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Last Updated: Apr 25, 2025 | Study Period: 2024-2030
Vehicle polymer materials including plastics are critical for the development and production of automobile parts. Compact polymers used in door panels, flooring, and mechanical components assist to improve fuel productivity and enable developers to produce intricate features that are robust, sturdy, and still appealing.
Automobile plastics and composites must fulfil performance standards for their intended purpose as well as OEM specifications (OEMs).Whereas polymers have already been used either externally and inside for decades, many vehicle manufacturers have recently turned to producing bioplastics and polymers.
Alternate solution powertrains, lightweight materials, pollution reduction, design flexibility, and intelligent transportation systems are only a few of the market's advancing innovations based on automobile plastic reinforcement.
Contemporary economically and environmentally considerations place a premium on the manufacturing of fuel-efficient vehicles in the automobile sector.
Other advantages of using plastics in vehicles include less corrosion, longer vehicle life, design flexibility liberation, significantly larger innovation capacity, support programs in integrating components, improved security, and higher confidence.
With each 10% reduction in vehicle weight reducing fuel consumption by 6 to 8%. Automotive manufacturers are currently adopting more modern plastic materials to decrease weight and improving automobiles more efficient engines based on current environmental and economic considerations.
Polymers have indeed been widely utilized in car claddings to enhance energy economy by making vehicles lighter and minimizing corrosion on metal surfaces caused by sodium and water.
To know more about Global Automotive Plastics Market, read our report
| S No | Overview of Development | Development Detailing | Region of Development | Possible Future Outcomes |
| 1 | TotalEnergies, Plastic Omnium to develop rPP for autos | TotalEnergies has entered a strategic partnership with France-based Plastic Omnium to design and develop plastic materials from recycled polypropylene (rPP) for automotive parts. The plastic materials will have a recycled component of 20-100pc, sourced from industrial and domestic waste streams | Europe | This would enhance better Technologies and production |
| Sr. No. | Timeline | Company | Updates |
| 1 | December 2021 | Biesterfeld | Biesterfeld strategically partnered with Solvay to distribute its range of composite materials such as prepregs, adhesive films, adhesives and primers that are predominantly used in aviation, automotive and other industrial applications in continental Europe |
| 2 | November 2020 | Porsche, Covestro and Borealis | Porsche and Circularise collaborated with Borealis, Covestro and Domo Chemicals to enable the traceability of plastics on blockchain and to ensure that the use of sustainable materials in Porsche cars can be proven. |
| 3 | May 2020 | Neste and Covestro | Neste and Covestro strategically cooperated in Europe to promote the use of sustainable raw materials in plastics production. Covestro were supplied with material from renewable sources to replace a significant portion of the fossil raw materials used to date in the manufacture of polycarbonates. |
| 4 | July 2019 | Jaguar Land Rover & BASF | Jaguar Land Rover partnered with BASF for plastic recycling technology. JLR is taking the plastic waste and recycling it into premium material for usage in future cars under ChemCycling Project. |
Numerous countries throughout the world have enacted rigorous automobile pollution and fuel economy rules. These rules have driven automakers to employ more lighter materials, including such plastics. Advanced polymers compounds improve a vehicle's fuel efficiency while also maintaining its quality and security. The usage of plastics decreases energy consumption in a car because very few heaviness requires less energy to accelerate.
Carbon emissions in passenger vehicles can be lowered by employing greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategies such as valve timing modification, turbocharging, aerodynamic design, and the incorporation of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell systems in automotive.The arrival of electric vehicles (EVs) has resulted in a technological breakthrough in the automobile sector. These cars outperform their internal - combustion engine equivalents in terms of reliability.
Increased protection of the environment, government protection and incentives, and OEM expenditures have prepared the path for EVs.Since EVs have low-power motors, lightweight materials are used to increase the engine's pulling capability. As a result, the growing demand for EVs presents an opportunity for the automobile plastics industry to expand.
