Market Trends of Automotive Body-in-White Industry
Growing Demand for Light-weight Vehicles to Drive the Composites Material
The body-in-white market is seeing advancements in lightweight material developments such as Composites, alloy, and fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP), which are enabling the production of the body in white for lighter vehicles. The other influencing factors for lightweight materials technology are customer-driven requirements like styling, aesthetic appearance, reduced NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects, and comfort.
The primary driving force behind the rising demand for fuel-efficient vehicles is the implementation of stringent emission and safety regulations. Accordingly, to comply with stricter emissions and fuel economy standards, while some automobile manufacturers are focusing on reducing the overall weight of the car and enhancing fuel efficiency, others are entering into collaborations, partnerships, etc., to stabilize their position in the market.
For instance, in September 2022, Atlis Motor Vehicles, which is developing an electric work vehicle as well as the batteries and motors that will power it, struck a cooperation partnership with ArcelorMittal, the world's top producer of automotive steels. ArcelorMittal's S-in motion pickup truck model, as well as cab and box designs, will be used by Atlis to assist in driving the design of the XT, a purpose-built, totally electric pickup truck meant to serve people and fleet owners working in agriculture and construction. ArcelorMittal created S-in-Motion, a series of lightweight steel solutions for manufacturers looking to construct lighter, safer, and more ecologically friendly automobiles. Atlis will use ArcelorMittal's body in white CAD engineering information to cut weight and cost while improving the range of its XT.
In March 2023, Lamborghini unveiled key details about the LB744, marking the company's inaugural high-performance electrified vehicle (HPEV) supercar. This extraordinary automobile represents a pioneering achievement as the world's first high-performance electrified vehicle (HPEV). It features a plug-in hybrid configuration, with a lightweight, high-power lithium-ion battery ingeniously positioned within the transmission tunnel at the center of the chassis. This innovative approach is designed to not only reduce emissions but also enhance performance when compared to its predecessor, the V12. The groundbreaking L545 engine boasts a 6.5-liter capacity, making it Lamborghini's lightest and most potent 12-cylinder engine to date. In total, it weighs a mere 218 kilograms, which is 17 kilograms lighter than the Aventador unit.
In August 2023, Porsche introduced a special edition 911 designed for maximum driving enjoyment on its 60th anniversary. Produced in a limited run of 1,963 cars, the Porsche 911 S/T offers a lightweight design and a pure, undiluted driving experience. For the first time, the 911 GT3 RS's 518 hp, high-revving engine is delivered to the road via a manual transmission and lightweight clutch.
Further, the car sector in the United States will sell around 13.75 million light vehicle units in 2022. This statistic comprises around 2.9 million passenger automobiles and a little under 10.9 million light trucks sold at retail.
Therefore, with manufacturers focusing on adopting innovative technologies and manufacturing processes to stand unique from their competitors, the automotive body-in-white market is expected to accumulate notable growth during the forecast period.
Asia-Pacific Region Likely to Exhibit Fastest Growth During the Forecast Period
The Asia-Pacific region is expected to contribute significantly over the forecast period. Growing automotive production and increasing government focus on designing policies and initiatives encouraging electric vehicles are likely to boost the body-in-white market during the forecast period. The rising prominence of major countries like India and China is anticipated to supplement the development of the market in the Asia-Pacific region.
For instance, in the first half of 2023, retail sales of electric vehicles in India surpassed 700,000 units. According to Vahan statistics, overall sales as of June 2023 were 721,971 units, which is already 73% of India EV Inc.'s record sales in the Year 2022. The government is investing in the development of infrastructure and incentivizing first electric vehicle buyers with subsidies to encourage people to shift from conventional fuel vehicles to green fuel vehicles.
With several key players investing heavily and entering joint ventures with other players to cater to the growing demand, the market is likely to remain highly competitive during the forecast period.
For instance, in July 2022, Thyssenkrupp AG announced an expansion of its automobile body business in China. It spent EUR 8 million (USD 9.4 million) in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, to establish thyssenkrupp Automotive Equipment (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. This facility is scheduled to begin operations in December 2022. It will be a body-in-white factory that will manufacture dies and equipment for Chinese automakers.
With the aforementioned trends and developments, it is expected that the market in the Asia-Pacific region will grow at a healthy rate during the forecast period.
