Automotive Industry Trends

Automotive Glazing Today

There was a time when automobile glazing was thought of as “just windows,” what you look through, not what you look at, but today, glazing has taken on new dimensions of importance and aesthetics. It has grown in sophistication from plain plate glass, to laminated glass, bonded with cellulose or resin, to the more complex layering of annealed glass with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer that serves numerous functions, as well as coatings that provide never-before-seen features. Current materials and designs have a tremendous influence on consumers’ safety, on their tastes, and on the affordability of automobiles.

Surveys have found that consumers want greater safety, security, and comfort in their cars, and manufacturers are responding. There is a growing trend toward laminated side glazing, something that started with luxury SUVs and is now penetrating the mid-range market. Laminated side glazing accomplishes three important tasks. First, it makes a vehicle more intruder-resistant. Tempered glass (glass toughened by a process of rapid heating and cooling) can withstand an attack with a sharp or heavy object for only 1 or 2 seconds. Laminated glass can keep a would-be thief at bay for 20 to 30 seconds, more than enough time to discourage and dissuade the criminal. Second, laminated side glazing saves lives. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that hundreds of lives can be saved by the use of front side glazing, preventing occupant ejection during a crash, a leading cause of injury and death. A third additional benefit is the reduction of insurance costs that follows the achievement of greater vehicle safety.

Glazing has become a powerful enticement in the car buyers’ decision-making process. Though it is seldom trumpeted on the showroom floor, glazing inspires the look and feel of the vehicle, swaying the emotional component of the sale. Design trends are rich with complex shapes for glazing and now include color, which is built into the interlayer. High-end vehicles tend to be conservative, whereas mid-range cars can be more distinctive. For example, General Motors’ hot new Solstice, grabbing its share of attention this summer, features soft smoke-colored glazing. The European Lancia Thesis distinguishes itself with azure-tinted glazing. In addition to color, the amount of the auto that is composed of glazing creates an effect. The increased area of see-through surface offers a feeling of openness, another trait that enhances the driver’s experience of the automobile.

Weight reduction may not be an issue at the forefront of every buyer’s mind, but it certainly is a concern for OEMs. Lighter autos are vital to the fight to improve efficiency, and glazing, as an increasingly important structural element, now plays a key role in the accomplishment of weight reduction goals. Current research shows that high levels of auto body rigidity can be maintained as advances in glazing technology move toward thinner layers and new combinations of materials.

Passenger comfort is a prime driver of innovation by auto designers. Many of these design triumphs are hidden in the glazing’s interlayer. For example, multiple plies are installed to accomplish different goals, including noise reduction, heat absorption and reflection, glass heating for defrosting and defogging, and protection from UV radiation. These technologies result in a quieter, more comfortable ride. Other advances include visual aids, such as anti-reflective coatings that reduce glare and integrated rain sensors that automatically turn on windshield wipers.

Automobile glazing has come a very long way in a very short time. What used to be a simple feature has grown into a deeply complex and persuasive player in the evolution of auto design, structure, safety, and desirability.