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The automotive sector uses a wide range of materials in manufacturing. Metals such as aluminum and steel, advanced plastics, and other materials such as glass are used in most modern automobiles. The pricing of materials is a significant expense for automakers, and fluctuations in price may change profit margins.
Key Takeaways
- The automotive sector relies on key materials like aluminum, steel, plastics, and glass. These materials are essential for constructing different vehicle parts and contribute significantly to manufacturing costs.
- With evolving safety and fuel economy standards, there’s an increasing trend toward using aluminum over steel. Aluminum offers weight reduction benefits, which enhance fuel efficiency—a crucial factor given stringent fuel consumption standards.
- Nearly half of a vehicle’s manufacturing cost in 2015 was due to raw materials like steel and aluminum. Price fluctuations in these materials can significantly affect production costs and profit margins for automakers.
- Plastics, including advanced types like polycarbonate and polyurethane, are becoming more prevalent in vehicles. They help reduce vehicle weight and allow for more versatile designs, contributing to improved fuel efficiency.
- As demand grows for lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles, there are potential investment opportunities in companies that supply these key materials. Innovations in material technology may offer profitable investment prospects.
Evolution of Vehicle Materials
Vehicle composition is changing as a result of new safety and fuel economy standards. Cars and trucks are becoming lighter and increasingly made with aluminum as a substitute for steel. Aluminum demand is expected to continue increasing as advanced manufacturing methods make aluminum easier to weld and more competitive with the use of steel. Investors interested in the automotive sector may also consider investments in the basic materials sector. Changing demand for materials used to manufacture vehicles may benefit investment in the materials for new manufacturing methods.
In 2015, raw materials and steel were 47% of the manufacturing cost of vehicles. The most significant components include steel, iron, plastic, aluminum, and glass. Fluctuations in material pricing may significantly impact the cost of production since nearly half of the manufacturing cost is due to the pricing of materials.
As of 2020, steel comprises around 65% of a vehicle and represents a substantial cost. Aluminum is more expensive than steel but is growing in popularity as an alternative. The aluminum composition is lighter than steel and helps improve fuel economy.
Impact of Fuel Economy Standards on Material Usage
As fuel consumption standards increase, aluminum use becomes more common. European vehicles began using more aluminum before U.S. automakers. Use by American industry is expected to increase demand for aluminum by 40% along with global demand for the commodity. Iron is a lesser component of cars that has a mild impact on prices but is still sensitive to economic conditions.
Plastic is another significant component of many cars and trucks. Advanced plastics such as polycarbonate and polyurethane are used in car interiors, exteriors, and manufacturing processes. Mid-sized cars now contain an average of 6% plastic materials. This percentage is increasing as plastic technology improves.
Plastics also contribute to making cars lighter and therefore more fuel-efficient. These materials also allow greater flexibility than metals and are more readily made into a variety of designs. Hard plastics and plastic foams make up much of the overall plastic content of cars and offer an easy-to-use material for manufacturers.
The Bottom Line
Investors interested in the automotive sector may also choose investments in automotive materials. Companies in the materials sector offer securities that may be purchased for investment. Many of these materials companies are poised for growth as global demand for and consumer spending on automobiles increase. Fuel-efficient materials demand will likely increase as design standards increase in countries concerned about environmental impact. Improved technology will likely change the proportion of materials used, and investors may profit handsomely as a direct result.
