Compared with traditional steel products, automotive plastics have advantages in light weight, increased freedom of design, and reduced cost. The use of plastics at non-critical structural components eliminates the need to increase the strength of plastic components and can provide many of the advantages mentioned above. Under the pressure of current environmental and fuel problems, various car companies have begun to attach importance to the use of plastic parts. For example,

Volkswagen took the lead in adopting a plastic water tank frame that integrated water tanks, radiators, and fans. Chevrolet took the lead in using SMC materials for body panels in the 1950s.