PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1888498
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1888498
An underground personnel carrier refers to a specialized vehicle designed to transport workers safely and efficiently within underground mining or tunneling environments. These carriers are engineered to operate in confined spaces, rough terrains, and low-ventilation areas, often featuring a compact design, robust construction, and safety-enhancing technologies to ensure reliable mobility under challenging conditions.
The main product types of underground personnel carriers include diesel underground personnel carriers, electric underground personnel carriers, and hybrid underground personnel carriers. Diesel underground personnel carriers are robust, fuel-powered transport vehicles designed to safely carry workers and equipment within underground environments such as mines and tunnels. These carriers are built to withstand harsh conditions, providing durability, reliability, and efficient performance while ensuring operator safety and comfort. The capacity types include less than 10 persons, 10-20 persons, and more than 20 persons. The key applications include mining, tunneling, construction, and others, and the key end-users comprise mining companies, construction companies, government and municipalities, and others.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The rapid escalation of U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are significantly impacting the mining sector, particularly in equipment procurement, export activity, and supply chain continuity. Higher duties on imported heavy machinery, drilling equipment, and specialized components have raised capital and operational costs for mining firms, delaying new project launches and limiting production efficiency. At the same time, retaliatory tariffs imposed by key trade partners have reduced export demand for U.S.-mined resources-especially critical minerals like lithium, copper, and rare earth elements-exacerbating revenue pressures. These dynamics are particularly challenging for mid-sized and specialty mining operators reliant on international markets. In response, the sector is increasingly investing in domestic equipment manufacturing partnerships, expanding recycling initiatives for strategic minerals, and advocating for trade exemptions to restore global competitiveness while ensuring long-term resource security.
The underground personnel carrier market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides underground personnel carrier market statistics, including underground personnel carrier industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a underground personnel carrier market share, detailed underground personnel carrier market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the underground personnel carrier industry. This underground personnel carrier market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The underground personnel carrier market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.39 billion in 2024 to $1.50 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing demand for underground mining operations, rising focus on worker safety and productivity, growing need for efficient personnel transportation in mines, increasing adoption of advanced mining equipment, rising investment in underground mining infrastructure, and expanding mining activities in developing countries.
The underground personnel carrier market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.04 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption of electric and battery-powered carriers, rising focus on sustainable and zero-emission mining solutions, growing demand for automation and remote-controlled equipment, increasing investment in underground mining projects, and rising emphasis on reducing worker fatigue and improving safety standards. Key trends in the forecast period include advancement in battery-electric underground carriers, innovation in autonomous and driverless personnel carriers, integration of IoT and telematics for real-time monitoring, advancement in ergonomic design for worker comfort, and innovation in lightweight and durable vehicle materials.
The increasing mining activities are expected to propel the growth of the underground personnel carrier market going forward. Mining activities refer to the exploration and extraction of minerals and other geological materials from the earth. The rise in mining activities due to increasing global demand for raw materials is driving more extraction operations to supply essential minerals and metals to industries. Underground personnel carriers support mining activities by safely and efficiently transporting workers within underground tunnels, reducing travel time, improving operational productivity, and enabling continuous mining operations. For instance, in October 2024, according to Gov.UK, a UK government online platform, the UK produced 93,243 tons of coal in 2023, of which 66,357 tons came from surface mines and 26,885 tons from underground mines. Therefore, increasing mining activities are driving the growth of the underground personnel carrier market.
Key companies operating in the underground personnel carrier market are focusing on developing advanced solutions, such as heavy-duty multipurpose utility vehicles, to enhance underground mining efficiency and worker safety. A multipurpose utility vehicle refers to a versatile underground transport solution designed to carry personnel, equipment, and materials while ensuring durability and performance in challenging mining environments. For instance, in July 2025, JA Engineering, a South Africa-based mining equipment manufacturer, partnered with Ferrit s.r.o., a Czech Republic-based engineering company, to launch a heavy-duty multipurpose utility vehicle for underground mining operations. This innovation improves underground logistics by providing a robust vehicle capable of performing multiple functions, including personnel transport, material handling, and equipment support, within confined underground conditions. Built with advanced safety systems, ergonomic design, and customizable configurations, it enhances operational flexibility and reliability. The new vehicle strengthens JA Engineering and Ferrit's product portfolio, helping mining companies improve productivity, ensure worker safety, and optimize underground transportation efficiency.
In July 2024, Komatsu America Corp., a US-based machinery company, acquired GHH Group GmbH for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Komatsu America Corp aims to expand its underground mining product portfolio, strengthen global production and service capabilities, and provide enhanced support and access to customers in key markets, thereby improving operational efficiency and delivering greater value across new and existing mining operations worldwide. GHH Group GmbH is a Germany-based company specializing in the design, manufacture, and service of underground mining, tunneling, and special civil engineering equipment, including loaders (LHDs).
Major players in the underground personnel carrier market are Caterpillar Incorporated, Komatsu Limited, Sandvik AB, Epiroc AB, Titan Machinery, Normet Group, MacLean Engineering Company, Resemin SA, Fambition Heavy Machinery, Brookville Equipment Corporation, Getman Corporation, Mine Master Limited, RDH Mining Equipment, Timberland Equipment Company, Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Total Equipment Services Incorporated, Jacon Technologies Pty Limited, Kovatera Incorporated, Classic Motors, and Tuoxing Machinery.
North America was the largest region in the underground personnel carrier market in 2024. The regions covered in underground personnel carrier report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The countries covered in the underground personnel carrier market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The underground personnel carrier market consists of sales of specialized underground transport vehicles, underground shuttle carriers, underground crew transporters, underground emergency response vehicles, and underground multi-purpose carriers. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Underground Personnel Carrier Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on underground personnel carrier market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for underground personnel carrier ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The underground personnel carrier market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.