Global Automotive Composite Materials Market - 2024 - 2031

Report Overview

Global Automotive Composite Materials Market reached US$ 31.37 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 71.01 billion by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 10.75% during the forecast period 2024-2031.

Automotive composites are lightweight materials predominantly employed in trucks, cars, and other vehicles, mainly for applications under the hood and across the interiors. Composites are highly favored materials for reducing weight in automobiles, making them suitable for various interior and exterior uses in the automotive industry. The automotive sector has seen a surge in the use of composite materials in recent years, mostly attributed to their exceptional dimensional stability. Composites are desirable materials because to their specific features like shape retention, low coefficient of thermal expansion, corrosion resistance in both dry and wet circumstances, ease of production, and low weight to minimize overall vehicle mass.

The automobile composites industry has an indisputable promising future. Expecting advancements in technology and production techniques, composite materials can increasingly replace steel and aluminum as raw materials in many components. A virtual network of automotive composites producers and researchers has been established to efficiently carry out the research. Simultaneously, the virtual network will unite all industry professionals, in order to integrate all aspects of the automotive composites value chain and propel the industry and materials towards widespread acceptability.

Given the abundance of automakers in China, it is one of the major markets in the Asia Pacific region for automotive composites. China achieved the highest vehicle production in 2021 and has the distinction of accounting for over 50% of the global electric car sales, which amounted to 6.6 million, according to the IEA database. With its concentration of major global automakers, the Asia Pacific region has significant potential to dominate the automotive composite market.

Market Dynamics

Growth In The Demand For Lightweight And Fuel-Efficient Automobiles:

The automotive sector has increasingly prioritised the consideration of vehicle weight due to its direct influence on driving dynamics and fuel efficiency. Given the exorbitant price of possible lightweight solutions and the limited inclination of consumers to invest in weight reduction in the automotive industry, the use of expensive lightweight materials has thus far been restricted.

Governments globally are enforcing strict emission rules and intending to establish even more rigorous emissions requirements in the next years, thereby highlighting the growing significance of lightweight materials. Fiber accounting for 50% of the volume in a standard car contributes just 10% to the overall weight. Regulatory requirements in the United States require that the average fuel economy criterion must achieve a minimum of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

India, being a mileage-sensitive market, presents a lucrative opportunity for composites due to the increasing need for enhanced fuel efficiency in automobiles. This can be accomplished by the use of various composite compositions. While composites have the potential to generate significant economic output in the country, the expenses related to the research and development of these composites in automobiles can hinder market growth.

Given the fast rise in demand for lightweight automobiles in emerging nations, the carbon fiber composites market is expected to experience significant growth.

High Costs and Recycling Challenges: Key Restraints in the Automotive Composites Industry:

The use of composites has been exponentially increasing in the production of diverse vehicle components including exterior, interior, chassis, and powertrain. Still, the exorbitant expenses associated with processing and manufacturing restrict the application of composites. Thus, it is imperative to employ certain instruments to precisely ascertain the expenses in the initial phases to minimize the total cost linked to it. Despite the increasing need for durable and lightweight goods, the exorbitant price of composites is constraining the automotive composite industry. Given the exorbitant price of composites, end consumers strongly favor using conventional metal items.

Recyclability issues in the automobile composites industry are more complex and intricate than those faced in recycling metallic materials. One explanation for this is because the fiber reinforcement components are frequently connected to other components by means of metal fixing. The main challenge lies in the intricacy involved in dismantling, separating, and de-bonding from vehicular components for recycling purposes. Moreover, although the component can be isolated from one another, it is challenging to individually extract the constituent components from the composite. This is because composites consist of a combination of dissimilar materials and are not capable of being melted down and recycled. Therefore, the diverse recycling regulations governing the plastic and composites industry, together with their inefficient recycling technologies, are impeding the market.

Market Segment Analysis

The global Automotive Composite Materials Market is segmented based on fiber type, resin type, manufacturing process, application, vehicle type and region.

Based On The Fiber Type, Glass Fiber Composites Dominated The Market:

Glass fiber composites have extensive application in the automotive sector owing to their features including exceptional strength, stiffness, flexibility, and resistance to chemical damage. There has been a significant surge in the demand for lightweight materials in recent years to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Thanks to its lower cost compared to carbon and natural fibers, glass fiber composites find extensive application in the automobile sector.

Furthermore, automobile body components like engine hoods, storage tanks, and dashboards are produced utilizing natural fiber composites in order to minimize the reliance on other metals like steel and aluminum, and to encourage the usage and expansion of bio-based materials in the automotive sector.

In February 2020, SGL Carbon is set to unveil a novel composite battery container, motivated by the demand for adaptable chassis platforms. In addition to the carbon fiber battery housing, the company has also unveiled their leaf spring constructed from a glass fiber composite.

