The global electric wheelchair market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 9.2% during the forecast period 2021-2027. One of the main factors people choose power wheelchairs over manual wheelchairs is the increased comfort and mobility solutions provided by them. The major factor that is augmenting the market is the large patient base requiring wheelchair due to several diseases such as spinal cord injury, polio, hepatitis C and so on. Besides, the increasing number of accidents causing permanent disability of legs, rising geriatric population is accompanied by decrease the functionality of organ systems resulting in dependency for day-to-day activities, are also the factors that are propelling the growth of the market. For instance, joint pain causes by arthritis limits leg and lower body mobility, resulting in locomotion restrictions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that the population above 60 years will almost double from 12% to 22% by 2050, across the globe.

On the contrary, the increasing adoption of prosthetics is one of the major factors hindering the growth of the market. Prosthetic technology has considerable scope due to new developments that are being introduced in the market which are reducing the need for a wheelchair. However, the treatment and implant cost of prosthetics is comparatively very high. Apart from it, less penetration of wheelchairs in emerging economies is also one of the major restraints of the market. As per Wheelchair Foundation, in developed economies, around 95% of people who require a wheelchair have access to it whereas it is only 10% in emerging economies. Around 110 million people in emerging economies don’t have access to a wheelchair. Government initiatives regarding disabled-friendly infrastructure at public places are going to be one of the major opportunities in the market as it would increase the ease to use of a wheelchair in public places

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Electric Wheelchair Market

The global electric wheelchair market is hit by the outbreak of COVID-19 since December 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the transportation and mobility industries. It had significantly affected the wheelchair supply chain. Due to strict lockdowns, wheelchair operations have been suspended in many countries. Leading to an increase in the number of elderly people being admitted to hospitals as a result of the COVID-19 infection, hospitals have seen consistent demand. The outbreak of COVID-19 has disrupted the supply chain of raw materials and product demand and shut down manufacturing units across the globe. The market will witness “V” shape recovery in near future owing to the restart of key industries in major economies. 

Segmental Outlook 

The global electric wheelchair market is segmented based on age group, drive systems, and end-user. Based on the age group, the market is bifurcated into adult power wheelchairs and pediatric power wheelchairs. Based on the drive systems, the market is segmented into front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and others. The others drive systems in the global electric wheelchair market include center wheel drive. Apart from it, based on the end-users, the market is segmented into home care, hospitals & clinics, and others. The others end-users include airports and railway stations. 

Global Electric Wheelchair Market Share by Drive System, 2020 (%)

Center wheel drive segment is projected to grow significantly in the global electric wheelchair market

The global electric wheelchair market is segmented into age group, drive system, and end-user. Among the drive system segment for the global electric wheelchair market, the center wheel drive segment is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period. The increasing adoption of center wheel drive electrical wheelchairs is responsible for the majority of this segment's development. These wheelchairs provide more benefits than manual wheelchairs, such as increased travel distance, reduced mobilization effort, and increased user independence in daily activities. Elderly and disabled people use electric wheelchairs owing to the difficulty in operating a manual wheelchair effectively. However, a few factors, such as high cost, larger size, high maintenance, and repair, have a negative effect on the growth of the electric wheelchair industry.

Regional Outlooks

The global electric wheelchair market is further segmented based on geography including North America (the US, and Canada), Europe (Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Others), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, and Others), and the Rest of the World (the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America). North America region holds the major share in the market and is expected to continue during the forecast period. The high purchasing power of electric wheelchairs and technology advancements are expected to drive the growth of the market in the region. The electric wheelchair industry has seen technical progress with the addition of devices that are fitted with control and accessibility gadgets.

Global Electric Wheelchair Market Growth, by Region 2021-2027

Asia-Pacific is projected to have considerable growth in the Global Electric Wheelchair market

Asia-pacific is projected to have significant growth during the forecast period. Major contributors to the market include China, India, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea. It is expected that the Asia-Pacific market will show the highest growth rate during the forecast period due to increasing healthcare spending, government funding to disabled people, and the increasing adoption of electric-powered wheelchairs in the region. Apart from it, increasing per capita health expenditure, increasing investment by manufacturers in the region to expand product portfolio, is fueling the growth of the market.

Market Players Outlook

The key players of the global electric wheelchair market include 21st Century Scientific, Inc., GF Health Products, Inc., Hoveround Corp., Invacare Corp., Ottobock SE & Co KGaA, Etac AB, Permobil AB, Pride Mobility Products Corp., Product Design Group, Inc., and Sunrise Medical Ltd, among others.  The market players are considerably contributing to the market growth by the adoption of various strategies including mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, funding, and new product launches, to stay competitive in the market. For instance, in January 2021, Etac AB has launched Etac Cross 6 most adjustable wheelchair for better sitting and changing needs. Etac Cross 6 has been built for the most demanding welfare system across the globe, the Scandinavian. 

The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2020 and forecast to 2027.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global electric wheelchair market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.