Automobiles require several essential raw materials to manufacture. This includes glass, aluminum, and iron ore used for making steel. After the raw materials are extracted from the earth, they're transformed into components that automakers or auto part companies employ in the assembly process. Automobile manufacturers are one of the world's biggest consumers of raw materials.

A Lot of Automobile Parts

A vast array of components are used to construct a car. Apart from the components (engines and transmissions), there are interior components like seats, instrument panels, HVAC units, and wires that are required to connect them all. Through the years, the materials used to construct these components have changed; however, most of what is inside cars remains the same. Primarily, raw materials are extracted, or mined, out of the ground. After that, a raw materials production company converts those raw materials into products that automakers can utilize in their production.

Steel

Steel is made of iron ore and is the most used component for auto manufacturing. On average, 900 kg of steel is used in each car. Steel is used in the construction of the chassis of a car and its body, as well as roofing, body, door panels, and beams between doors. Steel is frequently utilized in exhaust pipes. Modern technological advancements allow automakers to use various steel types with different levels of rigidity.

Plastics

Petroleum is the primary source of various plastic components found in automobiles. Chemical companies convert leftover petroleum into synthetic plastic. Plastics compete with steel to be the most prominent component of auto manufacturing. The typical automobile is constructed from 151 kilograms of plastics and composite materials. They account for 8 percent of the vehicle's volume and 50% of the number of materials. Plastics' flexibility, durability, and light weight make them a great material for many components.

Aluminum

Aluminum is being increasingly utilized in automobile manufacturing because of its malleability and lightweight. In 1975, only 84 lbs of aluminum were employed in the standard automobile, and that number was predicted to rise to 466 pounds in 2020 and 565 pounds by 2028. Wheels are typically made from aluminum.

Rubber

It is essential to the automobile, and the auto industry is crucial for the industry of rubber. Tires are among the essential components of an automobile. Rubber is also utilized for making a variety of seals, belts, and hoses essential to the operation of an engine. Similar to plastic, it is strong and can easily form various shapes. Natural rubber demand is expected to grow to $33.87 billion in 2027, an increase of over $28.65 billion in 2019 and the automotive industry taking up 65.3 percent.

Glass

Currently, glass is utilized in navigation screens, backup cameras, and mirrors inside your vehicle. Glass helps the driver get better visibility of their activities and where they are. The windshields are made from laminated glass. Glass laminates ensure the best safety standards, particularly in a collision. Lamination involves placing an extremely, very thin film of vinyl in between the two glasses. This will ensure that there's no shutter when glass breaks.

Fiberglass

The majority of people believe that fiberglass and glass are the same materials. But this isn't factual. Fiberglass is composed of thin glass strands. It's mostly air but not glass. When the glass is wrapped into small sheets and resin is sprayed on it, lighter objects can be created. Fiberglass provides a variety of advantages in the automobile industry. It is not corrosive, which means it is a great alternative to steel in places where steel could easily be corrosion-prone. It is also fireproof. If there is an accident, the user can get out of the vehicle without injury. It is used for doors, front bumpers, roofs, casings, roofs, and even wheels.

Conclusion

From fibers to metals to the sand and quartz used to create glass, auto manufacturing uses the rawest ingredients than any other manufacturing industry. Since the first time it invented the assembly line method in the early 1980s, the automotive manufacturing industry has been an innovator in mass production, and the ability to adapt its use in the raw material is an essential aspect of its growth.