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.

Lightweighting key to reach standards

Lightweighting represents a key strategy employed by automakers to comply with North America’s 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, as automakers strive to meet 2025 standards.

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. 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. 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.

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.

Pricing on the website is provided for single users and 2-5 users licenses only. Please contact us at 400-009-0050 or send an email to report@sinomarketinsight.com to purchase multi-user licenses.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

     SECTION     PAGE

INTRODUCTION        x

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY        1

II. MARKET ENVIRONMENT        4
General        4
Macroeconomic Outlook        5
   United States        7
   Canada        8
   Mexico       10
Light Vehicle Outlook       12
   United States       14
   Canada       17
   Mexico       19
Automotive Industry Trends       20
   United States       22
   Canada       24
   Mexico       25
Environmental & Regulatory Issues       27
   Fuel Economy & Emissions Standards       27
   Recycling       30
Light Vehicle Weight Trends       32
Materials Technology       35
Competitive Fuel Economy Technologies       39
Pricing Trends       42
Foreign Trade & International Activity       45

III. OVERVIEW       49
General       49
Demand by Product       50
Demand by Country       53
   United States       55
   Canada       58
   Mexico       60

IV. METALS       63
General       63
Aluminum       66
   Engine & Mechanical       69
   Exterior & Structural       71
   Interior       75
   Producers       76
High-Strength Steel       78
   Exterior & Structural       81
   Engine & Mechanical       84
   Interior       86
   Producers       87
Other Metals       90
   Metal Powders       91
   Magnesium       95

V. POLYMERS & COMPOSITES      100
General      100
Applications      102
   Interior      102
   Engine & Mechanical      105
   Exterior & Structural      107
Products      109
   Engineering Plastics      112
      Nylon      115
      Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene      117
      Polycarbonate      119
      High-Temperature Resins      122
      Other Engineering Plastics      127
   Polypropylene      131
      Applications      132
      Producers      134
   Thermoplastic Elastomers      136
      Applications & Types      138
      Producers      141
   Polyurethanes      143
      Applications      144
      Producers      146
   Rubber      147
      Applications      149
      Producers      152
   Composites      153
      Conventional      155
      High Performance      157
   Other Polymers      162

VI. APPLICATIONS      165
General      165
Engine & Mechanical      168
   Powertrain      171
   Chassis      174
   Other Engine & Mechanical      177
Exterior & Structural      178
   Body Structure & Frame      181
   Body Panels & Trim      184
   Closures      187
   Other Exterior & Structural      189
Interior      191
   Seating      194
   Door Modules      196
   Instrument Panel      198
   Other Interior      200

VII. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE      202
General      202
Market Share      203
Mergers & Acquisitions      210
Competitive Strategies      213
Research & Development      214
Marketing & Distribution      217
Cooperative Agreements      219
Company Profiles      226
   Advanced Composites, see Mitsui Chemicals
   AK Steel Holding Corporation      227
   Alcoa Incorporated      231
   Aleris International Incorporated      234
   Amber Composites, see Royal Ten Cate
   ArcelorMittal SA      236
   BASF SE      241
   Bodine Aluminum, see Toyota Motor
   Chrysler Group, see Fiat
   Constellium, see Rio Tinto Group
   Cosma International, see Magna International
   Double Eagle Steel Coating, see United States Steel
   Dow Chemical Company      246
   DuPont (EI) de Nemours      250
   DuPont Teijin Films US, see DuPont (EI) de Nemours and Teijin
   Exxon Mobil Corporation      254
   Faurecia SA      256
   Fiat SpA      260
   Ford Motor Company      263
   General Motors Company      265
   GKN plc      269
   Hindalco Industries Limited      274
   Hoeganaes, see GKN
   Honda Motor Company Limited      277
   INEOS Group AG      280
   Johnson Controls Incorporated      286
   Kaiser Aluminum Corporation      290
   Kobe Steel Limited      292
   Kraton Performance Polymers Incorporated      295
   LANXESS AG      297
   Luxfer Holdings plc      301
   LyondellBasell Industries NV      304
   Magna International Incorporated      308
   Magneti Marelli, see Fiat
   Meridian Lightweight Technologies Incorporated      315
   Mitsui Chemicals Incorporated      317
   Momentive Performance Materials Holdings LLC      320
   NanoSteel, see General Motors
   Nichols Aluminum, see Aleris International
   Norsk Hydro ASA      325
   Novelis, see Hindalco Industries
   Plasan Carbon Composites Incorporated      330
   PolyOne Corporation      331
   PRO-TEC Coating, see Kobe Steel & United States Steel
   Rio Tinto Group      336
   Royal Ten Cate NV      341
   SABIC Innovative Plastics, see Saudi Basic Industries
   Sapa, see Norsk Hydro
   Saudi Basic Industries Corporation      345
   Solvay SA      349
   Styrolution Group, see BASF and INEOS Group
   Styron, see Trinseo
   Teijin Limited      353
   Teknor Apex Company      359
   Teksid, see Fiat
   Toho Tenax, see Teijin Films
   Toray Industries Incorporated      362
   Toyota Motor Corporation      366
   Trinseo SA      368
   United States Steel Corporation      371
   Washington Penn Plastic Company Incorporated      374
   Zoltek Companies, see Toray Industries

