Automotive Composites Market Overview
The automotive composites market size is forecast to reach US$9.6 Billion by 2026, after growing at a CAGR of 12.4% during 2021-2026. Composites provide weight and structural advantages, thus have been used extensively in a range of internal and external automotive components. To reduce carbon emission and vehicular weight, various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly using automotive composites. Increasing usage of polymer matrix provides numerous benefits to the automotive sector, including fewer painting procedures, less material scrap, safer working conditions, zero-solvent emissions, and improved recyclability, thus, driving the market growth. Compression and resin transfer molding, vacuum infusion, and resin infusion processes are cost-effective, providing high-grade and high-strength automotive composite parts. Furthermore, the rising government R&D investments for the production of lightweight material is anticipated to create opportunities for the growth of the automotive composites industry in the forecast period.
COVID-19 Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic has harmed the automotive composites market, with the imposed lockdown and social distancing norms set by the government worldwide. The halt hindered the growth of the automotive composites market in production due to the shutdown of manufacturing plants, delayed projects, reduced automotive sales globally, and disturbed supply chain. Thus, due to the implementation of lockdown in various countries, the automobile manufacturers faced several challenges, which have played a significant role in the automotive composites market turn down. However, the market is estimated to recover in the projected period (2021-2026), with the growing production and demand for automotive in various regions.
Report Coverage
The report: "Automotive Composites Market – Forecast (2021-2026)" by IndustryARC covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the automotive composites market.
By Fiber Type: Carbon Fiber, Glass Fiber, Aramid Fiber, and Others.
By Matrix: Metal Matrix, Polymer Matrix (Thermoset and Thermoplastic), Ceramic Matrix.
By Manufacturing Process: Compression Molding, Injection Molding, Resin Transfer Molding, Filament Winding, and Others.
By Application: Structural Assembly, Powertrain Component, Chassis, Interior, Exterior, and Others.
By Vehicle Type: Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles, Heavy Commercial Vehicle, and Others.
By Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Belgium, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Rest of APAC), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Rest of South America), Rest of the World (the Middle East, and Africa).
Key Takeaways
- Europe dominates the automotive composites market owing to the rising growth and increasing investments in the automotive industry. For instance, according to European Commission, the European Union is amongst the world's biggest producers of motor vehicles, with approximately investing Euro 57.4 billion annually.
- Increasing demand for lightweight vehicles for lower fuel consumption with an increase in production of automotive composites for its manufacture is estimated to drive the growth of the automotive composites market.
- The growing demand for electric vehicles in the automotive sector due to their lower cost and cutting of carbon emissions will be a critical factor driving the growth of the automotive composites market in the upcoming years.
- However, the higher cost of automotive composites compared to other alternatives in the market due to the expensive raw materials such as carbon fibers and thermoplastic resins can hinder the growth of the automotive composites market.
Figure: Europe Automotive Composites Market Revenue, 2020-2026 (US$ Billion)
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Automotive Composites Market Segment Analysis – By Fiber Type
Glass fiber held the largest share in the automotive composites market. Held in position by plastic polymer resin rigidly, many tiny glass fibers compiled together form the glass fiber reinforced composites (GFRP). Glass fibers are cheaper than carbon and aramid fibers. When high flexibility is required in an application, glass fiber is best suited, possessing a high breaking point than carbon fiber. Composites use glass fiber as a reinforcing element due to its superior flexibility, strength, stability, durability, lightweight, and resistance to heat, moisture, and temperature. Therefore, due to such alluring factors, the demand for glass fiber as a chosen material for automotive composites manufacturers is driving the growth of the automotive composites market in the forecast period.
Automotive Composites Market Segment Analysis – By Matrix
Polymer matrix held the largest share in the automotive composites market. The polymer matrix is developed to offer the automotive industry several benefits: reduced number of painting steps, reduced material scrap, safer worker conditions, zero-solvent emissions, and more excellent recyclability. Also, thermoset matrices are used to manufacture the primary structural parts due to their ease of processing. Moreover, since the emergence of thermoplastic 3D printing, thermoplastic composites are known for their ease of processing and sustainability. Thus, the qualitative properties of the polymer matrix will drive the market growth in the forecast period, which in turn will drive the development of the automotive composites market.
Automotive Composites Market Segment Analysis – By Manufacturing Process
Compression molding held the largest share in the automotive composites market. Compression molding and resin transfer molding are very cost-effective due to their simplicity compared to other techniques. Trim material is lost during the compression molding process, reducing waste by not using the tools needed by different production methods such as sprues or runners. Additionally, compression molding is ideal for manufacturing large and intricate automotive parts. Thus, this has made compression molding the largest segment in the manufacturing processes of automotive composites.
Automotive Composites Market Segment Analysis – By Application
The exterior application held the largest share in the automotive composites market after growing at a CAGR of 12.9%. Automotive Composites add to the durability of cars, lowering maintenance costs and ensuring a long lifecycle. Composite materials are used in the significant exterior components of a car body, such as frontend module, bumper beam, hood, fender, deck lid, door panels, and others. Increasing polymer matrix composite (PMC) and metal matrix composites (MMC) materials in the automotive exteriors provide less weight and fuel efficiency. Thus, the expanding usage of automotive composites in the exterior applications of the vehicles will raise the demand for the market.
