Do Automobiles Find in Composites, an Ideal Mate?

From the Chevrolet Corvette's all-fiberglass body in 1953 to today's carbon-fiber EV chassis, automakers and composite materials have had a decades-long courtship — and tightening emissions regulations are pushing that relationship further. This white paper from Stratview Research explores whether composites are truly the ideal match for the automotive industry's weight, performance, and sustainability goals.

The report covers:

• The link between global emissions targets (CAFE and equivalents) and rising composite adoption across the USA, China, Europe, and India

• The "triadic solution" to fuel efficiency — powertrain advancements, weight reduction, and active aerodynamics — and where composites fit into each

• Material trends: why glass fiber commands over 90% market share by value, and where carbon fiber and natural fibers are gaining ground

• Resin choices (Polyamide, Polypropylene, Polyester, Epoxy) mapped to real automotive applications

• A full breakdown of under-the-hood, exterior, and interior composite applications, including market-size estimates for each segment

• Key challenges holding back wider adoption — cost, fabrication difficulty, and skilled-labor shortages

• Competitive landscape, major M&A activity (Saudi Aramco–SABIC, AOC-Aliancys, BASF-Solvay), and regional market dynamics

• Megatrends shaping the next decade: renewably-sourced resins, EV growth, falling carbon fiber costs, robotic AFP/ATL manufacturing, and 3D printing