Trends in Plastics Used for the Construction of European Cars An Analysis Based on PLASTICAR, a Specialised Benchmarking Tool 1999-01-0978

The objective of this paper is to present a benchmarking tool focused on plastic parts and the material trends in European cars as analysed from this tool and from specific studies carried out by our company. The benchmarking tool has been built on the basis of the following methodology: recent new cars are purchased from dealers, all plastic parts weighing more than 2 grams are fully dismantled and examined, the parts are weighed and their materials are identified, photos of the systems and of the parts are taken, a nomenclature for parts and materials has been constructed and implemented, a specific software has been developed in order that parts can be sorted according to different criteria concerning parts and/or materials. The analysis of trends takes into consideration the impact of new constraints (environment with the new European draft directive on End-of-Life vehicles and regulations EURO IV concerning emissions, safety with the new directive concerning shocks, and comfort with the globalisation) on the choice of materials.