The Global Automotive Heat Shield market encompasses the design, manufacture, and supply of components that protect critical vehicle parts and occupants from excessive heat generated by engines, exhaust systems, turbochargers, and other high temperature zones in modern vehicles. Heat shields are essential in both traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and in hybrid and electric vehicles, where heat management is vital to performance and safety. Heat shields are typically made from materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, composites, multilayer laminates, and advanced thermal insulating composites, which help absorb, reflect, or dissipate heat. While historically most heat shield demand came from conventional engines, the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles has expanded applications to battery packs, fuel cells, and electronic control units, which now require sophisticated heat shielding to prevent thermal degradation of sensitive components .
Regulatory frameworks around the world influence the adoption and development of automotive heat shields. Governments are enforcing tougher emission standards and fuel efficiency requirements such as the European Union’s Regulation EU 2019 631, which sets binding emission reduction targets for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Heat management components also help satisfy Euro 6 and upcoming Euro 7 emission norms, which require better control of exhaust after treatment temperatures and reductions in heat related losses. Regulatory bodies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration oversee safety and emission performance standards, which indirectly support demand for effective thermal shielding. According to the research report "Global Automotive Heat Shield Market Outlook, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the Global Automotive Heat Shield market was valued at more than USD 14.06 Billion in 2025, and expected to reach a market size of more than USD 18.48 Billion by 2031 with the CAGR of 4.78% from 2026-2031.Market expansion has encouraged key players to pursue acquisitions that broaden their technology portfolio and geographic footprint .
For example, Autoneum completed the acquisition of Borgers Automotive in April 2023, strengthening its position in thermal and acoustic management solutions with expanded production facilities and capabilities. This move enhances product range and production scale, which is vital as heat shields become more complex in application, such as battery and power electronics protection in electric vehicles. Other notable consolidation activity includes Dana Incorporated’s acquisition of Thermal Shield Systems in March 2024, which added e axle cooling shields and expanded Dana’s exposure to European EV platforms. Trelleborg AB acquired Carcoflex Heat Solutions in October 2023, bolstering lightweight composite expertise particularly for battery pack insulation .
Sumitomo Riko’s acquisition of Thermex Industries in June 2023 further secured its North American manufacturing base and access to key contracts with major OEMs. These mergers signal increasing focus on lightweight, high performance heat management technologies, and strategic positioning across electrified vehicle platforms. Market growth is also evident in raw material trends and international trade. With the automotive industry prioritizing weight reduction and fuel economy, manufacturers are shifting from traditional steel to aluminum, composites, and advanced laminates .
These materials provide necessary thermal protection while lowering vehicle mass, but their global prices exhibit volatility, which affects cost structures and supplier planning. The light commercial vehicle segment is emerging as the fastest growing vehicle type in the global automotive heat shield market, driven by structural changes in mobility, logistics, and regulatory compliance. Light commercial vehicles, which include vans, pickups, and small delivery trucks, are experiencing accelerating demand globally as e-commerce, last-mile delivery, and urban freight transport expand rapidly. These vehicles often operate under heavier load conditions with frequent starts and stops, generating higher thermal stress in engine compartments, exhaust systems, and adjacent components. This increased heat buildup necessitates more effective thermal insulation and heat shields to ensure component durability, performance, and safety .
Urban emission control and fuel efficiency norms in many regions require improved thermal management to optimize catalytic converter performance, reduce heat-related losses, and support tighter emission standards. As regulatory bodies push for cleaner fleets, heat shield adoption becomes a necessary element in vehicle design for compliance. Manufacturers producing light commercial vehicles are therefore integrating advanced heat shielding solutions into their platforms to meet both performance and legal requirements. The growth of electrified powertrains in light commercial vehicles further underscores this trend .
Companies developing electric and hybrid delivery vans and small commercial trucks require sophisticated heat shields not only around power electronics, battery packs, and motors, but also in cabin and cargo areas to protect sensitive components from thermal degradation. Battery Electric Vehicles or BEVs are gaining rapid adoption globally as governments, automakers, and consumers shift toward cleaner transportation and electrification, and this shift has a direct impact on the automotive heat shield market. BEVs introduce complex thermal management challenges that did not exist at the same scale in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. BEVs rely on large battery packs, power electronics, inverters, and electric motors, which generate significant amounts of heat during charging, discharging, and operation. This heat must be managed effectively to ensure battery longevity, prevent thermal runaway, improve performance, and maintain passenger comfort .
