driven growth segment. In 2024, the output of this category increased by 24.7% year-on-year, and the market scale is expected to reach 3.5 billion yuan in 2025.
Intelligent upgrading is also remarkable. The implementation of the new national standard GB/T 17469-2023 Performance Requirements for Automobile Brake Pads has improved key indicators such as friction coefficient stability by over 15%, while accelerating the popularization of intelligent monitoring technology. Brake pads equipped with wear sensors are expected to account for 12% of the market in 2025; by connecting with vehicle systems to provide fault early warnings, they significantly enhance driving safety.
In the two-wheeler sector, Ninebot recently launched its CBS (Combined Braking System), which has become a technical benchmark. Its "single caliper, 3-piston, dual-oil-circuit" design intelligently distributes 70% of braking force to the front wheel, shortening the braking distance by 15% at a speed of 30 km/h. On wet roads, the braking distance is reduced from 4.8 meters to 4.1 meters, and the temperature remains 20℃ lower after continuous braking.
Market Pattern Undergoes Changes, Driven by Demand Upgrading and Channel Innovation
Structural changes on the demand side are reshaping the market landscape. The after-sales replacement market has accounted for 55% of the share, surpassing the OE (Original Equipment) supporting market. NEVs and consumption upgrading are the core growth drivers: East China contributes 36% of consumption due to its high vehicle ownership, while South China leads the country with a 9.4% growth rate.
Consumer awareness has also undergone a profound shift: 65% of car owners prioritize brand when purchasing brake pads, with price sensitivity dropping to the third place. The share of online procurement channels has risen from 18% in 2020 to 34% in 2024, and platforms like Tmall Auto Maintenance now offer 12-hour express delivery.
Industry concentration continues to increase, as leading enterprises build advantages through intelligent production. After launching new intelligent production lines, leading companies such as Gold 麒麟 (Golden Kylin) and Xinyi have achieved a product qualification rate of over 99.2%, with R&D investment intensity expected to exceed 4.5%. Innovative enterprises like Ninebot are seizing market share through differentiated strategies: their CBS system costs only 1/3 of ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) but covers 80% of safety needs for daily commuting. Equipped with OTA (Over-the-Air) upgrade capabilities, it has become a cost-effective choice for mid-range models.
Challenges and Opportunities Coexist; Policies and Technology Lay the Foundation for Development
Despite broad prospects, the industry faces multiple challenges: fluctuations in raw material prices push up production costs (with 60% reliance on imports for special materials like graphite), and the implementation of the new national standard will eliminate 20% of outdated production capacity, putting pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises to transform.
However, policy dividends and technological breakthroughs have injected confidence into the industry. The "dual carbon" goal (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality) has increased the usage rate of water-based binders from 15% to 30%, while the industrialization of nano-modified materials is expected to shorten braking distances by an additional 8% to 10%.
Industry experts point out that the next five years will be a "quality and efficiency improvement period" for the brake pad industry. Enterprises need to focus on three key areas:
Deepening customized R&D for NEV models to adapt to the characteristics of different power systems;
Accelerating the collaborative innovation of intelligent technology and environmentally friendly materials to build a full-chain safety system covering "sensing, braking, and early warning";
Optimizing the integrated online-offline service network to meet consumers' dual demands for quality and efficiency.
With technological iteration and market maturation, China's brake pad industry is undergoing a comprehensive transformation from "scale expansion" to "value enhancement".
