Global Automotive Metal Market 2024-2030

AUTOMOTIVE METAL MARKET

INTRODUCTION

The automotive metal market majorly comprised steel manufacturers in past decade, but now with growing emphasis on light-weighting and vehicle electrification, aluminium suppliers have a much bigger opportunity on their hands. 

AUTOMOTIVE METALMARKET SEGMENTATION

AUTOMOTIVE METALMARKET DYNAMICS

AUTOMOTIVE METALMARKET RECENT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Ford has been involved in creation and usage of Natural Fibre reinforced Composites to reduce the Vehicular weight on gross levels. The Cellulose tree fibres and Rice hulls are being used to reinforce plastic and other requirements including wheat usage.

• 3M has been involved with development of Hollow glass microspheres which are known as the glass bubbles. These are engineering from water resistance and chemically stable glass requirements. The Composite has a weight reduction of up to 40 Percent.

• Tata Steel has launched an alternative for current flooring and sidewall material for buses and trailers. Coretinium is an optimized polypropylene honeycomb core used to lighten the weight of floors and sidewalls. Currently, it is used in the EU region for commercial vehicles.

• SABIC has been involved in Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composite bulkhead manufacturing. It is expected to have a 35% mass reduction compared to the existing metals. The bulkhead is made of UDMAX tape woven by Setex

• BASF, in partnership with Magna and Ford, developed a carbon-fibre composite grill opening reinforcement. It was used in the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang. The material is 24% lighter than the traditional metal. BASF’s Acrodur is a water-based, low-emission binder that strengthens the natural fibresto create a sustainable, stable, and lightweight solution for car roof frames. It was used in the Mercedes Benz E class

IMPACT OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON AUTOMOTIVE METAL MARKET

• World Auto Steel, world steel’s automotive group, completed a three-year programme in 2013 that delivers fully engineered, steel intensive designs for electric vehicles. Known as the Future Steel Vehicle (FSV), the project features steel body structure designs that reduce the mass of the body-in-weight to 188 kg and reduce total life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by almost 70%

• Electric vehicle growth will leading to changes in physical and functional requirements of BIW( body-in-white) impacting future vehicle design. The newly designed electric vehicle’s aluminium architecture comprises more than 70% aluminium, enabling significant weight reduction.

• The changes are also apparent in terms of riveting and bonding technology required to create a light, stiff body structure. In addition, aluminium is also required for battery modules, which is a combination of aluminium sheet and extrusions.Li-ion batteries to power BEVs and PHEVs (which will account for more than 75% of all plug-in EVs sold in 2019) are extremely heavy(7kg/kWh), so light-weighting is essential  and aluminium is a preferred choice for that

• Development of new high strength alloys and high crush alloys are important for crash management systems (a combination of bumper beams and crash boxes). Improved crash management is important for EVs due to different structural aspect of a vehicle compared to an internal combustion engine

• Tesla Model 3- The second most successful BEV model till date has aluminium in the cabling connecting the electric motor with the onboard battery pack. Aluminium cabling is lighter and less expensive than traditional materials used in cabling.

• The Model Y started production in 2020 shares ~75% of its parts with the Model 3 with a similar hybrid aluminium and steel body, which is in contrast to Model S and X, which have all-aluminium construction. The battery tray is also made of Aluminium-steel and the materials are bonded together using friction stir welding, adhesives, and mechanical fasteners

AUTOMOTIVE METALMARKET SIZE AND FORECAST

The global trend of light weight substitution will be major growth driver in automotive metal market size. The global automotive metal market size was estimated at $XX Billion in 2021 growing at --% CAGR till 2026.

AUTOMOTIVE METAL MARKET NEW LAUNCH

Eaton, the world's largest power management company, is increasing its 3D printing commitment by launching a new metal 3D printing programme through its Vehicle Group. The programme aims to increase the company's productivity while also reducing development timelines. The company's first metal 3D printer was placed in Kings Mountain, N.C., with plans to roll out polymer 3D printing across the board.

Consulting with GE Additive's AddWorks on how to use metal additive manufacturing in its aircraft operations was part of the agreement. Eaton has also looked into 3D printing sand moulds through a partnership with Bremen Castings, Inc. Airbus parts are already being 3D printed by the company.