As a result, advanced heat shields are essential components in BEV architectures to isolate sensitive components from excessive temperatures and to direct heat away from critical systems. Traditional heat shield applications around exhaust systems are replaced in BEVs with shielding for high voltage cables, battery modules, and motor controllers, which increases demand for specialized thermal protection materials and designs. The growth of BEVs is supported by stringent emission reduction targets introduced by governments in major markets such as the United States, the European Union, China, and Japan, which are phasing out internal combustion engines and mandating zero emission vehicle adoption. These policies are accelerating BEV sales, which in turn fuels the demand for automotive heat shields tailored to electrified powertrain requirements. Sandwich type heat shields are rapidly gaining traction in the global automotive heat shield market due to their unique structure, which combines multiple layers of materials such as metal foils, composites, and thermal insulation cores to achieve high performance thermal protection .
This design allows for excellent heat resistance while reducing overall weight, which is increasingly important as automakers focus on improving fuel efficiency, vehicle range, and performance. These heat shields are particularly well suited for modern engines, exhaust systems, turbochargers, and battery packs in electric and hybrid vehicles, where precise thermal management is critical to maintain component integrity and safety. The ability of sandwich heat shields to absorb, reflect, and dissipate heat more efficiently than traditional single-layer shields has accelerated their adoption, especially in regions with strict emission regulations and high performance standards. Manufacturers of sandwich heat shields benefit from the growing emphasis on lightweighting in the automotive industry, which directly supports fuel economy improvement and battery efficiency in electric vehicles .
Lightweight materials reduce the overall vehicle mass, improving handling and extending driving range, which makes sandwich heat shields an attractive option for both OEMs and aftermarket suppliers. Furthermore, the multilayer construction of these shields allows customization for different thermal zones within a vehicle, enabling engineers to tailor solutions for areas with high temperature gradients or sensitive electronics. The under chassis segment is witnessing rapid growth in the global automotive heat shield market due to the increasing importance of thermal management in protecting the vehicle underbody, exhaust systems, fuel tanks, brake lines, and electrical wiring from excessive heat. Modern vehicles, including passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and electric vehicles, generate significant heat in the engine compartment, exhaust, and battery areas, which can radiate to the underbody, potentially damaging sensitive components and reducing overall vehicle performance. The application of heat shields under the chassis ensures that these components remain within safe temperature ranges, improving reliability, safety, and operational efficiency .
Materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, multilayer composites, and sandwich structures are increasingly used to provide effective thermal insulation while minimizing weight, which contributes to improved fuel economy and, in electric vehicles, longer battery range. Under chassis heat shields are particularly critical for vehicles operating in high load conditions, such as light commercial vehicles and SUVs, where exhaust and drivetrain components generate higher heat during prolonged driving cycles. OEMs are also focusing on modular and flexible designs that can be easily integrated into different vehicle platforms without extensive a modification, which supports scalability and accelerates adoption across multiple vehicle types. Regulatory mandates in key markets are a significant driver for under chassis heat shield demand .
Governments in North America, Europe, and Asia are enforcing stricter emission norms and vehicle safety regulations, which require effective thermal insulation to protect critical underbody systems from heat damage and ensure compliance with fuel efficiency and environmental standards. Non-metallic heat shields are rapidly gaining prominence in the global automotive heat shield market due to the increasing demand for lightweight, high performance, and durable thermal protection solutions in modern vehicles. Unlike traditional metallic shields made from aluminum or stainless steel, non-metallic shields utilize advanced composites, ceramics, polymer laminates, and aerogel based materials to provide efficient heat resistance while significantly reducing overall weight. The lightweight nature of these materials helps improve fuel efficiency in conventional vehicles and extends the driving range in battery electric vehicles, which is a key consideration for manufacturers and consumers alike. Non-metallic shields also offer excellent corrosion and chemical resistance, making them suitable for underbody, exhaust, engine compartment, and battery pack applications where exposure to moisture, salt, and other contaminants is common .
Regulatory mandates in key regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia are accelerating the adoption of non-metallic heat shields. Governments are imposing stricter emission standards, fuel economy requirements, and safety regulations that necessitate efficient thermal management to protect critical components and optimize energy usage. Non-metallic shields, with their superior thermal resistance and lightweight properties, help automakers meet these standards while reducing production costs and maintaining performance. Technological advancements in material science have also contributed to the segment’s growth, with innovations such as high temperature polymer composites, ceramic fiber laminates, and aerogel infused barriers delivering better insulation, higher durability, and longer service life compared to traditional metallic options.