Composite Housing Materials Displace Cast Aluminum for Lightweighting
OEMs continue specifying composite and plastic housing materials over traditional cast aluminum as engine bay lightweighting initiatives push manufacturers toward materials that reduce vehicle weight without compromising sealed pressure performance across the engine's operating envelope, with suppliers such as Mahle expanding composite material research to meet this transition. Plastic and Composite Housings grow about 4.8% a year, and gross margins run 20% to 32%. The trend needs continued material research investment and rewards suppliers with proven pressure resistance data. Buyers also value proven delivery reliability and documented consistency across every batch.
Market Impact: lightweighting adds 6-9% yearly demand








