IN THE TURKISH AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR, 281 THOUSAND TONS OF PLASTIC, 113 THOUSAND TONS OF RUBBER MATERIAL WERE USED
- PLASFED published its evaluation report on plastic and rubber materials used in the automotive sector. In the “Turkey Automotive Plastics Sector Report”, which stated that 12.2 percent of vehicles would consist of plastic materials in 2018, it was reminded that cars would be more environmentally friendly and cheaper thanks to plastics.
- In his evaluation of the report, PLASFED Chairman of the Board Selçuk Aksoy stated that Turkey has a strong structure in automotive plastics, as it does in the automotive sector, and that they are ready to contribute more to the automotive sector.
PLASFED (Plastics Industrialists Federation), which produces comprehensive and regular data for the plastics sector, published a report on plastic use and development trends in the automotive sector.
In PLASFED's “Turkey Automotive Plastics Sector Report 2013”, it was stated that the use of plastic materials in the automotive sector is rapidly increasing worldwide and in Turkey, and this upward trend will continue with new products. The report, which announced that the plastic materials used in the Turkish automotive sector would reach 312 thousand tons in 2018, also stated that plastics currently constitute 11% of vehicle components, and the weight of plastic materials has shown an increasing trend over the years.
“Support for plastic production increases profitability in many sectors”
In his evaluation of the report, which noted that vehicles have become cheaper and more environmentally friendly thanks to plastics, PLASFED Chairman of the Board Selçuk Aksoy reminded that Turkey has a strong plastics sector and pointed out that there are structural problems, especially concerning raw materials, and that solving these problems would benefit not only the plastics sector but also many other sectors to which it contributes. Aksoy said, “When people hear about plastic products, they usually think of packaging materials, containers, cups, but plastic now also means airplanes, helicopters, construction materials, and automobiles. Plastic is a material that can be produced in desired quantities, is easy to recycle, has environmentally friendly production processes, and is durable and inexpensive. For this reason, polymer technologies are used in many areas, from airplanes to vehicles, from construction materials to food preservation. Our country has a strong plastics sector. We are Europe's second-largest plastic producing country. We have a series of structural problems, primarily concerning raw materials and customs tariffs applied to raw materials. There are serious efforts to create a negative perception against plastic products. We want our sector to be given strategic importance because support for the plastics sector also means support for the automotive, construction, and food sectors. We want to collaborate more with our manufacturers at every level in the automotive sector. We are ready to contribute more to the automotive sector,” he added.
Plastics are increasing their share in the automotive industry because they are environmentally friendly and cheap!
The report noted that automotive plastics are closely related to the production volume of this sector, yet are partially affected by fluctuations in the automotive market due to the increasing trend of plastic use in automobiles. It also stated that environmental awareness has increased in vehicles despite growing performance demands. The report also emphasized the contribution of plastic material use in meeting both demands simultaneously, recalling that in Turkey, vehicle production in the automotive sector in 2013 increased by 10% for cars to 634 thousand compared to 2012, decreased by 1% for commercial vehicles to 492 thousand, and fell by 5% overall to 1 million 126 thousand units. In contrast, in Turkey, despite the total material weight remaining the same in vehicle production and the demand for renewing vehicles in the park in 2013 compared to 2005, an increase of 33% was observed in the amount of plastic used, and an increase of 33% in the amount of rubber. The report also determined that while 212 thousand tons of plastic were consumed in the Turkish automotive sector in 2005, consumption rose to 281 thousand tons in 2013, and total rubber consumption increased from 113 thousand tons to 156 thousand tons.
Automotive plastics usage trends
In the Turkey Automotive Plastics Sector Report, which estimates that the Turkish automotive sector will consume at least 312 thousand tons of plastic material in 2018, it was noted that this could change with the production of new materials and an increase in the trend of using plastic materials in automobiles.
|
Major Materials Consumption Estimate in the Automotive Sector (Assembly + Renewal) (1000 Tons) |
|||||||
|
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
Difference (%) 2018-2013 |
|
Steels |
1.371 |
1.366 |
1.362 |
1.339 |
1.341 |
1.338 |
-2 |
|
Non-Steel Metals |
442 |
438 |
435 |
433 |
429 |
415 |
-6 |
|
Total Metals |
1.813 |
1.805 |
1.798 |
1.772 |
1.769 |
1.753 |
-3 |
|
Plastics |
281 |
291 |
302 |
307 |
309 |
312 |
11 |
|
Rubber |
156 |
162 |
169 |
176 |
182 |
182 |
16 |
|
Other Materials |
307 |
308 |
309 |
310 |
308 |
307 |
0 |
Automotive and plastic: Closer and more intertwined than imagined!
