Traditional Fuel Vehicle Electric Fan Product Introduction
A traditional fuel vehicle electric fan refers to the cooling electric fan and its assembly installed in internal combustion engine vehicles. This includes engine cooling fans, radiator/condenser integrated fan modules, etc., driven by a 12V/24V DC motor. Forced airflow is delivered through an impeller, working in conjunction with the radiator, water tank, and condenser to promptly dissipate heat from the engine and engine compartment, preventing overheating and ensuring the exhaust aftertreatment system operates within a suitable temperature range. Early heavy-duty commercial vehicles widely used crankshaft-driven mechanical fans or viscous fan clutches. Today, passenger vehicles have almost entirely transitioned to electronically controlled fans: low-end models mostly use brushed motors + relay switch control, while high-end models use PWM or LIN-controlled continuously variable fans (still serving fuel-powered powertrains) to adapt to the more refined thermal management requirements of small-displacement turbocharged engines, direct injection, start-stop systems, and China VI/China VII emission standards.
Traditional Fuel Vehicle Electric Fan Market Summary
According to the new market research report “Traditional Fuel Vehicle Electric Fan – China Market Share and Ranking, Overall Sales and Demand Forecast 2026-2032”, published by QYResearch, the China Traditional Fuel Vehicle Electric Fan market size is projected to reach USD 0.44 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of -6.61% during the forecast period.
Figure00001. China Traditional Fuel Vehicle Electric Fan Market Size (US$ Million), 2020-2031
Source: QYResearch, “Traditional Fuel Vehicle Electric Fan – China Market Share and Ranking, Overall Sales and Demand Forecast 2026-2032”
Figure00002. China Traditional Fuel Vehicle Electric Fan Top 13 Players Ranking and Market Share (Ranking is based on the revenue of 2024, continually updated)
Source: QYResearch, “Traditional Fuel Vehicle Electric Fan – China Market Share and Ranking, Overall Sales and Demand Forecast 2026-2032”
According to QYResearch Top Players Research Center, the China key manufacturers of Traditional Fuel Vehicle Electric Fan include Shanghai Ri Yong – Jea Gate Electric, Jiangsu Langxin Electric, Bosch, Brose, Jiangsu Chaoli Electric Manufacture, etc. In 2024, the top five players had a share approximately 61.78% in terms of revenue, the top 10 players had a share approximately 78.06% in terms of revenue.
Main Development Trends
In the Chinese market, the electric fan market for traditional fuel vehicles is experiencing a structural divergence: slowing domestic demand for fuel vehicles coupled with increased exports. On the one hand, while domestic passenger vehicle sales remain generally stable, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles exceeded 50% in 2024, leading to a continued decline in the proportion of fuel vehicles in new domestic sales. In the long term, the domestic installation of engine cooling fans for fuel vehicles will gradually peak. On the other hand, due to the rapid shift in domestic consumption patterns and policy towards NEVs, a large amount of fuel vehicle production capacity has been diverted to exports. Since 2020, fossil fuel vehicles have accounted for approximately three-quarters of China’s automobile exports. China is using fuel vehicle exports to fill the production capacity gap caused by declining domestic demand, which also means that the demand for electric fans related to engine cooling remains high in exported vehicles. Meanwhile, the market base is enormous—China remains the world’s largest automobile producer and consumer; coupled with the maintenance and replacement needs of existing gasoline-powered vehicles, electric fans will remain a substantial but moderately growing “cash cow + export extension” business in the Chinese market in the short to medium term.
Industry Chain Analysis
The upstream of traditional fuel vehicle electric fans mainly consists of raw materials and key components required for the motor and fan structure: including silicon steel sheets for the motor stator and rotor, copper enameled wire, ball/needle roller bearings, engineering plastics and aluminum alloy fan blades and shrouds, rubber vibration damping components, automotive-grade wiring harnesses and connectors, as well as (if brushless) NdFeB permanent magnets, MOSFET/IGBT power devices, and MCU/driver chips. The midstream consists of engine cooling fan assembly manufacturers, including international leaders and numerous domestic companies, responsible for motor design, blade fluid simulation, NVH optimization, protection levels and durability verification, and integrating the fan with the water tank, condenser, and oil cooler into a “cooling module” according to OEM requirements. The downstream consists mainly of OEMs of fuel-powered passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
Industry Policies
There are no independent regulations for electric fans in traditional fuel vehicles. Their development is deeply embedded in fuel consumption control, emission regulations, and climate/carbon neutrality goals: First, the “Evaluation Method and Indicators for Fuel Consumption of Passenger Cars” (GB 27999-2019) and subsequent phased Corporate Average Fuel Consumption (CAFC) standards set upper limits on fuel consumption per 100 kilometers and corporate average fuel consumption for each vehicle model, and incorporated “non-traction energy technologies” such as efficient cooling systems into the assessment through mechanisms such as “low fuel consumption models” and “energy-saving technology bonuses”; Second, the China VI a/China VI b emission standards and the China VII emission standards currently under development are continuously tightening emission limits for NOx, particulate matter, and N₂O, and requiring compliance with emission boundaries over a wider range of operating temperatures. This forces engines and after-treatment systems to rely more on fast-response, variable-speed electric fans for thermal management. Third, the “dual-credit policy” requires OEMs to simultaneously reduce costs and increase efficiency in both engine thermal efficiency and auxiliary load energy consumption by increasing the proportion of NEVs and reducing fuel consumption of gasoline vehicles. As a result, electric fans in traditional gasoline vehicles are also being upgraded from simple on/off types to PWM speed regulation and high-efficiency motors to reduce the drag on fuel consumption from electrical load. Fourth, China’s overall commitment to reaching carbon peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 has put long-term policy pressure on the automotive industry chain in terms of energy efficiency, carbon emissions and motor system efficiency. As an important component of the engine’s auxiliary electrical system, the cooling fan has actually been included in the “energy conservation and emission reduction technology package”.
