2019 Market Trends Series: Another Transformational Year for the Automotive Market

In this installment of “2019 Market Trends: What’s Next for Plastics?”, our Automotive Market Manager, Matt Zessin, discusses lightweighting, electric and autonomous vehicles, and ride sharing. Here is what Matt had to say about the ever-transforming automotive market:

“We expect 2019 to be another transformational year in the automotive world. In 2018, everything we predicted came to fruition. The automotive industry continued its push towards lightweighting technology by using different types of plastics and designing slimmer parts. The growing use of plastics in automotive design shows no sign of slowing down, despite Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards becoming less stringent in 2018. This lightweighting trend will continue to be important in 2019 not only for traditional, fuel-driven vehicles, but also electric and autonomous vehicles as OEMs such as Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have moved to decrease the production of smaller cars in favor of larger vehicles over the next couple years. In order to maintain fuel efficiency, the amount of plastic used in these larger automobiles will need to increase, replacing heavier metal parts to decrease the overall weight of the vehicle. The more weight that is removed from a vehicle, the further it can travel on a single tank or charge.

As in 2018, we are seeing continued investments in autonomous vehicles, not only from OEM’s but also from rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft. This technology is highly anticipated as it will not only transform the interior, exterior, and under-the-hood applications of a vehicle but also, most importantly, the drivers’ and riders’ experience.

We expect that ride-sharing will continue to be a popular mode of transportation in 2019, which will require OEM’s to consider new materials to use in the interior of vehicles. The reason? Automobiles used for ride-sharing purposes are driven more frequently, allowing for less idling time. These vehicles will demand materials that are more durable than what has been used in the past. We look forward to seeing these advancements unfold and being a part of the development of the future of the automobile through application development and technological advances.”

 – Authored by Matt Zessin, Market Manager, Automotive

In our next installment of the 2019 Market Trend Series, we will hear from M. Holland’s Market Manager for Film & Flexible Packaging, Frank LaRocque. Stay tuned and check back in for more, including market outlooks from our wire and cable, rotational molding, and color and compounding market managers.

What are you most excited about for plastics and the automotive market in 2019? Let us know on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Don’t forget to check back in for future and previously published market insights:

• 3D Printing
• Healthcare
• Automotive
• Film and Flexible Packaging
• Wire and Cable
• Rotational Molding and Color Compounding

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