Market Trends of Italy Automotive Glass Fiber Composites Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Italy Automotive Glass Fiber Composites Market according to our research experts:
Increasing Adoption of Glass Fiber Composites in Automobiles
Although automobiles have been around for more than a century, the materials they are made of have mostly remained the same. Only since the past few decades that advanced materials, ranging from magnesium alloys to glass fiber composites, have made their way into new-generation cars. Advanced materials, such as glass fiber composites, are essential for boosting the fuel economy of modern cars, maintaining performance and safety. Since it takes lesser energy to accelerate a lighter object than a heavier one, lightweight materials offer great potential for increasing vehicle efficiency. A 10% reduction in the vehicle's weight can transpire to a 6-8% increase in fuel economy.
Glass fiber composites are materials that have become popular in the past few years. One of the reasons for fiberglass composite's relative success is that it has several advantages when compared to steel. It is corrosion-resistant, has significant chemical resistance, and is lightweight (three times less dense than steel). Fiberglass composite is mainly used in bumpers, hoods, and casings. Another area where this material is used is V-belts and timing belts, where glass strings are impregnated with rubber acting as reinforcement. Abrasion resistance is one other advantage of the fiberglass composite, which is why it is used for producing clutches and brake pads. Clutch disks are reinforced with woven fiberglass composites to maintain their integrity.
COVID-19 will halt the Growth of the Market
Italy is touted to be the major market in the European region due to the presence of many car manufacturers, such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, etc., who are adopting glass fiber composites in their cars. Government regulations, such as the greenhouse gas emission target in the other European countries are also paving way for OEMs to incorporate light-weight materials to decrease the overall vehicle weight. With an increase in the production of passenger vehicles and SUVs, the demand for fiberglass in the reinforcements of automotive components is expected to significantly increase during the forecast period.
However, there is a slowdown in automobile sales and production which is because of the trade tensions between two major economies of the world China and the United States, also the ongoing Pandemic COVID-19 is also responsible for the slowdown in the economy as it has forced the world economy to lockdown for almost 3 months and now the growth is expected to resume in the second half of 2021, as the governments are providing stimulus to the demand as well as the supply side to revive the economy.
