Polyurethane-Based Foams in Automotive Market Size, Growth Opportunities and Trends

Polyurethane-Based Foams in Automotive Market Size, Trends and Future Potential

The polyurethane-based foams in automotive market is forecasted to expand from USD 14.15 billion in 2025 to USD 23.32 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.71% from 2025 to 2034.

Introduction

The polyurethane-based foams in automotive market is a crucial sector of the automotive materials industry. This industry deals in the manufacturing and distribution of polyurethane-foams for the automotive sector. There are different types of foams developed in this industry consisting of flexible foam and rigid foam. These foams find application in various automotive components comprising of seating, bumper systems, headliners, door panels and some others. The end-users of this sector include light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles, passenger cars and EVs. The growing application of polyurethane-based foams in commercial vehicles has boosted the market expansion. This market is predicted to rise significantly with the growth of the automotive sector in different parts of the world.

• According to the International Energy Agency, around 320000 light commercial vehicles were sold globally in 2022 that increased to 470000 in 2023.

Highlights of the Polyurethane-Based Foams in Automotive Market

• Asia Pacific held the largest share of the polyurethane-based foams market due to the availability of raw materials in this region.
• Europe is expected to grow with a significant CAGR due to rapid adoption of EVs in this region.
• The seating segment led the industry due to the rising demand for comfortable automotive seats around the world.
• The passenger cars segment held the largest portion of the industry due to increasing sales of SUVs across the globe.

Key Metrics and Overview

Polyurethane-Based Foams in Automotive: Stats & Figures

• According to the International Energy Agency, around 3.4 million electric vehicles were sold in the European region in 2024.
• According to the Statistics Canada, around 164,692 vehicles were sold in Canada during October 2024.
• According to the Engine Technology Forum, 198,202 diesel vehicles were sold in the U.S. during the 4th quarter of 2024.
• According to the Malaysian Automotive Association, around 80,571 commercial vehicles were registered in Malaysia during 2023.

Industry Leader Announcement

In April 2024, Alex Stepuk, the global market segment leader automotive at Huntsman made an announcement stating that, “As the drive to create more electric vehicles continues to accelerate, we are applying our know-how to the challenges facing automotive manufacturers and developing new products that help to address clearly identifiable gaps in the market. We are delighted to extend the breadth of our SHOKLESS portfolio into the electric vehicle battery sector.”

Geographical Insights

Asia Pacific held the highest share of the polyurethane-foams in automotive market. The rising investment by automotive component startups in countries such as China, Japan and India has driven the market expansion. Also, the growing consumer preference for noise free vehicle cabin and customized dashboards is contributing to the industrial growth. Moreover, the presence of several market players such as Wanhua Chemical Group, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd, Mitsui Chemical and some others is projected to boost the market growth in this region.

Competitive Landscape

The polyurethane-based foams in automotive market is a matured industry with the presence of several dominating players. Some of the prominent companies in this industry consists of Bridgestone Corporation, M/s Sheela Foam Ltd., Caligen Europe B.V., Vita (Holdings) Limited, Heubach, Saint-Gobain and some others. These companies are constantly engaged in developing polyurethane-based foams for the automotive sector and adopting numerous strategies to maintain their dominance in this industry.

• According to the annual report of Heubach, the revenue of the company in 2023 was Rs 76,642 lakhs that increased to Rs 79,070 lakhs in 2024.

Polyurethane-Based Foams in Automotive Market Segmentations

By Application

• Seating
• Bumper Systems
• Headliners
• Door Panels
• Others

By End-User

• Light Commercial Vehicles
• Heavy Commercial Vehicles
• Passenger Cars
• Electric Vehicles

By Type

• Flexible Foam
• Rigid Foam

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa