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Automotive Exterior Panels - 2000: Materials, Manufacturing and Economics

4 January 2001

Automotive Exterior Panels - 2000: Materials, Manufacturing and Economics

    DETROIT, Jan. 4 Materials, manufacturing, and economics
involved in the production of exterior panels have all been investigated in
the new study now available from BRG Townsend, Inc.  The factors that affect
design decisions, materials selection, and production techniques have been
assessed, and current and future trends in exterior panel markets have been
identified.  Growth forecasts to the year 2005 are provided for each major
exterior panel application.
    Now completed, "Automotive Exterior Panels - 2000" addresses the issues
surrounding automotive exterior panels by identifying and evaluating the
economic, technical and market factors that will influence the automotive
exterior panel market for passenger cars and light trucks in North America,
Europe, Japan and Korea over the next five years.
    Since the inception of the automotive industry, steel has dominated the
market for exterior panels for a host of different reasons.  These reasons
range from ease of manufacturing, and technical know-how to being a low cost
alternative in the high majority of situations.  However, over the last two
decades, there have been attempts made by the aluminum and polymer suppliers
to make inroads into these applications.
    The major drivers behind these attempts are lighter weight and thus better
fuel consumption.  However, due to a multitude of factors, including
enhanced steel designs, painting logistics, inexperience in terms of design,
high component cost, capital investment and a variety of other reasons,
steel has retained its dominance with over 95% market share worldwide.
    Specifically, this new study provides the following:

    -- Identification and evaluation of material selection factors
    -- Fabrication processes
    -- Probable trends in materials and process substitution
    -- Component manufacturing economics
    -- Market opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia

    BRG Townsend, producer of the Automotive NewsWire(TM), is recognized as
the world leader in providing business information to the automotive
marketplace performing proprietary consultation and producing multiclient
studies including "Instrument Panels and Consoles - 1997"; "Bumper Systems -
1998"; "Exterior Panels - 1995"; "Painting of Exterior Panels - 1995"; "Fuel
Systems - 1999"; "Painting of Exterior Panels - 2000."  In addition, BRG
Townsend brings over 50 years of experience serving the global plastics,
chemicals, pulp & paper, and related materials industries.  For more
information on this, or on any of BRG's products and services, please access
http://www.brgtownsend.com or contact Sales & Marketing Manager, Abbe Scheiner
at 973-347-5300 or e-mail to ascheiner@brgtownsend.com.

    Contact: Abbe Scheiner
    BRG Townsend, Inc.
    973-347-5300
    ascheiner@brgtownsend.com