      LIST OF TABLES

    TABLE NUMBER     PAGE

SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Summary Table        3

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
1 North America: Macroeconomic Environment        6
2 United States: Macroeconomic Environment        8
3 Canada: Macroeconomic Environment       10
4 Mexico: Macroeconomic Environment       12
5 North America: Light Vehicle Overview       14
6 United States: Light Vehicle Overview       17
7 Canada: Light Vehicle Overview       18
8 Mexico: Light Vehicle Overview       20
9 Automotive Materials Demand in Light Vehicles       35
10 Lightweight Automotive Materials Pricing       45

SECTION III -- OVERVIEW
1 Lightweight Automotive Materials Demand by Product       52
2 North America: Lightweight Automotive Materials Demand
   by Country       54
3 United States: Lightweight Automotive Materials Demand
   by Product & Application       57
4 Canada: Lightweight Automotive Materials Demand
   by Product & Application       59
5 Mexico: Lightweight Automotive Materials Demand
   by Product & Application       62

SECTION IV -- METALS
1 Lightweight Automotive Metals Demand
   by Product & Country       65
2 Automotive Aluminum Demand by Application & Country       69
3 Engine & Mechanical Applications for Automotive Aluminum       71
4 Exterior & Structural Applications for Automotive Aluminum       75
5 Interior Applications for Automotive Aluminum       76
6 Automotive High-Strength Steel Demand
   by Application & Country       81
7 Exterior & Structural Applications for Automotive
   High-Strength Steel       84
8 Engine & Mechanical Applications for Automotive
   High-Strength Steel       86
9 Interior Applications for Automotive High-Strength Steel       87
10 Other Lightweight Automotive Metals Demand
   by Type, Application, & Country       91
11 Automotive Metal Powders Demand by Application       95
12 Automotive Magnesium Demand by Application       99

SECTION V -- POLYMERS & COMPOSITES
1 Automotive Polymers & Composites Demand
   by Application & Country      101
2 Interior Applications for Automotive Polymers & Composites      104
3 Engine & Mechanical Applications for Automotive
   Polymers & Composites      107
4 Exterior & Structural Applications for Automotive
   Polymers & Composites      109
5 Automotive Polymers & Composites Demand by Product      111
6 Automotive Engineering Plastics Demand by Type,
   Application, & Country      114
7 Automotive Nylon Demand by Application      117
8 Automotive Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Demand
   by Application      119
9 Automotive Polycarbonate Demand by Application      122
10 Automotive High-Temperature Resins Demand
   by Application      127
11 Other Automotive Engineering Plastics Demand
   by Application      130
12 Automotive Polypropylene Demand
   by Application & Country      132
13 Automotive Thermoplastic Elastomers Demand
   by Application & Country      138
14 Automotive Polyurethanes Demand by Application & Country      144
15 Automotive Rubber Demand by Application & Country      149
16 Automotive Composites Demand
   by Type, Application, & Country      155
17 Conventional Automotive Composites Demand
   by Application      157
18 High-Performance Automotive Composites Demand
   by Application      161
19 Other Automotive Polymers Demand
   by Application & Country      164

SECTION VI -- APPLICATIONS
1 Lightweight Automotive Materials Demand by Application      167
2 Lightweight Engine & Mechanical Automotive
   Materials Demand      170
3 Lightweight Powertrain Automotive Materials Demand      174
4 Lightweight Chassis Automotive Materials Demand      176
5 Other Lightweight Engine & Mechanical Automotive
   Materials Demand      178
6 Lightweight Exterior & Structural Automotive
   Materials Demand      180
7 Lightweight Body Structure & Frame Automotive
   Materials Demand      184
8 Lightweight Body Panels & Trim Automotive
   Materials Demand      186
9 Lightweight Closures Automotive Materials Demand      189
10 Other Lightweight Exterior & Structural Automotive
   Materials Demand      191
11 Lightweight Interior Automotive Materials Demand      193
12 Lightweight Seating Automotive Materials Demand      196
13 Lightweight Door Module Automotive Materials Demand      197
14 Lightweight Instrument Panel Automotive Materials Demand      199
15 Other Lightweight Interior Automotive Materials Demand      201

SECTION VII -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
1 North American Lightweight Automotive Materials Sales
   by Company, 2013      204
2 Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures      212
3 Selected Cooperative Agreements      222

      LIST OF CHARTS

    CHART NUMBER     PAGE

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
1 United States: Light Vehicle Production by Company, 2013       24
2 Canada: Light Vehicle Production by Company, 2013       25
3 Mexico: Light Vehicle Production by Company, 2013       27

SECTION III -- OVERVIEW
1 Lightweight Automotive Materials Demand by Product       53
2 North America: Lightweight Automotive Materials Demand
   by Country       54

SECTION IV -- METALS
1 Lightweight Automotive Metals Demand by Product, 2013       66

SECTION V -- POLYMERS & COMPOSITES
1 Automotive Polymers & Composites Demand
   by Product, 2013      112

SECTION VI -- APPLICATIONS
1 Growth in Demand for Lightweight Automotive Materials
   by Application, 2013-2023      168
2 Share of Lightweight Materials in Engine & Mechanical Applications, 2003-2023      171
3 Share of Lightweight Materials in Exterior & Structural
   Applications, 2003-2023      181
4 Share of Lightweight Materials in Interior Applications,
   2003-2023      194

SECTION VII -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
1 North American Lightweight Automotive Materials
   Market Share, 2013      206