Challenges have included a lack of knowledge among producers about the importance of recycling these polymers, as well as an inadequate infrastructure. Furthermore, from the perspective of a component manufacturer, there is indeed a lack of information about the recovery and recycling of particular plastic types utilised in composite structures.
Result of technological and budgetary constraints, the recycling of plastics and composites from sophisticated, long-lasting goods is limited.
The Europe Automotive Plastics Market can be segmented into following categories for further analysis.
| Sr. No. | Timeline | Company | Updates |
| 1 | January 2022 | BASF | BASF decided to build a new hexamethylene diamine (HMD) plant in Chalampé, France. The new plant is set to increase BASFâs annual HMD production capacity to 260,000 metric tons. |
| 2 | April 2021 | Solvay | Solvay introduced its new Amodel Supreme PPA line of high-performance polyphthalamide (PPA) compounds designed for demanding e-mobility and metal replacement applications. |
| 3 | April 2021 | BASF | Combining its expertise in engineering plastics and coatings to cathode materials, fuels and lubricants and more, BASF Automotive Solutions launched a virtual car in the form of an interactive tool which offers varied automotive solutions to help customers continue innovating and driving mobility industry forward. |
| 4 | July 2020 | Sculpteo | Sculpteo worked with the Forward AM division of its parent company BASF, to launch a new collection of high-performance 3D printing materials to be utilized in the automotive industry. |
| 5 | April 2019 | Solvay | Solvay launched specialty polymers for applications in sustainable mobility, energy and healthcare |
Plastics have increased the effectiveness, construction, and reliability of vehicles, and they are a significant contributing factor to light weighing, which allows for increased fuel economy and a lower environmental impact.As a result, the automotive plastics industry has evolved as an important commercial arena. Plastics are a major aspect in the construction and design of automotive vehicles, owing to stringent requirements, particularly in terms of fuel consumption.
Plastics give more design freedom than metals, in addition to reducing the bulk of automobile components.The Technology of integration presence in the plastics for automotive application is focused on multi varied level of usage of which polypropylene forms to play an integral part in the collaborative efforts.
Polypropylene is the most often used plastic in car manufacture. Because it is a thermoplastic polymer, it can be readily shaped into practically any configuration. It is chemically and thermally resistant, as well as impact high resistance. Given its track record, The users can find it in automobile bumpers, gas cans, as well as the carpet fibres of your car's internal floorboards.
It's also a less expensive alternative to more expensive polymers with comparable performance and toughness, which tends to drive down production costs.Polycarbonate, similar polypropylene, has become so impact resilient that it is commonly used for automobile bumpers and headlamp lenses.
This type of automobile plastic is very weather resistant, able to withstand circumstances ranging from wet weather to heat and cold. Polycarbonate is also lightweight; therefore it decreases the total weight of an automobile, improving both vehicle and fuel economy. ABS sheet is comparable to PVC in that the finished product has a smooth appearance. ABS plastic is commonly used for steering wheel covers and dashboards. It's also suitable for heavy-duty applications, thus it may be utilised to make automobile body pieces.
| Sr. No. | Timeline | Company | Sales |
| 1 | Q3-2021 | Arkema SA | Arkema SAâs Group sales were of â¬2.4 billion ($2.7B), up, at constant scope and currency, nearly 30% versus 2020 and approximately 17% versus 2019 while EBITDA was â¬474 million ($ 534M), up by a strong 54.4% compared to Q3â20. |
| 2 | Q3-2021 | BASF | At â¬19.7 billion ($ 22.2B), sales were 42% higher than in the prior-year quarter. This was largely attributable to higher prices in all segments, especially in Chemicals, Surface Technologies and Materials. The sales growth was also due to a significant increase in volumes in almost all segments. |
| 3 | Q3-2021 | Covestro AG | Covestro AGâs sales in the Performance Materials segment were up 52.2% to â¬2,186 million ($ 2.46B) in the third quarter of 2021 (previous year: â¬1,436 million ($ 1.61B)). Driven by higher prices for raw materials and energy and a still advantageous competitive situation, average selling prices increased sales by 57.6%. |
| 4 | Q3-2021 | Solvay | Solvayâs net sales in the third quarter of 2021 were $ 2.90 B, up +25% organically versus Q3 2020 and up by +6% organically compared to Q3 2019 reflecting continued strong demand in most of the markets including record sales in Specialty Polymers. |
The increased use of polymers in car exteriors has resulted in a paradigm change in auto body architecture. Plastics help manufacturers to cut manufacturing costs, promote modular assembly processes, and increase the aerodynamic qualities of automobile exteriors in addition to light weighting.
