01 Growth in Electric Vehicles (evs) The surging adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide is significantly boosting the thermo compression forming market. This technology is increasingly used in manufacturing lightweight, durable EV components such as battery enclosures, structural parts, and interior panels. As automakers prioritize weight reduction and performance, thermo compression forming enables the use of advanced composites that meet these needs. According to the IEA, global electric vehicle (EV) sales surged to 17.1 million units in 2024, marking a 25% increase from 2023. This upward trend continues, with projections estimating over 20 million EVs to be sold in 2025, marking about 17% growth from last year. With major EV manufacturers such as Tesla, BYD, and Volkswagen adopting composite-intensive designs, the demand for thermo compression forming processes is expected to grow steadily across the EV supply chain.
March 2026 Hexcel unveiled several next-generation composite materials at JEC World 2026, including HexPly® M51, HexPly® M949, TowPreg thermosets, and HexShape® technologies. The company also announced collaborations with FACC, Duqueine, ATC, FLYING WHALES, Arkema, RIMAC, and NOVATION to accelerate high-rate thermo compression forming and lightweight composite manufacturing.
September 2025 Toray Advanced Composites expanded its Cetex® thermoplastic composite portfolio for aerospace and industrial applications, strengthening materials designed for high-rate thermo compression forming and automated lightweight component manufacturing.
July 2025 SABIC expanded collaborations with automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers to accelerate adoption of thermoplastic composite solutions for lightweight structural components manufactured through thermo compression forming, supporting vehicle weight reduction and improved manufacturing efficiency.
June 2025 Tando Composites expanded its advanced composite manufacturing capabilities with continued investment in thermo-compression molding technologies and production processes for lightweight automotive and industrial composite components.