Automotive NVH Materials Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Material Type (Rubber, Plastic & Foam, Fibers, and Others), By Application (Absorption, Damping, and Insulation), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

The global automotive NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) materials market size was USD 10.25 billion in 2020. The market is projected to grow from USD 10.96 billion in 2021 to USD 16.93 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 6.4% during the 2021-2028 period. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with several automotive components witnessing a negative demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a decline of 5.32% in 2020. The sudden increase in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth, returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.  

Increased demand from the automotive sector and rigorous government requirements for quieter and safer cars is driving the automotive NVH materials market growth. With growing customer expectations for vehicle performance, vehicle makers and component suppliers are working to enhance the nature and architecture of components by using a variety of materials to decrease noise and vibration. Car manufacturers are increasingly focusing on acoustic management and noise reduction in passenger and commercial vehicles to improve fuel efficiency, reduce cabin noise, and increase durability.

COVID-19 IMPACT  

Disruption in Automotive Production Due to COVID-19 Likely to Constraint Market

Factory closures, supply chain disruptions, and a drop in demand have all struck the automobile sector hard. In 2020, COVID-19 greatly influenced the automobile industry, hampering this industry. Factory closures that occurred worldwide led to decreased output, supply networks were badly disrupted, and as a result, demand fell. As a result, several auto dealerships will permanently close their production unit, leading the market to decline. The automotive sector is essential for economic growth and employment in several Central and Eastern European nations, such as the Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

The COVID-19 epidemic wreaked havoc on the business. In spring 2020, lockdown tactics caused factories to shut or operate at a quarter of their regular capacity. Because of income losses and increased uncertainty, demand for automobiles plummeted and is expected to remain low for some time. The economic prognosis is unknown, although following a solid rebound in the third quarter of 2020, industry activity is expected to remain sluggish during the near to medium term. The Covid-19 problem is anticipated to have a long-term impact on CEE nations' key trading partners' economic growth (OECD, 2020). The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Economic Outlook estimates an anticipated connection between vehicle sales and GDP growth. Demand for automobiles made in Europe is expected to stay below pre-crisis levels in 2021.

According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), Europe witnessed a decrease of over 21% on an average. All key manufacturing countries witnessed significant drops, fluctuating from 11%-40%. Europe alone produced nearly a quarter of overall global quantity manufactured The United States produced 20% of global output, with 15.7 million units manufactured.

Hoowever, Asia was impacted heavily, losing about 10% of its share. Especially China, which was impacted heavily during initial months of 2020, recovered rapidly. Asia is expected to remain to be the most significant producer globally, accounting for 57% of global output.

AUTOMOTIVE NVH MATERIALS MARKET TRENDS 

Increasing Demand for Porous Materials is Likely to Aid Market

The automobile industry is grappling with how to lower a vehicle's total weight using a variety of ways, including the usage of thin metal panels in the body. On the other hand, thin metal panels provide several noise vibration and harshness issues, such as increased structure-borne noise in the vehicle cabin. Porous sound-absorbing materials are generally used with the vehicle's body metal panel and cabin to absorb car interior noise.

A porous material is made up of a porous frame structure with gaps filled by interstitial fluid, such as air (the pores). The main vibro-acoustic characteristics of porous materials are that the frame is often more flexible and less mass dense than the material it is made of on a macroscopic level. And the fluid in the pores can move relative to the frame, interacting dynamically through viscous and inertial couplings. Because both the fluid and the frame constituents are compressible, dilatational interactions occur, even though they are minor in most situations of vibro-acoustics interest. The frame might be regarded linearly elastic with internal damping for minor deformations in acoustic applications.

To minimize both structural and airborne sound and vibrations, porous absorption materials are widely utilized as passive noise control solutions. However, these materials, which are generally part of more complicated systems at low frequencies, including elastic structures and air cavities, perform poorly, acoustically. BASF SE developed a new use for its porous foam material, which is already used in the automobile sector and is twice as effective at absorbing noise, vibration, and harshness than conventional foam. Sound and vibration waves are pulled into open pores in the foam, where they are trapped and unable to penetrate the material's core structure, reducing impacts

AUTOMOTIVE NVH MATERIALS MARKET GROWTH FACTORS

Stringent Regulations Imposed by Governments to Curb Noise Pollution is Expected to Drive Market Growth

Emerging nations such as India and China witnessed a significant increase in the total number of automobiles on the road. This growth in operational vehicles is expected to continue during the forecast period owing to rapid economic development in such emerging countries. Noise pollution, air pollution, and traffic congestion due to insufficient road infrastructure are just a few of the challenges that have arisen due to the newly added automobiles. Noise pollution is a frequently underestimated hazard but can cause significant health complications such as hearing impairment, sleep disturbances, adverse effects on the cardiovascular and metabolic systems, and cognitive impairment.

Governments and environmental organizations across the globe have started to acknowledge the significance of regulating noise pollution from automobiles. They have begun to establish stricter laws to address the problem. The worldwide automobile sector is governed and regulated by several regulatory bodies. In Europe, the ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) and EU (EG directive) are well-known. For example, the European Environmental Agency (EEA) published a report on Environmental Noise in Europe in March 2020, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. According to the report's major conclusions, around 20% of the European population are subjected to long-term noise levels detrimental to their physical and mental health.

