Market Trends of Automotive Acoustic Material Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Automotive Acoustic Material Market according to our research experts:
Growing Demand for Premium Cars
Luxury and comfort have been a significant focus area for manufacturers, as the demand for premium cars has grown. The primary goal is to keep the vehicle's sound within acceptable limits. These noise restrictions need greater attention in the automobile acoustic system. As a result, the market for automotive acoustic materials is expected to grow in the future years.
As automotive acoustic materials provide the interior appearance and minimize noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) in the cabin, the expansion of the premium cars is likely to fuel the demand for automotive acoustic materials globally.
The advent of automotive acoustic materials that are easy to install and extend to completely fill interior cavities in vehicles is projected to enhance the demand in the automotive acoustic material market. The government's investment in public transportation is expected to boost the demand for vehicle acoustic materials.
The growth in constant R&D spending by manufacturers to enhance noise-absorbing levels is driving the automotive acoustic materials market. Composite materials with the ability to absorb low-frequency sounds are gaining popularity. Furthermore, manufacturers' attention to providing exceptional color finishes for the interior and exterior appearance of cars is expected to contribute to market growth throughout the forecast period.
Many manufacturers are investing in R&D to develop materials with enhanced properties. For instance:
- In November 2021, Autoneum announced a new felt-based technology Flexi-Loft, which due to a unique blend of recycled cotton and functional fibers, reduces product weight and allows for accurate adaptation even to complex shapes. Autoneum is already using Flexi-Loft worldwide as an insulator for various carpets, inner dashes, and other acoustic components based on its Prime-Light technology.
Asia-Pacific Captures the Major Market Share
The Asia-Pacific region has emerged as the largest market for acoustic materials. Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest global vehicle production in 2021. The region is estimated to be the largest market for automotive acoustic materials, by volume and value. The huge vehicle production in the region offers a tremendous growth opportunity for the acoustic materials market.
China is the largest automobile market in the world. However, for the past few years, the country has been witnessing a decline in sales. Overall sales in the world's largest auto market increased by 3.8% year-on-year in December, bringing the total sales for 2021 to 26.28 million, according to figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
In the past few years, the country has seen various companies expanding their production facilities and opening new facilities. For instance:
- In October 2021, Daimler opened its new 'Daimler R&D Tech Center China' officially in Beijing. With a total investment of CNY 1.1 billion, the R&D tech center has a gross floor area of 55,000 m². The test building is home to seven testing facilities, including an eDrive lab, a charging lab, a volatile organic compounds (VOC) lab, a chassis lab, a noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) lab, an engine lab, and an environmental lab. The new test building can accommodate more than 300 test vehicles at the same time.
Europe is the second-largest market for passenger cars, particularly for premium cars. The sale of premium cars is projected to show linear growth during the forecast period, thereby increasing the demand for acoustic materials in Europe.
