Automotive NVH Materials Market Trends

Automotive NVH Materials Market Forecast

According to MRFR analysis, the global market size of automotive NVH is projected to register a CAGR of over 6.58% to reach around USD 20.73 billion by the end of 2030.

The noise, vibrations, and harshness created by an object's movement is called NVH. This includes all audible and perceptible vibrations that affect driving comfort.  The lower noise and vibration level of a vehicle improve the vehicle's comfort, performance, and safety. The NVH analysis and NVH optimization of the complete vehicle and its components is a top priority for automobile manufacturers in the early stages of designing new vehicles. Automotive NVH materials are widely used in passenger vehicles, as lower NVH levels impact customers' purchase decisions. Automotive NVH materials' growing interest in battery-powered light vehicles is projected to fuel the automotive NVH materials market in the future. The development of active noise reduction systems in automobiles may restrain the automotive NVH materials market's growth. Automotive noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) materials are used to reduce unwanted noise, vibrations, and harshness (degree of pain) in automobiles.

The automotive noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) materials market is predicted to expand due to increased usage and demand in passenger vehicles and the increased need for lightweight performance materials.

Automotive NVH products are often small components made from rubber, foam, and other materials. Influence of noise, vibration, and harshness on purchasing decisions, advanced noise, vibration, and harshness products with innovative technologies, changing lifestyles, and rising incomes in both developed and developing economies are some of the factors driving the global automotive NVH materials market. The industry's value chain is comprised of suppliers of raw materials, manufacturers, converters, distributors, and end-users. The weight and cost of NVH elements The weight and cost of NVH materials hinder the market's growth.  Increased vehicle weight due to the inclusion of NVH materials may impede the growth of the global automotive NVH materials market during the forecast period.

NVH materials are used in automobiles to reduce noise and vibration generated by various engine accessories such as cooling fans, brakes, transmission, alternators, panel holes, road noise and wind, fluid routing lines, actuators, doors, mounting brackets.

Regulatory framework

The automotive industry's future is being shaped, mainly dominated by mobility services, autonomous driving, digitization, and electric powertrains. Because of the complexity of NVH materials, automotive engineers utilize numerical models for NVH analysis and design. For structural body components, hot stamping is likely to become the industry norm. Automotive OEMs are under pressure to reduce CO2 emissions, increase fuel efficiency, and reduce exhaust gas emissions due to new emissions regulations. Some of the key regulatory implementations of the light-duty vehicle emission standards include Directives 91/441/EEC or 93/59/EEC, Directives 94/12/EC or 96/69/EC, Directive 98/69/EC, 2002/80/EC, Regulation 715/2007, Regulation 692/2008, Regulation 459/2012, Regulation 630/2012, Regulation 2016/427, Regulation 2016/646, Regulation 2017/1154, Regulation 2018/1832, WLTP/WLTC testing: Regulation 2017/1151 and Regulation 2017/1347.

Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak

The proliferation of the COVID-19 virus has had a severe impact on the global automotive industry. A fall in vehicles sales and production was recorded in the initial months of 2020. International trade declined significantly in spring 2020 when harsh lockdown measures forced many sectors to close down. International travel and border controls caused international trade costs to rise. Though the auto industry has improved somewhat after the recession, it was greatly affected by decreased demand. Most of the countries in Europe, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Romania, rely on the automotive sector to increase economic growth and employment. Moreover, the high degree of integration into global value chains makes the automotive industry vulnerable to disruptions from a pandemic. Tightening lending standards and increased risk of supply-chain disruption are expected to result in merger and acquisition activity.

Supply Chain Analysis

The supply chain analysis evaluates every stage and step taken by stakeholders involved in producing and distributing automotive NVH materials. The supply chain includes raw materials and suppliers, automotive NVH materials producers, distribution channels, and end-use industries. The distribution channel in this market comprises distributors, wholesalers, and e-commerce merchants. Some key distributors and suppliers of automotive NVH materials include BASF SE (Germany), The Dow Chemical Company (US), 3M Company (US), ElringKlinger AG (Germany), Huntsman Corporation (US), and Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd (Japan).

Market USP

Extensive use in automotive Industry

Market Drivers

• Growing demand for cars in developing countries   

Automotive NVH materials are used in cars to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness while increasing ride quality and passenger comfort. These materials can also help reduce vehicle weight, shock absorption, and impact resistance. Rubber's properties have made it widely used in automobiles to minimize harshness, noise, and vibration. It is heat and fluid-resistant, lightweight, dense, vibration-absorbing, and cheap. These materials are also used to make cars lighter, faster, and more fuel-efficient, especially electric cars. Consumers are lured to passenger cars for their comfort and tranquility. These NVH materials help minimize outside and engine noise, regulate vibrations and increase vehicle stability and longevity.

Demand for automotive NVH materials will continue to rise due to increased demand for comfort driving, electric car growth, and technological advancements in developing countries. APAC now produces and exports the most vehicles. Asia's leading vehicle producers are China, South Korea, Japan, and India. The fastest expanding car markets are in South America, Brazil, and Eastern Europe, particularly Turkey. These countries' cars are exported to Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa. Domestic auto demand is rising in China, India, Turkey, and Brazil. As demand for cars is growing in emerging markets, automakers are focusing more on safety and comfort. Automobile manufacturers are trying to differentiate their vehicles to enhance overall sales. Luxury cars are noted for their excellent cabin quality due to little noise and vibration transmission. Demand for luxury cars may help reduce the use of NVH materials in them.

