by Felipe Melhado
The SPE Plastics in Electric & Autonomous Vehicles (EAV) conference is a premier platform for showcasing the innovations driving the shift toward plastics, coatings, and engineered materials to enable smarter, lighter, and more efficient vehicles.
The event, held in Troy, Michigan, gathered engineers, material scientists, automakers, and tier-1 suppliers from around the globe to present innovations in everything from optical polymers for head-up displays to sustainable coatings, functional surfaces, and lighting systems. The articles we present capture the essence of the conference, distilling technical presentations into accessible summaries that highlight the materials, methods, and applications reshaping electric and autonomous vehicle design.
Through detailed insights from the likes of Henkel, Röhm, Dow, SABIC, BASF, Trinseo, Kingfa, Envalior, and Mankiewicz, this summary report explores how polymers and coating technologies are helping the auto industry meet evolving challenges like integrating digital UX and supporting circular design goals. Whether it’s smart surfaces that light up on demand or recycled PMMA used in full-width center lamps, each innovation reflects a broader commitment to performance, sustainability, and user-focused design.
Be sure to read our detailed report and summary of the conference.