Plastics assist manufacturers in meeting Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) criteria and catering to market dynamics and purchasing patterns of consumers who desire ecologically friendly goods and enterprises.
BASF is a leading global developer of the automotive plastic market. It has been developing and integrating the Ultradur High Speed Metal replacement in the market as part of automotive plastics integrations.
The established panoramic roofing is built through into vehicle's overhead trim, known as the headlining, which is manufactured of the extremely light Polyurethane Elastoflex E 3943/134.
A structural bracket supports the physical sunroof aperture in the headliner. This is traditionally constructed of strong steel. A metallic substitution option is now employed with Ultradur High Speed.
Aside from its exceptional strength properties, the Engineered Plastic also has good mechanical qualities. Both firms worked closely together to test the Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) Ultradur Fast Speed in plastics frameworks for extended panoramic headliners.
The innovative and freshly designed pieces allow for weight savings of up to 60% as contrasted to other typical alternatives.
Borealis is a leading plastics and polymer integrator within the market of automotive plastics. It has been integrating the polyolefin plastic materials within the automotive implementations.
Polyolefin plastics are employed in a variety of external, internal, and under-the-hood functions. Bumpers, body panels, trimmings, consoles, door claddings, temperature control and cooling systems, intake air funnels, and rechargeable batteries boxes are examples of all these.
Borealis' proprietary solutions provide appropriate alternative solutions for traditional materials such as metal, rubber, and engineering polymers.
Polymer innovations from Borealis aid in lightweight construction and hence play an essential role in increasing energy efficiency.
One kilogramme (kg) of polypropylene can save eight kilos of carbon emissions during the life of an automobile use, such as a bumper (PP).
Borcycle grades using post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics address rising industrial and finished demand for high-quality materials that conserve natural resources. The use of PCR in conjunction with virgin material to generate high-end grades of consistent quality results in less resource wastage.
| Sl no | Topic |
| 1 | Market Segmentation |
| 2 | Scope of the report |
| 3 | Abbreviations |
| 4 | Research Methodology |
| 5 | Executive Summary |
| 6 | Introduction |
| 7 | Insights from Industry stakeholders |
| 8 | Cost breakdown of Product by sub-components and average profit margin |
| 9 | Disruptive innovation in the Industry |
| 10 | Technology trends in the Industry |
| 11 | Consumer trends in the industry |
| 12 | Recent Production Milestones |
| 13 | Component Manufacturing in US, EU and China |
| 14 | COVID-19 impact on overall market |
| 15 | COVID-19 impact on Production of components |
| 16 | COVID-19 impact on Point of sale |
| 17 | Market Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast by Geography, 2024-2030 |
| 18 | Market Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast by Product Type, 2024-2030 |
| 19 | Market Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast by Application, 2024-2030 |
| 20 | Market Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast by End use, 2024-2030 |
| 21 | Product installation rate by OEM, 2023 |
| 22 | Incline/Decline in Average B-2-B selling price in past 5 years |
| 23 | Competition from substitute products |
| 24 | Gross margin and average profitability of suppliers |
| 25 | New product development in past 12 months |
| 26 | M&A in past 12 months |
| 27 | Growth strategy of leading players |
| 28 | Market share of vendors, 2022 |
| 29 | Company Profiles |
| 30 | Unmet needs and opportunity for new suppliers |
| 31 | Conclusion |
| 32 | Appendix |
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