Increased consideration of NVH levels and vehicle refinement levels in buying decision

Customer knowledge of the benefits of NVH reduction and acoustic management in automobiles increases the use of NVH materials in vehicles. There has been an increase in awareness of automotive noise, vibration, and harshness performance during the last several years. The overall refinement level of an automobile is a significant component in determining a buyer's selection. As the distinction between automotive quality and reliability has widened, automakers have been forced to demonstrate supremacy by focusing on NVH problems. At a given price point, automotive purchasers prefer a vehicle with lower noise, vibration, and harshness than its competitors, provided that other variables such as fuel efficiency, safety, brand value, and after-sales service are comparable. This has resulted in enormous expenditure by automotive manufacturers to produce and market vehicles with reduced NVH levels. This trend is likely to raise demand for automotive noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) control materials.

• Developments in replacement materials

The development and greater use of replacements such as active noise control systems, which allow manufacturers to achieve noise control without utilizing NVH materials, is a major limitation on market growth. When such alloys are used at the NVH source, the transmission to the vehicle occupants is reduced. Increased use of these alloys may lessen the requirement for noise-dampening materials. Noise, vibration, and harshness are communicated to car occupants via air (just noise) and the chassis. New alloys are being developed by automotive experts that are lighter and tougher than traditional metals (steel, cast iron, and aluminum) and more environmentally friendly.

• Increased weight of the vehicle

Manufacturers use more efficient fuel injection and turbochargers to make smaller engines as powerful as older naturally aspirated engines. As a result, the new engines produce more noise and run more mechanical components. NVH regulations need greater noise and vibration control materials, which causes issues for automakers. The weight of noise and vibration control materials was considered. Today's sedans have 1000- 1500 cc engines, which are as powerful and as fuel-efficient as prior 2000 cc engines sold by leading Japanese, European, and American manufacturers. The next-generation engines are cleaner, and it emits about a sixth of the CO2 that older 2000 cc engines did per kilometer. The extra NVH control materials add to the vehicle's overall weight. Growing awareness of how automobile emissions contribute to greenhouse gas emissions has spurred automakers to design more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Segmentation

By Type

Based on Type, the global automotive NVH Materials market has been divided into rubbers, thermoplastic polymers, engineering resins, polypropylene, textile materials, fiberglass, mixed textile fiber, polyester fiber, textile materials (synthetic), and textile materials (cotton). The rubbers segment recorded the largest market share in 2021. Rubber is dense and consistent, which makes it an ideal medium to absorb sound and vibration. These properties also allow for an even distribution of sound and vibration across the material. Increasing demand for refinement in a vehicle, noise, vibration, and harshness is likely to drive the rubbers segment revenue growth.

By Application

By Application, the global automotive NVH market has been segmented as absorption, insulation, insulator & absorber, damper, trunk module, floor module, wheel arches, cockpit module, roof module, engine casing & bonnet liners, and wheels. The absorption segment grows at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The growing NVH tests are anticipated to drive the demand for the automotive NVH materials market.

By Vehicle Type

By Vehicle Type, the global automotive NVH materials market has been bifurcated into passenger vehicles, LCV (Light Commercial Vehicles), and HCV (Heavy Commercial Vehicles). The baby passenger vehicles segment recorded the largest market share in 2021 and is anticipated to grow steadily during the forecast period. The growing population increased spending power, and easy access to credit and funding are key factors that boost the passenger vehicles segment.

By region

Asia Pacific

APAC is expected to dominate the global automotive NVH materials market due to China, Korea, Japan, and India's highly established vehicle industry and long-term investment in driving technology. NVH materials are used in gasoline, hybrid, and electric cars. As a result, demand for these materials is expected to stay constant. As middle-class wages, technology, and sales efforts have risen, demand for passenger cars has considerably increased in emerging markets. The Asia-Pacific region's growing population is also increasing the demand for cars. NVH materials have also gained popularity in the transportation industry due to better driver comfort. The region's automotive noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) materials market is expected to grow steadily in the next years.

Europe:

The market in Europe is projected to witness high demand for automotive NVH materials due to the region's growing strict emission, fuel consumption, and noise regulations. Major contributors to the market growth include Germany, the UK, France, and Russia.

North America:

The North American market for automotive NVH materials is driven by the increasing research and development investments in automobiles and mass production techniques. US is home to one of the largest automotive industries in the world, and many automakers have engine plants, transmission plants, R&D, and testing centers in the United States. A global consumer base, a highly skilled workforce, available infrastructure, and local and state government initiatives contribute to the North America automotive NVH materials market.

Key players

• BASF SE (Germany)


• The Dow Chemical Company (US)


• 3M Company (US)


• ElringKlinger AG (Germany)


• Huntsman Corporation (US)


• Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd (Japan)


• Covestro AG (Germany)


• Celanese Corporation US)


• Huntsman Corporation (US)


• Lanxess AG (Germany)


• Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany)


• Wolverine Advanced Materials, LLC (US)


• Borgers AG (Germany)


• DuPont (US)


• Eastman Chemical Company (US)