The PLASFED report also included interesting information regarding the future impact and current status of automotive plastics. Key points from this information are as follows:
- Because the fuel cells of future electric cars are made from plastic materials, plastics will become critical and indispensable materials for vehicles.
- R&D studies are being carried out for chassis production from plastic materials. Thus, there will be an opportunity to produce very different automobiles more cheaply.
- Thanks to lightweight plastics, it will soon be possible to travel 50 kilometers with one liter of fuel. What's more interesting is that while commercial electric vehicles can currently achieve desired performance with 120 kW of electricity, cars will only need 40 kW of electricity as they become lighter thanks to plastic. R&D processes on this matter are expected to be completed within a few years, leading to the beginning of commercial product conversion.
- In vehicles, plastic material usage, which was at 8.3% in 2005, has increased to 11% today.
|
Change in Proportions of Major Materials Used in Vehicle Production (%) |
|||
|
|
2005 |
2013 |
Difference (%) |
|
Steel |
55,3 |
53,6 |
-1,7 |
|
Non-Steel Metals |
20,2 |
17,3 |
-2,9 |
|
Plastics |
8,3 |
11,0 |
2,7 |
|
Rubber |
4,4 |
6,1 |
1,7 |
|
Plastic + Rubber |
12,7 |
17,1 |
4,4 |
- In vehicles used in Turkey, 53 thousand tons of material were used for interior trim, and 35 thousand tons for seats.
|
Plastic Part Production Used in Turkish Automotive Sector (Assembly + Renewal Demand) ( 1000 Tons ) |
|||
|
|
2005 |
2013 |
Difference |
|
Interior Trim |
40 |
53 |
13 |
|
Seat |
26 |
35 |
9 |
|
Bumper |
20 |
27 |
7 |
|
Under Hood |
18 |
24 |
6 |
|
Others |
18 |
24 |
6 |
|
Upholstery |
16 |
21 |
5 |
|
Front Console |
14 |
19 |
5 |
|
Electrical |
14 |
19 |
5 |
|
Fuel Systems |
12 |
16 |
4 |
|
Chassis |
12 |
16 |
4 |
|
Lighting |
10 |
14 |
3 |
|
Exterior Parts |
8 |
11 |
3 |
|
Fluid Tanks |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
TOTAL PLASTIC MATERIAL |
212 |
281 |
69 |
- In Turkey, in the production of vehicles and in the demand for renewal of vehicles in the park, despite the total material weight remaining the same in 2013 compared to 2005, an increase of 33% was observed in the amount of plastic used, and an increase of 39% in the amount of rubber. As a result of this increase, while 212 thousand tons of plastic were consumed in vehicle production in 2005, consumption increased to 281 thousand tons in 2013, and rubber consumption rose from 113 thousand tons to 156 thousand tons.
|
Estimated % Change in Share of Major Materials Used in Automotive Total Consumption |
|||||||
|
( 2012 – 2018 ) |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
% Difference (2018–2013) |
|
Steel |
53,6 |
53,4 |
53,3 |
52,4 |
52,4 |
52,3 |
-1,3 |
|
Non-Steel Metals |
17,3 |
17,1 |
17,0 |
16,9 |
16,8 |
16,2 |
-1,1 |
|
Plastics |
11,0 |
11,4 |
11,8 |
12,0 |
12,1 |
12,2 |
1,2 |
|
Rubber |
6,1 |
6,4 |
6,6 |
6,9 |
7,1 |
7,1 |
1,0 |
|
Plastic + Rubber |
17,1 |
17,7 |
18,4 |
18,9 |
19,2 |
19,3 |
2,2 |
- Plastics are most commonly used in automotive for interior trim. Interior trim is followed by seats and bumpers, respectively.
|
Use of plastic in automotive |
|
|
Plastic Parts |
% Share |
|
Interior Trim |
19,0 |
|
Seat |
12,4 |
|
Bumper |
9,5 |
|
Under Hood |
8,6 |
|
Others |
8,6 |
|
Upholstery |
7,6 |
|
Front Console |
6,7 |
|
Electrical |
6,7 |
|
Fuel Systems |
5,7 |
|
Chassis |
5,7 |
|
Lighting |
4,8 |
|
Exterior Parts |
3,8 |
|
Fluid Tanks |
1,0 |
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.