With the improvement of national economy, China’s automotive industry is encountering new development opportunities. In 2022, China’s auto production and sales increased 3.4% and 2.1% year on year to reach 27.021 million and 26.864 million, respectively.

As the automotive industry is being valued, the interior leather materials are gradually diversifying, with PVC leather, PU synthetic leather, and microfiber leather being more commonly used. In the past, PVC leather occupied a significant share in the interior automotive applications due to its low price. However, it was listed as a restrictively developed iterm in the “Catalogue of Guidance for Industrial Structure Adjustment” in 2019 due to its pollution during the production process, poor comfort, and strong odor.

PU synthetic leather, as a new type of organic polymer material, has superior performance compared to PVC artificial leather. It has advantages such as high durability, good texture, high softness, and long service life. The manufacturing process involves coating the surface of the fabric with PU resin, making it eco-friendly, low-carbon, and green in terms of processing technology, which has made it highly favored. Recently, ANLI Material Technology stated that the automotive interior market is a new emerging sector that the company is actively developing. They have successfully entered the supply chains of well-known automakers such as Toyota, Great Wall, Xiaopeng, and BYD, and have obtained multiple designated projects. The company is also making efforts to expand its cooperation range and gain more orders.

Microfiber leather, as a high-end synthetic leather which can replace genuine leather, has gradually gained a larger share in the automotive interior market due to its lightweight texture, strong wear resistance, good breathability, and easy cleaning properties. It is considered a more sustainable choice as it does not use animal hide during the synthetic process and incorporates eco-friendly materials. With consumers’ increasing demands for comfort and environmental performance, the share of microfiber leather in the automotive interior market is expected to further expand.

In summary, with the development of national economy and consumers’ increasing demands for automotive interiors, more eco-friendly and high-performance interior materials are emerging. Innovative materials such as PU synthetic leather and microfiber leather will play an important role in the automotive industry.