Cost Tops 10th DuPont Automotive/SAE Survey, as Safety, Fuel Economy, Alternative Powertrain Technology Gain Importance

DETROIT, March 1 -- While cost is still the top concern for 33 percent of attendees at the 2004 SAE World Congress, 13 percent named safety as their top concern; and 12 percent selected fuel economy and alternative powertrain issues as paramount, according to the 10th annual DuPont Automotive/SAE Survey. Recyclability will become more important to the industry during the next five years, according to nearly half the respondents, who represent a cross section of the automotive supplier and OEM design and engineering community.

The Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress runs March 8-11 in Detroit. DuPont is exhibiting in booth #1643.

"In addition to cost reduction, attendees see value in enhancing vehicle safety, developing alternative powertrain systems and lowering the industry's environmental footprint," said Chris Murphy, director, DuPont Automotive Engineering Materials. "The challenge we all face is to ensure everything we do to deliver against those mandates clearly provides benefits consumers want and value in a cost-effective manner."

Sixty-six percent of SAE attendees rank safety as very important to consumers; 47 percent named better vehicle performance; and 37 percent selected entertainment technology as paramount to consumers. DuPont is the leading supplier of automotive safety system materials as well as materials and technology for powertrain and electrical/electronic systems.

Alternative powered vehicles driven by fuel cells or hybrids will have the greatest impact on the industry in the next five to 10 years, said nearly 37 percent of survey respondents. A strong majority of respondents agreed that hybrids from Toyota and Honda would hasten the development of alternative powered vehicles.

However, when asked to specify which powertrain developments will get the most emphasis, more than 55 percent said "optimizing gasoline internal combustion engines" (ICE). "Further developing hybrid electric vehicles" was selected by 30 percent of respondents.

"Clearly there is a delicate balance between hybrid development and continuing to wring more efficiency and better fuel economy, environmental impact from current ICEs," said Murphy. "At DuPont, we are working with the industry on both fronts to reduce weight, cost, and emissions while increasing component integration to address the industry's need to reduce costs.

"DuPont also offers an extensive portfolio of fuel system materials that can help reduce evaporative emissions, and next week at SAE we will introduce new conductive resins and resins to withstand hot diesel fuel," said Murphy. "We are also closely aligned with many members of the MIT consortium for advanced automotive electronics to help ensure materials technology is aligned with needs for new high-voltage vehicle and hybrid technology."

More than 20 percent of respondents said increasing collaboration across the value chain would help strengthen the automotive industry. "Collaboration and consumer-facing innovations are key to developing sustainable solutions," said Murphy. As an example, Murphy cited the DuPont, DENSO Corp. collaboration program to test and prove the viability of DuPont Composite Recycle Technology as an efficient way to recycle large nylon automotive parts to help automakers meet End-of-Life-Vehicle regulations that go into effect in Europe in 2005. See DuPont Composite Recycle Technology Captures Top Environmental Award at www.automotive.dupont.com .

"In addition to supporting the industry with sustainable recycle technology options, this program also shows the power of collaboration along the value chain," said Murphy.

The Automotive Consulting Group, Ann Arbor, Mich., conducted the DuPont Automotive/SAE survey of automakers, suppliers who said they plan to attend the 2004 SAE World Congress.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people's lives better, safer and easier. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Survey charts and referenced releases are available at automotive.dupont.com or plastics.dupont.com .