Profound shifts in the manufacturing of leisure cars had a beneficial effect on the sales of automotive composites. The decline in sales of automobile vehicles was accompanied by a significant increase in demand for lightweight vehicles, which in turn drove the sales of automotive composites. The increasing requirement for improved fuel efficiency and fashionable interior designs will drive the market demand for glass fiber composites.

Market Geographical Share

The Automotive Composite Materials Market In Asia Pacific Is Estimated To Account For The Largest Share:

Competitive advantage resulting from low raw material and production costs, coupled with consistent growth in car production, is expected to drive the expansion of the regional market.

Compliance with rigorous pollution standards in China, India, and Japan is anticipated to decrease the vehicle's weight, therefore facilitating fuel efficiency. Weight reduction in vehicles can be achieved by substituting heavy metal components with composites. Furthermore, government programmes such as "Make in India" is anticipated to enhance the expansion of the automotive sector in India, thereby stimulating the need for automotive composites in the next years.

Given the abundance of automakers in China, it is one of the major markets in the Asia Pacific region for automotive composites. In 2021, China achieved the highest production of vehicles and achieved the noteworthy milestone of accounting for over 50% of the global electric vehicle sales, which amounted to 6.6 million according to the IEA. Considering its status as the central location for major global automakers, Asia Pacific has significant potential to dominate the automotive composite market in the projected timeframe. The usage of lightweight materials to enhance fuel efficiency has compelled the incorporation of composites in automotive applications, thereby stimulating the demand for these products in the region.

Russia-Ukraine War Impact Analysis

The prolonged conflict between Russia and Ukraine has significantly affected the global automotive composite materials industry, specifically by affecting the supply chain and the pricing of raw materials. Owing to Russia's substantial position as a major supplier of essential raw materials like aluminum and titanium, the continuing conflict has led to interruptions in supply routes and consequent price hikes. Nevertheless, the automotive composite sector in the Asia Pacific region, namely in China and India, remains strong. Due to its cost-effective raw materials and production infrastructure, together with its growing automotive sector, the region has a distinct advantage that has allowed it to mitigate some of these global shocks. Aside from China's prevailing position in electric vehicle production, the "Make in India" initiative enhances the region's ability to exert substantial influence in the global market.

Moreover, the enforcement of stringent pollution rules in China, India, and Japan is accelerating the adoption of lightweight composite materials to enhance automobile fuel efficiency, hence boosting the market for these materials despite geopolitical challenges. The Asia Pacific area, hosting several manufacturers and accounting for over 50% of global electric vehicle sales in 2021, is continuously and effectively leveraging its status as a prominent manufacturing hub. The enduring demand, driven by regulatory limitations and the highly developed industrial infrastructure in the region, ensures the durability of the automotive composite materials industry, even in the face of external disturbances resulting from the ongoing conflict.

By Fiber Type

Glass Fiber

Carbon Fiber

Others

By Resin Type

Thermoset

Thermoplastic

By Manufacturing Process

Compression Molding

Injection Molding

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)

Others

By Application

Exterior

Interior

Powertrain & Chassis

Battery Enclosures

By Vehicle Type

Non-electric

Electric

By Region

North America

US

Canada

Mexico

Europe

Germany

UK

France

Italy

Russia

Rest of Europe

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of South America

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

Australia

Rest of Asia-Pacific

Middle East and Africa

Key Developments

In February 2023, Toray Industries Inc. pioneered a quick integration molding method specifically designed for mobility components made from Carbon Reinforced Fiber Plastic (CRFP). This innovation will facilitate the molding of CFRP mobility components more efficiently and rapidly than the conventional molding setup.

In February 2022, Teijin Automotive Technologies, the primary entity responsible for the automotive composites division of the Teijin Group, initiated the building of two new facilities and one factory in China. This initiative aims to address the increasing need for composites resulting from the expanding electric vehicles industry.

In February 2022, Teijin Limited formed a cooperative venture with Fuji Design Co. Ltd., a Japanese producer of recycled carbon fibers, to provide, market, and manufacture carbon fiber reinforced products (CFRP) made from recycled carbon fiber.

Market Competitive Landscape

The major global players in the market include Toray Industries Inc., SGL Carbon, Teijin Limited, Mitsubishi Chemical Holding Corporation, Hexcel Corporation, Owen Cornings, Solvay SA, Gurit, UFP Technologies Ltd., Huntsman Corporation, and Hexion

Why Purchase the Report?

To visualize the global Automotive Composite Materials Market segmentation based on fiber type, resin type, manufacturing process, application, vehicle type and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.

Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.

Excel data sheet with numerous data points of the Automotive Composite Materials Market with all segments.

PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.

Product mapping available as Excel consisting of key products of all the major players.

The global Automotive Composite Materials Market report would provide approximately 86 tables, 85 figures, and 224 pages.

Target Audience 2024

Manufacturers/ Buyers

Industry Investors/Investment Bankers

Research Professionals

Emerging Companies