Why is it said that automotive metal materials will be phased out by plastic materials?

Why is it said that automotive metal materials will be phased out by plastic materials?

For car manufacturers, how to reduce costs and increase profits will determine the vitality of the enterprise. With the update of technology and the continuous improvement of plastic performance, cases of replacing metal with plastic have gradually increased. Why might metal materials be eliminated by plastic materials? The following will elaborate.

First, according to China's latest requirements for automotive fuel consumption, the average annual fuel consumption of automotive enterprises needs to be reduced by about 8%. To meet this standard, in addition to developing new energy vehicles, car manufacturers are also continuously making breakthroughs in automotive lightweighting. Data shows that for every 10% weight reduction in a vehicle, fuel consumption can be saved by 6%-8%. Nowadays, more and more plastics are being applied to various parts of automobiles. In practice, plastic materials have reduced the overall vehicle weight by approximately 15%, and there is still significant potential for expanded applications.

Second, metal materials have many drawbacks. For example, after a car accident, they are difficult to repair and restore; during collisions, they bear greater force, causing more severe impacts on the vehicle; and when accidents involve pedestrians, they tend to cause greater harm to pedestrians. In contrast, the latest automotive plastic materials already match some metals in mechanical performance, featuring good corrosion resistance, strong wear resistance, high strength, good rigidity, strong shock absorption, and easier repair.

Moreover, plastic materials offer greater design flexibility due to their superior moldability compared to metals. As more and more car manufacturers now prioritize the safety design of vehicle exteriors, plastics are easier to shape into forms that protect pedestrians and drivers during collisions, providing safety benefits.

Finally, plastic materials inherently excel in sound absorption and vibration reduction compared to metal materials, creating a quieter and more comfortable user experience.

Newly developed plastic materials can already fully compete with metals such as steel, making them excellent alternatives for engineering machinery upgrades. Furthermore, they have received positive feedback from automotive manufacturers worldwide. Dongguan Golden Eagle predicts that a new round of automotive material application reform is on the horizon.