Traffic noise was discovered to be a major contributor to this noise pollution, impacting the well-being and health of millions of Europeans. According to the report, current rules are inadequate to meet European Union (EU) and World Health Organization (WHO) environmental noise objectives. In addition, the report recommended technology advancements, more stringent noise policies, improved urban planning, and some additional measures to address this issue further. Automobile noise has been a key contributor to noise pollution, and upgrading to automotive NVH materials in automotive production is anticipated to be a prominent component in emerging noise pollution policies.

The automotive industry is expected to witness a rising trend due to rising demand for mobility and improved purchasing power among the global population. To meet stringent noise pollution standards automakers are expected to increase the usage of automotive NVH materials in automobiles, making driving experience more quiet and pleasant. Thus emerging strict noise pollution standards are anticipated to benefit and expand the market.

Rising Demand from Electric Vehicle Industry is Expected to Drive Market Growth

The electric vehicle industry has witnessed a significant expansion owing to rising consumer demand. Major automakers such as Volkswagen, Tata, Ford, General Motors and Toyota have already invested significantly in development of hybrid and electric vehicles. The key motivation for these investments is increased demand for electric vehicles and want to gain a share of the market. One of the problems that the electric vehicle industry is currently experiencing is NVH engineering. Electric cars lack the IC engine employed to conceal noises in gasoline-powered vehicles.

Despite the absence of engine noise in electric vehicles, sounds from the vehicle's HVAC system, the road, and the wind all combine to create unpleasant conditions that cause discomfort to the person inside the vehicle. Engineers and designers are confronted with new challenges today, and they must devise innovative ways to address the NVH problem in electric vehicles. Additionally, this must be accomplished cost-effectively without increasing the total weight of the electric vehicle. Nissan, for example, introduced acoustic meta-material, a new lightweight sound insulation material developed after extensive research and development. According to the company, this new material weighs just 25% as much as equivalent-sized rubber matting while providing the same amount of sound insulation.

The electric vehicle industry and NVH material market are anticipated to see significant advancements during the forecast period, owing to billions of dollars in investment from major automakers. Government subsidies and global pressure to transition towards eco-friendly transport alternatives are expected to fuel the growth of the electric vehicle industry. This in turn is expected to benefit and drive this market.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Rising Interest in Lighter Vehicles to Improve Fuel Efficiency is Expected to Restrict Market Growth

Fuel economy of an automobile has become a significant aspect that a consumer considers when evaluating an automotive purchase option due to rising gasoline prices and environmental concerns. As the demand for fuel-efficient vehicles continues to rise, automakers have no option but to reduce the weight of automobiles or downsize them. Due to weight and cost constraints, designers and engineers find it challenging to incorporate traditional NVH solutions in automobile design. For example, a dynamic damper, a conventional method for improving NVH performance, can no longer be utilized in automobile design due to limitations imposed by automakers to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency.

Additionally, in order for automakers to utilize automotive NVH materials in their manufacturing processes, the material's cost must be minimal and the material's availability must be high. To reduce the cost and fuel consumption in automobiles, automakers may shift to alternative technologies rather than depending on conventional automotive NVH materials. This technical transition in an effort to achieve more fuel-efficient cars is expected to harm market growth.

AUTOMOTIVE NVH MATERIALS MARKET SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

By Material Type Analysis

Rubber Segment to Dominate the Market during Forecast Period due to its High Density, Uniformity, and Lightweight Properties

The market on the basis of material type is classified into rubber, plastic & foam, fibers, and others.

Rubber segment held the major share of the market in 2020. Rubbers are frequently used for sound absorption in automobiles because of its great qualities such as lightweight, high density, and uniformity. It offers the best sound insulation and vibration dampening. Rubber is an excellent material for NVH construction because of its high density, allowing it to absorb sound and vibration readily. Its uniformity also ensures that noise and vibration are distributed equally throughout the material. Plastic and foam are other popular NVH fabrication materials.

Plastic is extremely effective in reducing NVH caused by collisions and bumps and sound transmitted through structures and the air. Foam is also sliced to make components for noise-dampening applications, such as roof headliners for car cabins. Foam sheet is an excellent material for NVH reduction, especially in situations where severe environments and chemicals may be present.

By Application Analysis

Absorption Accounted for Major Share in Market in 2020 owing to its ability to Control the Vibrations in the Vehicles

By application, the market segments include absorption, damping, and insulation.

The absorption accounted for the largest automotive NVH materials market share during the forecast period. Using acoustic absorbing materials to encapsulate the noise source before it is communicated to the receiver is a typical countermeasure for situations involving excessive radiated noise. A thick barrier layer is frequently used to minimize noise transmission through the enclosure. To obtain adequate acoustic absorption across the required frequency range, design factors such as foam type, thickness, and cover films bonded to the foam are modified. In order to decrease excessive resonant behavior, vibration damping can be provided to a structure in a variety of methods. Material-based damping is the most frequent kind generated by stretching viscoelastic materials (VEM) in shear or tension/compression.

