Demand for new cars in Europe to bottom out in 2013 / Slight growth for 2014 / Production stagnating

摘要

The hollow sound of knuckles tapping on plastic bodywork parts rings out through the halls of the 65th "International Motor Show" (IAA; www.iaa.de), in Frankfurt / Germany. It is the only way visitors can test the mechanical strength and is perhaps one way of alleviating the scepticism shown by potential users when thermosetting plastics and thermoplastics are used by car makers and their suppliers to replace metal. Is plastic really as good as they say it is?