Lightweight Automotive Materials in North America

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Lightweight Automotive Materials in North America
One-Stop Shop for Business Information
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Summary
North American demand to exceed 30 billion in
2018 Demand for lightweight automotive materials
in the North American (NA) light vehicle market
is anticipated to reach 22 billion pounds in
2018, valued at more than 30 billion. Advances
will significantly outpace gains in automotive
materials overall, with regulatory pressure being
the major force propelling growth. The current
race to lighten the automobile is largely being
driven by the increasingly strict fuel economy
standards being adopted throughout North America.
In August 2012, the US issued new corporate
average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for model
year 2017- 2025 light-duty vehicles, with a
nominal requirement of 54.5 miles per gallon by
2025. Canada and Mexico have previously
implemented standards aligned with US CAFE
requirements, and are expected to do so going
forward, as they seek to establish continent-wide
regulations to ensure that their respective
automotive industries remain competitive.
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Lightweighting key to reach standards Lightweighti
ng represents a key strategy employed by
automakers to comply with North Americas
footprint-based fuel economy standards. By 2018,
total light vehicle weight is projected to fall
to roughly 3,700 pounds from about 3,900 pounds
per unit in 2013. Declines are expected to
accelerate over the longer term, as the decline
in average vehicle curb weight will coincide with
the rising use of lightweight materials. These
materials will expand their share of automotive
material demand to 45 percent in 2023, up from
just 20 percent in 2003. Exterior/structural
segment to exhibit best growth Among
applications, the best growth prospects are
forecast for the exterior and structural segment,
propelled by the ongoing development of
lightweight materials suitable for use in
structural applications and the substantial
weight savings such materials can provide.
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In fact, this sector will account for nearly 75
percent of overall vehicle weight savings through
2023, with body and frame applications alone
accounting for about half of average vehicle
weight reduction levels. Interior applications
are relatively mature and will see only limited
growth going forward, as plastics have long been
utilized in interior components, thus restricting
opportunities for further weight
reduction. Aluminum, high-strength steel lead
materials demand Materials suppliers will
increasingly collaborate with automakers to
engineer lightweight components in an effort to
achieve significant weight reduction without
sacrificing strength, safety, and durability.
Aluminum and high-strength steel represent the
primary lightweight materials employed in this
market.
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Aluminum will enjoy rapid growth in exterior and
structural applications, as automakers explore
the adoption of this material in place of steel
for body components such as closures and panels. 
High-strength steel is predicted to offer the
best opportunities for growth based on its
relatively low cost and the ongoing development
of new grades that provide a combination of
exceptional strength and formability, which will
make it the material of choice for structure and
frame applications. Engineering plastics will
remain the leading polymer type through the
forecast period, having successfully supplanted
metals in many applications based on advantages
such as enhanced design freedom. Demand for
highperformance composites will rise rapidly from
a small base due to their substantial weight
savings potential, though high cost will remain
an obstacle to growth.
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Study coverage This Freedonia industry study,
Lightweight Automotive Materials in North
America, offers historical data (2003, 2008,
2013) plus forecasts (2018, 2023) for materials
demand by product, application and country. The
study also considers market environment factors,
evaluates company market share and profiles 43
competitors.
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Table Of Content

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• MARKET ENVIRONMENT
• OVERVIEW
• METALS
•  POLYMERS COMPOSITES
• APPLICATIONS
• INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

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