The automotive industry in BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China has been witnessing exponential growth over the past few decades. As vehicle ownership rises in these emerging economies, there has been increased focus on making transportation more sustainable and energy efficient. One area that has seen tremendous innovation is the increased use of plastics in automotive manufacturing. Lightweight plastics are helping automakers in BRIC nations reduce vehicle weight and achieve improved fuel efficiency. Let's take a closer look at how the rise of automotive plastics is supporting greener vehicles in BRIC countries.
Growth of the Automotive Sector in BRIC Nations
The automotive industries of Brazil, Russia, India and China have grown rapidly to become among the largest in the world. Collectively these four countries account for over 25% of global vehicle sales. China alone produces over 20 million vehicles annually while India produces over 3 million. This rapid expansion has been driven by rising incomes, growing urbanization, easier auto financing and improving road infrastructure in BRIC nations. However, the environmental impact of increased vehicle usage was also a pressing concern for policymakers. This gave an impetus for automakers to explore ways to make vehicles more fuel efficient through lightweight materials like plastics.
Advantages of Plastics in Automotive Manufacturing
Plastics offer several advantages compared to traditional automotive materials like steel and aluminum. They are lightweight yet durable, resistant to corrosion, and easy to manufacture into complex parts through various molding processes. Their lightweight property helps reduce vehicle curb weight, which directly improves fuel efficiency. Plastics are also cheaper to produce than metals, offering cost advantages for high-volume automotive production. More importantly, plastics have greater recycling potential compared to other materials. As such, automakers in BRIC nations have been aggressively adopting plastics to replace metal components across vehicle bodies, interiors, under hood parts and beyond.
Rise of Plastics in Exteriors and Interiors
Plastics are ubiquitous in modern vehicle exteriors and interiors. Front-end modules, bumpers, fenders, door panels, and trunk lids now use various thermoplastics that can be easily molded. This allows for complex, integrated designs not possible with metals. The percentage of plastics as a proportion of total vehicle weight has risen significantly. For example, plastics now account for 20-25% of total curb weight in mass market vehicles produced in India. Similar trends are seen in Brazil, Russia and China as well. The lights, HVAC components, instrument panels and trim found inside vehicles also extensively use engineered plastics. Their formability and lower costs make plastics the preferred choice for automakers.
Growing Use of Composites and Advanced Plastics
While commodity thermoplastics still dominate automotive applications, use of engineered plastics and composites is growing. Fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) are increasingly used to manufacture structural vehicle components that require high strength to weight ratios. Carbon fiber composites help reduce weight in premium vehicles while maintaining rigidity. Polyamides or nylon are finding more under-hood applications due to their heat resistance. PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) offers an even higher heat tolerance for parts near the engine. Silicones and fluoropolymers bring benefits of low friction and better sealing for hoses, gaskets and seals. Advanced bio-based plastics using agricultural waste are also being evaluated as sustainable alternatives. The versatility of plastics continues to expand in automotive through ongoing material innovations.
China Leading Automotive Plastics Production
China has emerged as the clear leader in global automotive plastics production and consumption. Its annual plastic resin production capacity of over 60 million metric tons vastly outweighs others. Several Chinese petrochemical firms have invested heavily in expanding integrated capacities for primary plastics, compounding, and automotive part manufacturing. As the largest auto market globally, having a self-reliant domestic supply chain gives Chinese automakers a competitive advantage. It also enables localization of specialized engineering plastics and composites production. Chinese automakers are pioneering new applications and continually seeking weight reduction through innovative plastic part designs. Other BRIC countries are also ramping local plastics industries to strengthen automotive component exports.
With growing environmental and fuel economy regulations, interest in electric vehicles, the use of lightweight plastics in BRIC automotive sectors is poised for continued growth. Industry analysts project automotive plastics consumption in these nations will rise over 5% annually through 2030. More functional integration of plastic parts, adoption of sustainable bio-plastics, and advances in carbon fiber composite technology will defining future trends. As BRIC economies move up the automotive value chain, domestic R&D on material sciences will thrive. Countries with competitive circular economy frameworks may lead plastics recycling infrastructure as well. Overall, automotive plastics will remain central to making transportation greener and more affordable across Brazil, Russia, India and China for decades to come.
Get more insights on BRIC Automotive Industry
