Automotive Ceramics - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics

The global market for Automotive Ceramics is projected to reach US$1.8 billion by 2025, driven by the rise of new materials gaining ground in automobile manufacturing. A large variety and types of materials are used to manufacture a car such as iron, aluminum, steel, glass, rubber, petroleum products, copper, and steel. These materials over the years have evolved to become more reliable, durable and safer. Automotive materials are today in the technology spotlight as OEMs face intense pressure to build cars that are sophisticated, smart, powerful, lightweight, energy/fuel efficient, and viable for end of life recycling. Several of the demands placed on vehicle characteristics are paradoxical in nature. For instance, lightweighting should be achieved without loss of strength and speed properties, and engine downsizing for fuel economy should be implemented without compromising on vehicle torque and performance, among others. The scenario brings innovative materials to the forefront of engineering and design to help achieve these dueling design and performance requirements. These materials include ceramics, polymers, and polymer fibers and lower density metals. Ceramic materials especially feature a unique combination of physical and mechanical properties such as high hardness, high elastic modulus, low density, sufficient flexure, and good compressive strength.

The pressure on innovation in material development is additionally amplified as autonomous cars and electric cars inch closer to reality. Adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies like additive manufacturing, also known as, 3D manufacturing, is pushing up demand for newer and compatible materials. The rise of ceramic 3D printing will help boost opportunities for ceramics over the long-term period. As 3D printing of ceramics gains adoption in myriad manufacturing industries, automotive applications will witness a spurt in growth. Few of the innovative technologies for 3D printing of ceramics include light-curing technologies such as SLA and DLP, Binder Jetting, Deposition of Material (LDM) Liquid Deposition Modeling) and Nano Particle Jetting. Currently, Ceramic Injection Molding (CIM) technology is widely used to mass produce precision ceramic components with complex geometries. Ceramics are suited for manufacturing miniaturized mechanical components and parts with utmost precision. As ceramics possess strong ionic and/or covalent bonding stronger than metallic bonding, they are used for joining and bonding applications and fixuring such as bolts and screw threads. Several technologies are being developed to join ceramics to ceramics and ceramics to other dissimilar materials. Ceramic matrix composites (CMC) will also grow in popularity and will increasingly be used in fuel injectors, sensors, high pressure pump, particulate filters, spark & glow plugs, PTC heaters etc. Ceramics are also being used as reinforcement for composite systems such as GRP (glass reinforced plastics) and metal matrix composites such as alumina reinforced aluminium (Al/Al 2O 3). The rise of connected cars will drive the value of ceramic sensors in tire pressure monitoring, parking assistance, air bag initiation, knock sensors, and mass airflow sensors. Growing vehicle complexity, focus on peak engine performance, and longer component lifespans will spur R&D in advanced ceramic engineering. The United States, China and Europe represent large markets worldwide with a combined share of 69.9% of the market. China also ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 4.9% over the analysis period supported by the fact that the country remains a cash cow for mass market and premium cars. Also, rising domestic automakers in the country are strongly focused on dominating the world’s next era of driving which opens opportunities for innovative component systems and sub-systems.

The global analysis and forecast periods covered within the report are 2020-2027 (Current & Future Analysis) and 2012-2019 (Historic Review). Research estimates are provided for 2020, while research projections cover the period 2021-2027.