Market Trends of Automotive 3D Printing Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Automotive 3D Printing Market according to our research experts:
Growing Adoption of Fused Deposition Modeling Technology
The automobile industry is compelled to explore cost-effective techniques because of rising raw material prices and global economic instability. Advancements in techniques and materials employed in additive manufacturing are expected to create new frontiers for 3D printing in the automotive sector. Optimization and implementation of additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing are unavoidable for automakers to achieve successful output. Using this technology for prototyping proved to be a highly cost-efficient and time-saving achievement.
In the automotive sector, FDM is one of the most often utilized 3D printing methods. Its ability to use various methods for producing prototypes, concept model parts and final products helped it maintain a significant portion of the automotive 3D printing market. The inputs for this computer-assisted method come from the model's processing unit. The technique often employs thermoplastic materials, resulting in ultra-light finished goods. In addition, advanced high-performance engineering-grade thermoplastics can be used in the process, resulting in resistant, strong, and remarkably light items.
The supporting benefits, such as minimum waste and a low carbon footprint, rage the industry to adopt it more widely. Technological improvements in FDM technology, which allow 3D printing of parts made of materials like carbon fiber and carbon fiber-reinforced polymers, have made the procedure even more critical to automakers. The ability of the FDM method to 3D print carbon fiber vehicle parts reduces manufacturing costs and time while minimizing conventional manufacturing processes' environmental impact.
Growing automobile production is also expected to significantly contribute to the growing adoption of 3D printing in the automotive industry. For instance, in 2021, global automotive production reached 80.14 million units, a growth of 3.13% over 2020.
Thus, the above factors are anticipated to expand the market for 3D printing in the automobile industry worldwide during the forecast period.
North America to dominate the automotive 3D printing market
Primarily owing to the technology's early adoption, North America now occupies the largest market share, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. North America and Europe dominate the industry due to the large number of OEM manufacturers who invest a considerable portion of their revenue in research & development. Many automobile manufacturers are investing in 3D printing to manufacture customized automotive parts to achieve shortened turnaround time, reduce material waste, lower manufacturing costs, enhance production rate, and shorter overall times for quick prototyping of automotive parts. For instance,
- In December 2021, BMW i Ventures, BMW Group's investment arm, provided seed capital to elastomer 3D printing start-up Rapid Liquid Print (RLP). Rapid Liquid Print (RLP) licensed its gel dispensing technology from MIT's Self Assembly Lab, which can produce soft, pliable products by using industry-standard materials like foams, rubbers, and silicones.
However, due to the falling price of 3D printers, the critical automotive manufacturing regions of Europe and Asia Pacific, which are still in the early stages of automotive 3D printing adoption, are likely to develop faster than in North America throughout the forecast period.
Due to many factors, such as many start-ups entrance into the market, a developed chemical industry, government efforts, skilled labor availability, and low-cost raw materials, Asia-Pacific is also predicted to exhibit a healthy rise in the Automotive 3D printing market over the forecast period.