Automotive Composites Market Segment Analysis – By Vehicle Type
The passenger cars segment held the largest share in the automotive composites market in 2020. Several OEMs, including Audi, BMW, Porsche, Renault, Fiat Chrysler, and Volkswagen, use composites in their high-end vehicles. For instance, for its Porsche GT3 Cup II model, Porsche manufactured an assembly carrier made up of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced composites). The rodeo concept developed by the German car manufacturer is based on the classic Porsche 911 safari rally car, a carbon fiber safari vehicle. Globally, with these leads taken by OEMs, the market of automotive composites is forecasted to be driven. Also, according to the International Trade Administration, in China, the domestic production of vehicles is expected to reach 35 million cars by 2025. By both annual sales and manufacturing output, China continues to be the world's largest vehicle market. Thus, with the increase in vehicle sales and manufacturing, the market growth of automotive composites is forecasted to rise.
Automotive Composites Market Segment Analysis – By Geography
Europe dominated the automotive composites market with a share of 28% in 2020 and is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period (2021-2026). In comparison to any other region, the automotive industry of Europe is one of the largest industries operating in the area. According to the European Commission, the European Union is amongst the world's biggest producers of motor vehicles. The sector represents the most significant private investor in research & development, with approximately Euro 57.4 (US$ ) billion annually. The turnover generated by European Union's auto industry represents 7% of the overall GDP. In addition, since composites are used to manufacture electric vehicles, to cut carbon emissions in the atmosphere by cutting fuel oil usage, electric vehicle production is motivated to rise. The European Automotive Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and the European Union Automotive Fuel Economy standard have fixed limits for carbon emission. For instance, the European Union Commission, by 2030, has imposed to raise the E.U.'s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target, from 40% to cut of 50 or 55%, in CO2 emission. Therefore, increasing lightweight electric vehicle and fuel efficiency requirements have increased the usage of automotive composites, thus, driving the market growth in the region.
Automotive Composites Market Drivers
Increase in Demand for Lightweight and Fuel-efficient Vehicles
The carbon emissions per kilometer can be reduced by using a less weighted vehicle for conventionally powered cars. Globally, as governments are imposing strict emission regulations and planning to regulate higher emissions standards in the years to come, lightweight construction is gaining importance each day. Typically, automobiles made with composites have 50% fiber, contributing only 10% to the weight. Therefore, in developing countries, the demand for lightweight vehicles is increasing rapidly, which in turn is increasing the demand for carbon fiber composites for its manufacture. Additionally, accelerating a light vehicle takes less energy in comparison to a heavy one; thus, according to the new CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, by 2025, in the United States, 54.5 miles per gallon must be met by the average fuel economy standard. Also, According to the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technology Office, to achieve a 6% to 8% improvement in fuel economy, 10 percent of the vehicular weight must be reduced. Thus, the increase in demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles is estimated to drive the growth of the automotive composites market.
Rapidly Rising Demand for Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are necessarily being introduced in the market due to their property to cut carbon emissions in the atmosphere. In the past few years, composite materials have raised vehicle development, enhancing durability, performance, design, light-weighting, and strength for physically large automotive parts by using vacuum infusion and resin infusion processes. For fast-evolving mobility, composites provide new benefits and applications to support the automotive industry. Integrating the battery pack housing in electric vehicles (E.V.s) and increment in the driving range of electric cars are some of the critical benefits of automotive composites. Composites make engines lighter by creating a virtuous circle. Moreover, the increasing production and sales of electric vehicles have raised the demand for automotive composites. For instance, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), in China, the sales of electric vehicles increased from 4.8% in 2019 to 5.7% in 2020. Thus, the rapidly rising demand for electric vehicles in various regions is estimated to drive the growth of the automotive composites market.
Automotive Composites Market Challenges
Low recyclability of composites
The heterogeneous hybrid structure of the composites makes it difficult to be recycled since separating the carbon fiber from the polymer resin envelops it without damaging its technical properties. The carbon fiber could remain broadly usable even if the life of polymer resin is exhausted. For the recovery, mechanical, thermal, and chemical methods are applied for the materials. Resins from a composite part have to undergo pyrolysis and solvolysis to reuse the fiber, but the operation is not economical. Thus, the low recyclability of automotive composites will create hurdles for the growth of the market.
High manufacturing cost of composites
Automotive composites are very expensive in comparison to other alternatives in the market. Acceptance of automotive composites has increased due to the strict emission regulations. The cost of raw materials such as carbon fibers and thermoplastic resins is high, making composites' processing and manufacturing costs also high. Struggle in acceptance persists in various countries, such as in the APAC and MEA regions. Due to the high manufacturing cost, the use of automotive composites becomes limited even after their multiple advantages over materials such as aluminum and steel. Thus, the high manufacturing cost of automotive composites will create hurdles for the growth of the market.
Automotive Composites Market Landscape
Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the automotive composites market. Major players in the automotive composites market are:
- Toho Tenax Co., Ltd.
- SGL Group, Toray Industries, Inc.
- Solvay S.A.
- Owens Corning
- Gurit
- Cytec Solvay Group
- Huntsman Corporation
- Ashland Global Holdings Inc.
- AOC
- BASF SE and others
Acquisitions/Technology Launches
- In February 2020, SGL Carbon launched a novel carbon fiber-based composite battery enclosure for flexible chassis platforms. A leaf spring made up of glass fiber composite was also revealed by the company.
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