Key Players
Competitive Landscape
Future Market Insights profiles eleven companies in the automotive composites market. Toray Industries and SGL Carbon carry High ratings on both material breadth and molding depth, with Teijin, Hexcel, Owens Corning, Huntsman, Solvay, BASF, Gurit, Mitsubishi Chemical Group and Continental Structural Plastics also active in vehicle programs. Cost per kilogram saved, not company scale, sets the order of purchase for most programs.
Rule and portfolio changes ran through 2025 and 2026. Hyundai Motor Group and Toray signed a joint development agreement in October 2025, and Owens Corning sold the glass reinforcements business in April 2026.[1][3] Toray reported lower core operating income in May 2026, and SGL Carbon reported a smaller Fiber Composites business with a 19% margin in August 2026.[6][9] Cost discipline and program awards now shape which suppliers keep volume.
Company developments mapped to drivers, trends and opportunities (2026-2036)
| Development | Driver | Trend | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026: the US SAFE Vehicles Rule III was published, with passenger car standards rising 0.90% a year to model year 2029. | The rule recalibrates the CAFE program for model years 2022 to 2031. | Regulatory push for weight reduction is gentler in the USA. | Cost-led glass fiber thermoplastics suit programs with lower rule pressure. |
| August 2026: SGL Carbon reported Fiber Composites sales of EUR 99.4 million for the first half and a 19% adjusted EBITDA margin. | Loss-making activities were discontinued after the mid-2025 Carbon Fibers restructuring. | Margin is replacing volume as the target. | Stable programs can support profit at lower sales. |
| May 2026: Envalior announced a Tepex grade with a carbon footprint about 50% below the conventional version. | The grade combines polypropylene with recycled-content glass fibers. | Drop-in sustainable grades are reaching automotive structures. | Programs can adopt the grade without requalification. |
| April 2026: Owens Corning completed the sale of the glass reinforcements business to Praana Group. | The deal carried an enterprise value of USD 645 million. | Portfolio pruning is reshaping glass-based supply. | Buyers may renegotiate supply terms with the new owner. |
Source: Future Market Insights, Automotive Composites Market Report, 2026-2036.
Toray competes through a joint program with Hyundai and a global production chain, and SGL Carbon competes through a leaner Fiber Composites unit. Envalior and Syensqo compete through drop-in sustainable grades and licensed forming processes. Owens Corning has moved the glass reinforcements business to new ownership.
Who leads the automotive composites market?
Toray Industries and SGL Carbon hold High ratings on both material breadth and molding depth. Documented 2025 and 2026 activity is widest at Toray, which combines results disclosure with a named automaker agreement.[6][1]
Which companies have documented lightweighting activity?
Toray reported carbon fiber composite materials sales of JPY 300.1 billion for the year to March 2026.[6] SGL Carbon reported Fiber Composites sales of EUR 99.4 million for the first half of 2026.[9] Envalior announced a Tepex grade in May 2026 for uses such as front-end carriers and seat pans.[4] Syensqo licensed double diaphragm forming to Bucci Composites in July 2026.[7]
What should buyers evaluate before approving a supplier?
Program buyers compare cost per kilogram saved against the steel part, then test molding cycle time and recycled-content options. Requalification effort decides the schedule, so drop-in grades carry an edge when a platform is already in production.[4] Supply continuity also counts, since portfolio sales and restructuring at suppliers can change the contract counterparty.[3][9]
How is competition expected to change through 2036?
Rivalry will tighten between glass fiber thermoplastics and low-carbon steel as emission rules ease in the USA and EU. Carbon fiber suppliers face a split between premium and performance programs that pay for stiffness and volume programs that do not. Licensed forming processes and joint development agreements will decide who qualifies for the next platform cycle.[7][1]
Representative Company Overview
| Company | Positioning | Documented development |
|---|---|---|
| Toray Industries | Carbon fiber composite materials supplier | May 2026: reported sales of JPY 300.1 billion and core operating income of JPY 17.6 billion for the year to March 2026. |
| SGL Carbon | Fiber Composites unit combining Composite Solutions and Carbon Fibers | August 2026: reported first half sales of EUR 99.4 million and a 19% adjusted EBITDA margin. |
| Owens Corning | Seller of the glass reinforcements business | April 2026: completed the sale to Praana Group at an enterprise value of USD 645 million. |
| Envalior | Supplier of Tepex thermoplastic composites | May 2026: announced a Tepex grade with a carbon footprint about 50% lower. |
| Syensqo | Licensor of double diaphragm forming | July 2026: licensed the process to Bucci Composites. |
Research Methodology
The companies included in the report represent current market structure and do not indicate a market-share ranking. Rule and supplier facts come from regulator notices, company filings, press releases and trade press dated May 2025 or later.
