The Importance of Interiors & Lighting
The importance of vehicle interiors and lighting systems has been steadily rising in recent years as automotive manufacturers compete to produce the highest quality vehicles on the market and entry-level vehicles raising interior standards. A recent study determined that 54.8% of vehicle users rank vehicle interiors as an important factor when deciding which car to purchase, with 32.5% stating they would be willing to pay more for higher quality interiors and 10.3% stating that poor interiors are the most annoying factor in their current car.
The global vehicle interiors market is estimated to reach a value of £175 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.7%. This growth is accounted for by increasing demand for luxurious vehicles, focus on the well-being of drivers and technological advancements. As a result, manufacturers are choosing to invest more in their interiors and lighting systems to keep up with the market.
Reasons to Invest in Interiors & Lighting
Automotive manufacturers choose to invest in superior-quality interiors and lighting in order to:
- Improve NVH (noise, vibration, hardness) characteristics
- Improve comfort and satisfaction
- Increase vehicle’s value
- Eliminate odour
- Avoid health issues
- Improve feelings of safety by the passengers
- Enable easy accessibility of all components by the passengers
Main Components of Vehicle Interiors & Lighting
The main components of vehicle interiors and lighting include:
- Instrument panels: These panels make up the airbag housing, panel pieces and centre stacks – usually made from ABS, polycarbonates, polypropylene, PPE or SMA.
- Door panels and consoles: These make up the cup holders, armrests, door panels and storage spaces – usually made from SMA, ABS, polypropylene and other polymer materials.
- Upholstery, seating and fabrics: This is essential for a comfortable feel and aesthetic look – usually made from polymer composites.
- Interior lighting: Usually come in plastic-covered LEDs and acrylic fibre optics through overhead lighting and backlit buttons and knobs. This is to ease navigation and aid driver experience in the vehicle.
Ways to Achieve Premium Vehicle Interiors & Lighting
Interiors
Permabond TA4610 is a toughened acrylic adhesive that can be used to bond instruments and door panels made from polypropylene and polyethylene. It provides great adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces and substrates; including metals and composites, without the need for a primer or surface treatment. In addition, it’s non-hazardous, which allows for use in vehicle interior applications. Discover our full guide on bonding polypropylene effectively.
Flexible cyanoacrylate adhesives, such as Permabond 748 and Permabond 741 can be used to bond consoles and panels made from ABS within vehicle interiors. The exact adhesive required for your ABS bonding application depends on the solvent or temperature resistance required for your specific application. Discover our full guide on bonding ABS effectively.
Araldite 2021-1 is a general-purpose MMA adhesive that is used for bonding and repairing seating. It provides excellent resistance to chemicals and water and is ideal for rapid assembly operations such as those in buses, coaches and other public transport options.
Araldite 2011 and Araldite 2012 are multi-purpose epoxy adhesives that can be used to bond wood within vehicle interiors. They provide tough and resilient bonds and can be used for manufacturing and efficient repairs. Discover our full guide on bonding wood effectively.
Lighting
DOWSIL is the world-leading brand in silicone-based solutions for electronic components with decades of proven experience. DOWSIL provide silicone adhesives, sealants, coatings, gels, thermal potting and encapsulants, thermal interface materials and optical silicones. These products are essential solutions for vehicle lighting, enabling:
- Durable adhesion
- Protection from moisture, humidity, dirt, thermal, and physical damage
- Extended component life
- Optics in complex shapes
- Greater efficiency
- Seamless integration with mechanical systems
- Corrosion resistance
Discover our full LED lighting product selection guide to view our full range of silicone solutions for vehicle lighting systems.
