Following the recent uptrend in the use of sustainably sourced materials in vehicle production, interior material choices are facing increased scrutiny from customers. But has this demand affected the fitment of certain materials and their penetration rates in the automotive market?

In this VehiclePlannerPlus newsletter, we will investigate the penetration rates of interior trim materials and how the demand for them has changed in recent years, pushing the likes of leather and other traditional automotive materials out the door for the adoption of more environmentally-friendly alternatives.

Interior Accents

Interior accents are generally used to complement the main dashboard trim, being fitted around edges and flanges in the cockpit of the vehicle to provide that final touch of class for the customer. The below chart showcases the penetration rate for interior accent materials over the period of 2019 - 2022, highlighting how demand for certain materials has changed through customer pressure.

*‘Other’ refers to the often grey or black polymer material used for vehicle interiors and 2022 data is based on vehicles sold so far in 2022.

The above chart shows the decreasing demand for materials such as leather, wood-tone, and cheap plastics. This decrease in demand can be attributed to the lack of recyclability and sustainability of the materials used to create them. This is a common trend seen throughout all interior components highlighted in this analysis. On the other hand, materials such as chrome and other metallic-based finishes have seen increases in penetration over the last four years.

Another aspect of interior accents that we can analyze is the material association with vehicle MSRP. In other words, the minimum cost a customer must pay to fit a specific material into their new vehicle. The below box and whisker plot demonstrates this for the 2021 Model Year.

From this chart, we can see that Alcantara has the highest median and quartile cost for fitment, which is no surprise given its association with luxury and high-performance vehicles. Chrome features the lowest median and quartile costs, which could explain its increasing popularity with OEMs and consumers alike, as seen in the previous penetration chart in this analysis.

Primary Upholstery

Primary upholstery is the dominant material on the front seats within the vehicle, which in the past has been dominated by cloth and leather or leather trimmed selections. However, is this still going to be the case going forward, or will more sustainable alternatives begin to take over some of that market share? The below chart shows the penetration rate of primary upholstery materials for the years 2019-2022.

The key takeaway from this chart is the market share being taken by leatherette. Cloth, leather, and leather trimmed are all seeing reductions in penetration, whilst leatherette’s penetration is increasing rapidly.

 

Dash Trim

The dash trim refers to the dominant material used for the dashboard of the vehicle, which is then complemented by the interior accent material as discussed earlier. The below chart showcases the penetration rate of the dash trim materials from 2019 - 2022.

*‘Other’ refers to the often grey or black polymer material used for vehicle interiors and 2022 data is based on vehicles sold so far in 2022.

The prominent story seen in the above chart is the dominance of the ‘other’ grey or black polymer material. This dominance is likely based on its cheap price and ease of manufacture when compared to the other materials shown. Another key takeaway is the growth in penetration of alloys and metallic materials, which can be seen to have increased year on year since 2019.

Conclusion

In summary of the above analysis, the most notable outcome is the reduction in demand for leather-based materials and non-recyclable plastics, which in previous years have been dominating their respective markets. These materials are being replaced with sustainable or vegan alternatives, such as leatherette or metallic based alloys, to show the automotive industry’s progression towards a more environmentally-friendly future.