In January-April 2025, China’s automobile production and sales exceeded 10 million units for the first time, with year-on-year growth of 12.9% and 10.8%, respectively, with new energy vehicles (NEVs) performing particularly well: production and sales reached 4.429 million and 4.3 million units, with year-on-year surges of 48.3% and 46.2%, and exports of 642,000 units, with a year-on-year increase of 52.6%. This growth continues the high base breakthrough in 2024 – auto production and sales reached 31.282 million and 31.436 million units respectively, and the proportion of new energy vehicles increased to 40.9%. Policy support (e.g. purchase tax exemption, trade-in), technological innovation (electrification and intelligentisation) and supply chain optimisation have become the underlying driving forces for the industry’s development.
The prosperity of the automotive industry, especially the lightweight and performance upgrading of new energy vehicles, is highly dependent on the innovation of chemical materials. Taking aluminium alloy as an example, it has become one of the most widely used metal matrix composites in automotive manufacturing by virtue of its lightweight, high-strength and easy-to-process characteristics.
Body covering parts: doors, bonnets, boot lids, etc. are made of 6-series aluminium alloy (Al-Mg-Si), which has a density of only 1/3 of steel, with a weight reduction of 40%-60%, and corrosion resistance is enhanced through anodic oxidation (e.g. aluminium alloy doors of Tesla Model 3).
Chassis and structural components: Suspension systems, subframes, etc. are made of 7-series aluminium alloys (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu), which are close to high-strength steels (with tensile strengths of more than 500MPa), and can be die-cast to achieve one-shot forming of complex structures (e.g., aluminium alloy chassis for the Azera ET5).
Wheels and power components: the wheels are made of A356 cast aluminium alloy, and the elongation is improved by T6 heat treatment (≥8%), which combines lightweight and impact resistance; the battery pack shell is made of 5-series aluminium alloy (Al-Mg), which has excellent corrosion resistance and meets IP67 waterproofing standards.
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