Development Opportunities
Amid the narrative of declining market share for fuel-powered vehicles, traditional fuel vehicle electric fans still present several clear opportunities: First, the extended external demand from exported fuel-powered vehicles—as domestic demand for fuel-powered vehicles in China slows, a large number of these vehicles are being exported to markets in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. These models mostly use mature engine cooling architectures and still heavily rely on traditional electric fans or even mechanical fans, giving Chinese domestic fan manufacturers the opportunity to stabilize or even expand orders by “going global with the vehicles.” Second, the technological upgrades driven by China VI/VII emission standards and the shift to smaller displacement turbocharged engines—higher compression ratios and boost pressures increase exhaust temperatures and heat loads, requiring engine cooling systems with higher heat exchange capabilities and faster response times. This provides continuous upgrade potential for electric fans with larger airflow, higher efficiency, and lower noise. Third, the market for maintenance and quality upgrades of existing vehicles – China has a huge number of vehicles in operation, and a large number of National IV, National V and early National VI fuel vehicles will continue to operate on the road for the next few years. The demand for replacing cooling fan assemblies and motors will continue for many years, and some car owners and repair shops also have the desire to upgrade from low-end fans to more reliable and quieter products.
Challenges and Obstacles
Traditional fuel vehicle electric fans face several real challenges: First, the long-term cycle of fuel vehicles has peaked, and the domestic market is experiencing structural contraction—as the penetration rate of NEVs (new electric vehicles) increases and fuel vehicles become increasingly marginalized, the incremental demand for components for traditional fuel powertrains in China will significantly weaken. In the long run, the entire engine cooling system market will shift from “incremental growth + existing stock” to maintaining existing stock. Second, price pressure and product homogenization—engine cooling fans are a relatively mature component category, and OEMs are highly sensitive to costs. The low-end brushed fan market in China is highly competitive, with many small and medium-sized enterprises primarily competing on price, resulting in limited profit margins and a risk of falling into a vicious cycle of “price wars—quality problems—damaged brand image.” Third, the risk of fluctuations in key materials and chips—while traditional gasoline vehicle electric fans are less dependent on high-grade power devices and magnetic materials than high-end non-refreshing energy fans, the gradual upgrade to PWM speed control and EC fans still requires Class B automotive-grade chips and permanent magnets. If semiconductor or rare earth supplies become tight again, it will directly drive up costs or affect supply stability. Fourth, the technology path is being diverted to the new energy vehicle sector—automakers tend to prioritize the development of thermal management systems for new energy vehicles in terms of resources and R&D. This may slow down the iteration speed of cooling systems for traditional gasoline platforms, making it more difficult for some fan companies to obtain premiums through technological differentiation. Finally, as countries accelerate the timetable for proposing bans on the sale of gasoline vehicles, there is also policy uncertainty regarding long-term demand in overseas markets. Once major export destinations accelerate their shift to NEVs, the demand for related cooling fans for gasoline vehicles will face the risk of a “cliff-like” adjustment.
Industry Entry Barriers
From an entry barrier perspective, traditional fuel vehicle electric fans exhibit characteristics of “medium technical barriers, high certification barriers, and clear customer relationship lock-in”: Technically, the structure and control of low-end products are relatively mature, and companies with basic motor design and injection/stamping capabilities can produce them. However, to supply OEM platforms long-term, they must reach automotive-grade levels in electromagnetic design, aerodynamic efficiency, noise control, durability, and reliability. In terms of certification, suppliers need to pass quality system certifications such as IATF 16949 and complete the OEM’s stringent DV/PV testing, EMC verification, and road testing. A single platform typically takes 2-3 years or even longer from project initiation to SOP, with significant initial investment in prototypes and testing, and a long capital recovery period. At the customer level, OEMs often adopt a “few core suppliers +…” approach for key cooling modules. The “few alternatives” strategy favors companies with long-term supply records and global service networks. New entrants often have to start with low-risk, small-batch projects to gradually accumulate reputation and project experience. This path dependence itself constitutes an implicit barrier.
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