The automotive market is one of the longest-standing users of 3D printing technology, has been one of the first to produce rapid prototypes, then rapid-tooling. Today, a convergence of several technological, market and environmental trends is radically transforming the automotive industry, and 3D printing is being turned to as a critical tool to enable this transformation, from the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) to the drive towards making supply chains more sustainable.
This report analyzes the future of 3D printing of polymers within the automotive industry through the lens of megatrends that are already having profound effects on the supply chain, design cycles and market strategies of the world’s biggest automakers. By strategically assessing the automotive value chain, this report identifies the areas of opportunity for 3D printing adoption and growth, and forecasts the long term revenue potential for 3D printing hardware and materials within the automotive industry focusing on jigs, tools and end-use parts. This report will be followed by a publication of 3D-printed metal parts for the automotive industry.
Table of Contents
Chapter One: Opportunities for AM in the Automotive Industry: A Strategic Appraisal of the Value Chain1.1 AM and the segmentation of the automotive value chain
1.1.1 Upstream opportunities: Rapid prototyping and supporting the design process
1.1.2 Midstream opportunities: Supporting the manufacture of parts through indirect process support or direct additive manufacture of parts.
1.1.2.1 Production support assets
1.1.2.2 Low volume production runs
1.1.2.3 Customization
1.1.2.4 Advanced part designs
1.1.3 Downstream opportunities
1.1.3.1 Mitigation of obsolescence
1.1.3.2 Digital inventory management
1.1.3.3 Distributed aftermarket production
Chapter Two: Impact of Major Automotive Trends on Additive Manufacturing Polymer Adoption
2.1 Rise of electric vehicles
2.1.1 The effects on the value chain moving from ICE to EV construction
2.1.2 Opportunities for AM in EV part and assembly design
2.1.3 AM within native EV and mixed EV/ICE assembly lines
2.1.4 New entrants enabled by low-volume and flexible additive manufacturing
2.2 Autonomous driving technology
2.2.1 Opportunities for 3D printing in autonomous vehicle development
2.2.2 Mass reduction opportunities for AM
2.2.3 How AM can support a mass-reduction strategy
2.3 Commitments to decarbonisation, supply chain sustainability and the “race to zero”
2.3.1 Reduction of non-recyclable materials and plastics in vehicle design
2.3.2 How AM materials and hardware providers can meet the demand for recycled materials
Chapter Three: Material Assessment for 3D-Printed Polymer Parts in the Automotive Industry
3.1 Evolution of materials within AM industry
3.1.1 Composite materials
3.1.2 Advanced materials
3.2 Eight-year materials forecasts
3.2.1 Thermoplastic filaments
3.2.2 Thermoplastic powders
3.2.3 Thermoset resins
3.2.3.1 VAT resins
3.2.3.2 Jetted resins
3.2.4 Distribution material by region
3.2.5 Eight-year CAGR
Chapter Four Polymer 3D-Printing Hardware for the Automotive Industry
4.1 Developments in key AM technologies in automotive
4.1.1 Powder bed systems
4.1.2 Material extrusion
4.1.3 VAT systems
4.1.4 Material jetting
4.2 Eight-year forecast for AM hardware
4.2.1 Powder bed systems
4.2.2 Material extrusion
4.2.3 VAT systems
4.2.4 Material jetting
4.3 AM hardware sales by region
4.4 Eight-year CAGR
Chapter Five Opportunities by Application
5.1 Future of AM for automotive prototyping
5.2 Production support parts
5.2.1 Types of production support
5.2.2 Eight-year forecast for production support
5.3 Direct production parts
5.3.1 Types of direct AM production parts in automotive
5.4 Eight-year forecast for direct production parts
Acronyms used in the report
About the author
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1-1: Applications, Opportunities and Barriers for AM Adoption Throughout the Automotive Value Chain
Exhibit 2-1: SAE Automation Levels Explained
Exhibit 3-1: Major AM Material Providers Segmented by Material Type and Typical Automotive Applications
Exhibit 3-2: Polymer Usage by Material Type within the Automotive Industry
Exhibit 3-3: Demand of AM materials (Metric Tonnes)
Exhibit 3-4: Demand of AM Materials ($M)
Exhibit 3-5: Expect CAGR for Thermoplastic Extrusion Materials
Exhibit 3-6: AM Materials Revenue and YoY Growth Rate
Exhibit 3-7: Thermoplastic Extrusion Material ($M)
Exhibit 3-8: Thermoplastic Extrusion Material (Metric Tonnes)
Exhibit 3-9: Expect CAGR for Thermoplastic Extrusion Materials
Exhibit 3-10: Thermoplastic Powder Material ($M)
Exhibit 3-11: Thermoplastic Powder Material (Metric Tonnes)
Exhibit 3-12: Expected CAGR for Thermoplastic Powder Materials
Exhibit 3-13: Thermoset Resin Material ($M)
Exhibit 3-14: Thermoset Resin Material (Metric Tonnes)
Exhibit 3-15: Expected CAGR for Thermoset Resin Materials
Exhibit 3-16: Material Categories by Region ($M)
Exhibit 3-17: Material Categories by Region (Metric Tonnes)
Exhibit 4-1: Major AM Technology Vendors Supplying the Automotive Market
Exhibit 4-2: Hardware Sales by Revenue
Exhibit 4-3: Hardware Sales by Unit Sales
Exhibit 4-4: Hardware Sales by Install Base, Units
Exhibit 4-5: Hardware Sales by Revenue
Exhibit 4-6: Expected CAGR for Hardware Revenue
Exhibit 4-7: Hardware Powder by Revenue
Exhibit 4-8: Hardware Powder by Unit Sales
Exhibit 4-9: Eight-year CAGR
Exhibit 4-10: Material Extrusion Revenue
Exhibit 4-11: Hardware Resin by Revenue
Exhibit 4-12: Hardware Resin by Unit Sales
Exhibit 4-13: Eight-year CAGR (2022 – 2030)
Exhibit 4-14: Hardware Revenue by Region
Exhibit 4-15: Hardware Unit Sales by Region
Exhibit 4-16: Expected CAGR for Hardware Revenue by Region
Exhibit 5-1: 3D-Printed Production Support Assets, by Units
Exhibit 5-2: 3D-Printed Production Support Assets by Revenue
Exhibit 5-3: Eight-year CAGR for Printed Tools
Exhibit 5-4: Typical and Expected 3D Printed Polymer Components by Part Weight
Exhibit 5-5: End-use Parts by Individual Units
Exhibit 5-6: End-use Parts by Revenue
Exhibit 5-7: Eight-year CAGR for Printed Parts