REGIONAL AUTOMOTIVE NVH MATERIALS MARKET ANALYSIS

The market size in Asia Pacific in stood at USD 5.73 billion in 2020. The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness growth due to its rapidly expanding automotive industry.  Emerging countries like India and China are expected to witness rising demand for effective mobility solutions during the forecast period owing to population growth. As the purchasing power & standard of living of middle class improves, demand for passenger cars & commercial vehicles is expected to rise in the region. Wealthy middle class is expected to consider factors such as comfort, luxury and safety while making purchasing decisions for their automobiles. Automotive NVH materials are used in vehicles to minimize noise and vibrations while driving, improving passenger comfort. Rising demand from automakers to enhance vehicle comfort attributed to increasing consumer demand is expected to drive the market.

The market in North America is expected to witness growth owing to its constantly expanding automotive industry. The U.S. is a major automobile producer. The U.S. saw a rapid increase in electric vehicle sales in recent years, and this trend is likely to continue during the forecast period. As major automakers turn their attention to vehicle electrification due to expanding customer demand, the market is expected to gain and witness robust growth.

The market in Europe is expected to witness growth owing to its steadily expanding automotive industry. The European automobile industry contributes a huge share of the EU’s GDP and is expected to continue this trend during the forecast period. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Europe has around 298 automobile factories. The market is predicted to expand due to regional automakers such as Volkswagen, BMW, Renault, and Peugeot.  Additionally, due to the high production standards maintained by automotive manufacturers, European cars, vans, buses, and trucks are regarded as the world’s safest and quietest automobiles. The regional presence of major automakers and rising utilization of automotive NVH materials to make cars safer and comfortable, is anticipated to drive the market.

Latin America’s market growth is anticipated to be sluggish due to the region’s political and economic uncertainties. However, countries such as Mexico have seen significant investments in the automobile sector in recent years due to its lower manufacturing costs and logistical advantage as an exporter to the U.S. and Canada. The Middle East and Africa’s market expansion is projected to be sluggish due to the region’s undeveloped automotive sector.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Prominent Market Players Emphasize Strategic Planning to Strengthen Their Market Share

Many companies spend a lot of money on research to create materials that will increase passenger comfort, especially if they are addressed early in the design process. For instance, BASF offers Cellasto which delivers noise, vibration and harshness solution for automotive applications. The product has lightweight, high compressibility, soft & durable, and NVH improvement properties making it useful in automotive applications. .

Vibracoustic N.A. has created a microcellular urethane material (MCU) for engine and body mounting, as well as a method for optimizing its use. Other items include linear mass dampers that may be adjusted to reduce undesired vibrations and a dual-mode crankshaft damper for engines. The primary strategies used by the leading industry players to remain competitive are application development and customized products. The key players operating in the automtoive NVH materials market are Huntsman International LLC, 3M, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Dow, and Sumitomo Riko Company Limited.

LIST OF KEY PLAYERS PROFILED IN AUTOMOTIVE NVH MATERIALS MARKET:

• Dow (Midland, Michigan, U.S.)


• 3M (Minnesota, U.S.)


• Huntsman International LLC (Texas, U.S.)


• Solvay (Brussels, Belgium)


• NITTO DENKO CORPORATION (Osaka, Japan)


• NVH KOREA (Ulsan, South Korea)


• Exxon Mobil Corporation (Texas, U.S.)


• Celanese Corporation (Texas, U.S.)


• Henkel Corporation (Düsseldorf, Germany)


• Sumitomo Riko Company Limited (Nagoya, Japan)


• Borgers SE & Co. KGaA (Bocholt, Germany)


• Covestro AG (Leverkusen, Germany)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• In October 2020 – Halco and 3M collaborated to reduce NVH in electrical vehicles. Acoustical insulation components require an attachment system that can meet electric vehicle OEMs' high-volume manufacturing demands while reducing tooling and hole alignment. This is where  Halco's strength and collaboration with 3M come into play. Halco will laminate high-performance adhesive tapes from 3M to its fastening materials to fulfill various vehicle standards. Many of these adhesive tapes are designed to stick effectively to porous insulation materials, painted or greasy metals, and low surface energy polymers, making them ideal for automotive assembly.


• In June 2020 -  Nissan announced a new NVH application that will help make cabins quieter while also improving energy efficiency. Nissan's new lightweight sound insulation material, known as acoustic meta-material, is the next milestone in the company's long-term materials development. Nissan claims that their new acoustic meta-material weighs just 25% as much as equivalent-sized rubber matting while offering the same level of sound isolation.

REPORT COVERAGE

The market research report provides a detailed analysis and focuses on crucial aspects such as leading companies, products, and products. Also, it offers insights into key market trends and highlights vital industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses various factors that have contributed to the market's growth in recent years. It includes historical data & forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and analyzes the industry's latest market dynamics and opportunities.

Report Scope & Segmentation