Metal and polymer 3D printers are already in use within the Vehicle Group for tooling applications like poke-yokes and gauges. This latest statement demonstrates the company's continued commitment to the technology.

Eaton will use additive manufacturing to create fixtures, safety devices, robotic grippers for assembly and handling, and replacement components for equipment under its Vehicle Group. Eaton intends to employ 3D scanning to reverse engineer items that can then be improved using 3D printing techniques including topology optimization and part consolidation.

AUTOMOTIVE METAL MARKET NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

The Automotive Transportation Group (ATG) of the Aluminum Association has announced its 2022 Roadmap for Automotive Aluminum, which outlines short- mid and long-term R&D goals in support of automotive customers. The roadmap identifies and prioritises essential collaboration opportunities among aluminium suppliers, recyclers, automakers, policymakers, non-governmental organisations, and other industry players in order to stimulate innovation over the next decade.

The automobile industry is undergoing tectonic transformations in design, propulsion, materials, and manufacturability, ranging from electric vehicles and linked cars to autonomous technologies and supplier sustainability. To fulfil the demands of the market, the aluminium sector is preparing to release the most advanced automobile alloys and product designs ever created.

This technology roadmap outlines where the firm is now, where we're going, and the particular pathways and objectives that will let automakers envisage cars and trucks that are much superior to anything on the road now to fulfil consumer needs in the next decade and beyond.

The Aluminum Association brought together industry stakeholders to define and solve present obstacles, agree on goals, and develop technical pathways to reach those goals in five important areas in an era of rapid electrification.

METAL MATERIAL IN TREND

The increasing usage of lightweight materials has been one of the largest changes in the automotive industry. A growing number of American automakers, including Ford, are employing lightweight metals to reduce the weight of their vehicles and, as a result, improve the fuel economy in order to comply with government pollution rules.

Aluminum is currently second to steel as the material that is utilized the most in the design of automobiles, according to this American Metals Market (AMM) article.

AMM claims that the usage of aluminum is expanding because it is a quick, safe, eco-friendly, and economical option to enhance performance, increase fuel economy, and lower emissions. Important aluminum suppliers like Alcoa have benefited from this development and anticipate further expansion on a worldwide basis.

Metals specialists believe that magnesium alloys will eventually play a role in the development of lightweight automobiles, despite the fact that they haven't garnered nearly as much attention as aluminum.

When using aluminum instead of steel, one experiences a weight reduction of about 40%. A comparative weight reduction greater than aluminum is achieved when using magnesium alloys in place of aluminum.

AUTOMOTIVE METALMARKET COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

The Key players in the Automotive Metal and Light Weight Metals include Covestro AG (Germany), LyondellBasell Industries Holdings BV (Netherlands), Toray Industries Inc. (Japan), ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg), Thyssenkrupp AG (Germany), Novelis Inc. (US), Tata Steel (India), Jindal Steel(India) and the Alcoa Corporation (US).

With the development on a new R&D facility being implemented under AK Steel Holding Corporation, it has been determined and developed to focus on the aspects of new alloy combinations.

There has been extensive research being planned to have a proper source of lightweight metal progression and innovation which would satisfy the requirements down the lane to almost 15 years of production line manufacturing operations and consumer requirements.

Constellium- a leading European aluminium supplier derives ~25% of its annual sales from auto industry and is supplying to BMW and Daimler. It has also launched two new automotive Structure’s facilities in 2019, located in Vigo, Spain, and Nanjing, China.

Novelis is actively targeting BEV market, it has developed a new aluminium sheet battery enclosure solution for BEVs. The enclosure made of highly formable aluminium alloys is up to 50% lighter than an equivalent steel design allows 6-7% extra range per full charge.

Among Asian suppliers, Tata Steel developed DP1000HY-GI, a high-yield, ultra-high strength steel in 2014 product which allowed manufacturers to make lighter components without altering their production facilities. In the same year, it also introduced a new suite of hot-rolled sheet steel products aimed at helping OEMs reduce the weight of undercarriage.

AUTOMOTIVE METALMARKET COMPANY PROFILES

1. Arcelor Mittal
2. Voestalpine Group
3. Thyssenkrupp AG
4. Tata Steel
5. JSW
6. Novelis Inc
7. Alcoa Corporation
8. Hyundai Steel Co., Ltd
9. China Steel Corporation
10. Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
11. Essar Steel
12. United States Steel Corporation