Australia Automotive Carbon Fiber Market Overview, 2030

Australia’s automotive carbon fiber market is a high-performance niche, blending motorsport passion with cutting-edge innovation in a country where lightweighting meets extreme driving conditions. While Australia lacks large-scale automotive manufacturing since the closure of Holden and Toyota’s local plants, its carbon fiber industry thrives in specialized sectors supercars, aftermarket tuning, and motorsports. Home to iconic brands like Brabham and the V8 Supercars championship, Australia has cultivated a culture of high-performance engineering, with carbon fiber playing a pivotal role in race cars, custom builds, and luxury vehicle modifications. The market is bolstered by a strong aerospace and defense composites sector, with companies like Quickstep Holdings supplying advanced CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) components globally. However, Australia remains heavily reliant on imports for raw carbon fiber, primarily from Japan (Toray) and the U.S. (Hexcel), while local players focus on value-added processing and fabrication. Government initiatives like the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) aim to boost advanced materials production, but the automotive carbon fiber market remains fragmented dominated by boutique manufacturers and motorsport specialists rather than mass-market OEM adoption. Australia’s carbon fiber journey began in motorsports, with V8 Supercars and Formula 1 teams like Brabham pioneering lightweight composites in the 1980s. The closure of local car manufacturing in 2017 shifted focus to aftermarket and specialty vehicles, with regulatory policies like the Australian Design Rules (ADR) gradually incorporating global safety standards for composite materials. The government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has funded lightweight material projects, while state-level programs (Victoria’s Automotive Innovation Labs) support carbon fiber R&D. However, the lack of domestic carbon fiber production means most policies focus on downstream applications rather than raw material development.

According to the research report "Australia’s Automotive Carbon Fiber Market Overview, 2030," published by Bonafide Research, the Australia’s automotive carbon fiber market was valued at more than USD 330 Million in 2024. Australia’s automotive carbon fiber market is driven by three key factors: motorsport heritage, aftermarket customization, and emerging EV applications. The country’s thriving V8 Supercars and GT racing scenes demand high-performance CFRP components, with local fabricators like Carbon Revolution (world-leading carbon wheels) supplying global OEMs, including Ferrari and Ford. The aftermarket sector is booming, with workshops like Walkinshaw Performance and HTFU offering bespoke carbon fiber body kits for luxury and performance vehicles. A new wave of EV conversions—classic cars retrofitted with electric powertrains—is accelerating demand for lightweight carbon panels to offset battery weight. Trade programs like the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) facilitate carbon fiber imports, but high tariffs on finished auto parts limit cost competitiveness. Local manufacturers face challenges in scaling production, relying on niche markets rather than mass adoption. However, initiatives like the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) are fostering innovation, with startups developing recycled carbon fiber solutions. The rise of "restomod" culture where classic Holdens and Falcons are rebuilt with modern carbon components exemplifies Australia’s unique market trajectory: small in volume but high in value and innovation.

PAN-based carbon fiber dominates the Australian automotive landscape due to its optimal balance of strength, stiffness, and cost. Its high tensile strength and reliability make it the go-to material for most motorsport, aftermarket, and performance applications. Local workshops commonly use PAN-based prepregs (pre-impregnated carbon fiber sheets) sourced from international leaders like Toray and SGL Carbon. These materials are transformed into lightweight body panels, aerodynamic components, racing seats, spoilers, and custom wide-body kits. The versatility and scalability of PAN-based fibers also make them attractive to electric vehicle (EV) builders and specialty fabricators. Moreover, recent innovations in recycled PAN fiber are gaining traction in Australia, as firms seek affordable, sustainable alternatives for performance parts. The PAN segment is the fastest-growing thanks to its broad application range, ease of processing, and strong alignment with automotive lightweighting trends. Pitch-based carbon fiber is used far less frequently in Australia but holds strategic value in niche, ultra-high-performance applications. Manufactured from petroleum or coal tar pitch, these fibers offer exceptional modulus and thermal conductivity, far surpassing PAN fibers in specific technical areas. In Australia, pitch-based fibers are primarily seen in components like carbon-carbon brake rotors used in GT3 racing, thermal insulation systems, and other high-end motorsport technologies where heat resistance and stiffness are paramount. Due to its high cost and limited suppliers, pitch fiber is reserved for specialized applications rather than widespread automotive use.

In Australia’s automotive carbon fiber market, structural assemblies represent the largest application segment, driven by demand for lightweight chassis components, suspension arms, and reinforcement structures in both motorsport and high-performance street vehicles. These assemblies benefit from carbon fiber’s superior strength-to-weight ratio, allowing automakers and specialty fabricators to enhance vehicle dynamics, crash performance, and fuel efficiency. PAN-based composites dominate here, offering a balance between mechanical properties and cost. Meanwhile, powertrain components stand out as the fastest-growing application area, as engineers increasingly explore carbon fiber for intake manifolds, drive shafts, and transmission housings to reduce rotational mass and improve efficiency. With the rise of EVs in Australia, carbon fiber also plays a growing role in battery enclosures and lightweight drivetrain elements, which are critical for extending range and performance. Additionally, interior and exterior components maintain a steady share of the market. Carbon fiber is widely used in aesthetic and aerodynamic features such as dashboards, door panels, trims, diffusers, splitters, and hoods, especially in the luxury and motorsport segments. These applications are particularly popular in the aftermarket scene, where visual appeal and performance customization drive demand. The growing availability of prepregs and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) has further enabled local workshops and boutique automakers to integrate carbon into their designs. Advancements in molding techniques, especially low-temp and out-of-autoclave processes, are making it easier to include carbon fiber in a broader range of applications across vehicle platforms, from grassroots motorsports to high-end custom builds, expanding its adoption across the automotive value chain in Australia.

In terms of sales channel, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) represent the largest share of Australia’s automotive carbon fiber market, particularly through partnerships with high-performance and electric vehicle producers. Companies like Carbon Revolution supply full-carbon fiber wheels to global supercar makers, highlighting Australia’s strength in OEM-grade fabrication and advanced processing techniques. OEMs leverage carbon fiber to meet increasingly strict emissions and efficiency regulations by integrating lightweight materials into structural and aerodynamic vehicle components. Carbon fiber is used in OEM-produced bonnets, roofs, and underbody elements for performance and durability without compromising on safety. However, the aftermarket segment is the fastest-growing, driven by Australia’s strong car modification culture and motorsport community. Local workshops and performance tuners frequently source carbon fiber sheets and prepregs for custom builds, wide-body kits, spoilers, engine bay covers, and aesthetic enhancements. The affordability and availability of imported PAN-based carbon materials have lowered the barrier to entry for small-scale fabricators, while advancements in design software and low-cost tooling support rapid prototyping and one-off customization. Enthusiasts looking for both performance gains and aggressive styling are increasingly turning to carbon fiber, boosting aftermarket growth. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce platforms has made it easier for customers to directly access carbon fiber parts, including pre-made panels and DIY kits. Emerging trends such as hybrid composites and recycled carbon fiber are also finding traction in the aftermarket, where cost-conscious builders seek innovative materials that blend performance with sustainability. As a result, while OEMs dominate in volume, the aftermarket continues to accelerate with grassroots innovation and enthusiast-driven demand.



Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Automotive Carbon Fiber Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Material
• Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)
• Pitch

By Application
• Structural Assembly
• Powertrain Components
• Interior and Exterior

By Sales Channel
• OEM
• Aftermarket

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to agriculture industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.