Robust global growth of plastics in automotive sector driven by demand from Asia Pacific

24-Jun-15

In modern cars plastic constitute almost 50% of the total volume of the car but contribute only 10% of the total weight of cars which makes cars lighter and increase the overall fuel efficiency. Modern automotive plastic however have much broader application including passenger safety, passenger convenience and overall manufacturing cost reduction. Based on the technology, automobile plastic are broadly categorized as polypropylene polyurethanes (PU), poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), composites, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polycarbonates (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Among these, polypropylene (PP) holds majority of market share attributed to its wide acceptance in automotives industries, as per Persistence Market Research. It is followed by polyurethanes (PU) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Asia Pacific is the largest market for automotive plastic followed by Europe and North America. Higher concentrations of passenger vehicle manufacturing industries and growing demand of passenger cars, three-wheeler and two wheelers in China and some of the other countries of Asia Pacific such as India and Japan are contributing to the industry growth. Germany and Italy are the leading manufacturers of passenger vehicle in Europe whereas the U.S. accounts for single largest market in North America. The key drivers of automotive plastics markets are potential of automotive plastic in mass reduction of fuel consumption by reducing the overall weight of the vehicle, increasing prices of iron and steels and improved strength and durability of modern automotive plastic. The major factors restraining the growth of market are high material cost and increasing investment in plastics-alternative material research (such as carbon fibers) especially by automobile companies.