South Korea Automotive Composites Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Production Type, Material Type, Application, and Region, 2026-2034

South Korea Automotive Composites Market Overview:

The South Korea automotive composites market size reached USD 583.62 Million in 2025. The market is projected to reach USD 1,114.23 Million by 2034, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 7.45% during 2026-2034. The market is driven by the growing demand for lightweight vehicles, rapid technological advancements, and the expansion of electric and hybrid vehicle production. Ongoing innovations in materials and manufacturing are enhancing efficiency, safety, and sustainability, reinforcing the nation’s leadership in advanced automotive engineering and contributing the South Korea automotive composites market share.

South Korea Automotive Composites Market Trends:

Rising Demand for Lightweight Vehicles

The automotive sector in South Korea is undergoing a material transformation as manufacturers increasingly adopt lightweight composites to meet fuel efficiency and emission reduction goals. The use of carbon fiber, glass fiber, and hybrid composites offers a superior strength-to-weight ratio, enabling significant reductions in vehicle mass without compromising durability or safety. This shift directly contributes to better acceleration, handling, and braking performance while supporting compliance with tightening international fuel economy and carbon emission regulations. Lightweight vehicles also provide extended range benefits for electric and hybrid models, reinforcing the connection between material innovation and sustainable mobility. Automotive producers are incorporating these advanced materials into structural components, interiors, and chassis designs to optimize overall performance and safety standards. The broader transition toward lightweight engineering is reshaping manufacturing priorities, emphasizing precision, innovation, and environmental responsibility. This evolution positions South Korea as a frontrunner in adopting next-generation automotive materials that balance performance, sustainability, and regulatory compliance in a competitive global market.

Technological Advancements in Composite Manufacturing

Technological innovation in composite materials and processing techniques is a crucial factor contributing to the South Korea automotive composites market growth. Advancements in resin chemistry, fiber reinforcement methods, and thermal processing are significantly enhancing material strength, durability, and resistance to environmental stress. The introduction of automated layup systems, resin transfer molding, and compression molding are streamlined production, reducing waste and cycle times while maintaining consistent quality. Furthermore, integration of computer-aided design (CAD), real-time simulation, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based monitoring systems ensure precision in component manufacturing and predictive maintenance throughout production lines. Besides this, collaboration between research institutions, material scientists, and automotive companies continues to yield breakthroughs in recyclability and cost-effective composite fabrication. These innovations allow for the production of complex geometries and tailored properties suited to various vehicle types and performance requirements. As technology continues to evolve, South Korea’s automotive sector benefits from improved efficiency, design flexibility, and competitiveness, solidifying its role as a leader in advanced composite engineering for modern mobility solutions.

Expansion of Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Production

The robust electric and hybrid vehicle sector in South Korea is catalyzing the demand for advanced composite materials in automotive design and production. Lightweight construction plays a crucial role in enhancing battery efficiency, improving energy usage, and extending the driving range of electric vehicles (EVs). Composites, with their superior strength-to-weight ratio, provide structural integrity while significantly reducing overall vehicle mass, thereby supporting the nation’s transition toward sustainable mobility. According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), South Korea produced 407,009 EVs in 2025, representing 11% of its total automobile output, signaling a major transformation in the national automotive industry. The integration of composite materials also enhances vibration resistance, thermal stability, and safety standards, ensuring optimal performance in both urban and long-distance applications. Moreover, their adaptability to modular design frameworks allows efficient customization across different vehicle categories. Continuous progress in composite fabrication methods is lowering production costs, improving scalability, and strengthening material availability for mass production. As leading domestic automakers increase investment in electric mobility technologies, composites are becoming indispensable to achieving performance efficiency and regulatory compliance.

South Korea Automotive Composites Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2026-2034. Our report has categorized the market based on production type, material type, and application.

Production Type Insights:

• Hand Layup
• Resin Transfer Molding
• Vacuum Infusion Processing
• Injection Molding
• Compression Molding

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the production type have also been provided ‎in the report. This includes hand layup, resin transfer molding, vacuum infusion processing, injection molding, and compression molding.

Material Type Insights:

• Thermoset Polymer
• Thermoplastic Polymer
• Carbon Fiber
• Glass Fiber
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the material type. ‎This includes thermoset polymer, thermoplastic polymer, carbon fiber, glass fiber, and others.

Application Insights:

• Structural Assembly
• Power Train Components
• Interior
• Exterior
• Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the application have also been provided ‎in the report. This includes structural assembly, power train components, interior, exterior, and others.

Regional Insights:

• Seoul Capital Area
• Yeongnam (Southeastern Region)
• Honam (Southwestern Region)
• Hoseo (Central Region)
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Seoul Capital Area, Yeongnam (Southeastern Region), Honam (Southwestern Region), Hoseo (Central Region), and others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

South Korea Automotive Composites Market News:

• October 2025: Hyundai Motor Group and Toray Group signed a Strategic Joint Development Agreement in Seoul to co-develop advanced composite materials, including carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP), for future mobility and high-performance vehicles. The partnership spans the entire value chain, ranging from R&D to production and commercialization, to enhance innovation in next-generation mobility.
• February 2025: Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors signed a strategic partnership with Kolon Group to invest ₩20 billion (US$13.6 million) in Kolon Spaceworks, a new composite materials firm. The deal, giving the automakers an 11% stake, focuses on developing eco-friendly mobility materials for hydrogen storage and EV battery covers to meet EU regulations.

South Korea Automotive Composites Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Korea automotive composites market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea automotive composites market on the basis of production type?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea automotive composites market on the basis of material type?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea automotive composites market on the basis of application?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea automotive composites market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Korea automotive composites market?
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Korea automotive composites market?
• What is the structure of the South Korea automotive composites market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South Korea automotive composites market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC's industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the South Korea automotive composites market from 2020-2034.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South Korea automotive composites market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the South Korea automotive composites industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.