Overcoming Smart Cockpit Challenges: How Automotive-grade Adhesives Address Sealing, Thermal Management, and Lightweighting

At a recent symposium on smart cockpits, Zhang Wenhui, Technical Director of Automotive Adhesive Industry at Chengdu Silaibo Technology Co., Ltd., delivered a keynote speech titled "Polymerizing Adhesives for the Automotive Smart Cockpit: Driving the Future of Intelligent Manufacturing." As a leading domestic manufacturer of silicone sealants and one of the first companies to be listed on the Growth Enterprise Market, Silaibo Technology leverages over 20 years of research and manufacturing experience. The company focuses on the trends of integrated smart cockpits and new energy vehicle development, analyzing the technological evolution of automotive adhesives, application scenarios, and opportunities for domestic alternatives, while providing full-stack material solutions for cockpit safety, lightweighting, and thermal management.

1. Industry Trend: Automotive Adhesives Enter the Billion-Dollar Customization Market

Zhang Wenhui stated that by 2025, domestic sales of new energy vehicles will exceed 16 million units, with a penetration rate of 47.29%. The adhesive usage per vehicle is expected to be around 25kg, leading to a market scale of over 50 billion yuan. The integrated smart cockpit, which includes numerous electronic components such as LiDAR, displays, and controllers, places five core requirements on adhesive materials: waterproof sealing, structural bonding, thermal conductivity and heat dissipation, shock absorption and flame retardancy, and low VOCs.

Silicone, with its excellent weather resistance, dominates exterior and high-temperature components, while polyurethane, known for its high elasticity and strength, has become the preferred choice for windshield and power battery structural bonding. Together, these two materials account for over 80% of adhesive usage per vehicle. Currently, high-end automotive adhesives are still dominated by international giants. However, rising raw material prices have highlighted the advantages of the domestic supply chain, accelerating the pace of domestic alternatives.

2. Technological Breakthroughs: Two Solutions to Address Core Cockpit Pain Points

To tackle the industry's pain points of electronic density and complex operating conditions in smart cockpits, Zhang Wenhui shared two mature mass production solutions introduced by Silaibo Technology. These solutions are already being used by leading companies such as BYD, Seres, Yutong, Valeo, and Huawei Vision. In the waterproof sealing field, the CIPG in-situ curing gasket and FIPG onsite-formed gasket are replacing traditional sealing structures. CIPG offers easy repair, no mold opening, and low cost, while FIPG achieves IP67/IP68 waterproof ratings, aiding vehicle lightweighting. In thermal management, the company provides full coverage with thermal conductive structural adhesives, filling adhesives, and potting adhesives, which are suitable for cameras, LiDAR, displays, and electronic control units across all scenarios, meeting the environmental requirements of the cockpit.

At the same time, Silaibo’s automotive adhesives cover all scenarios across the vehicle body, cockpit, and power batteries. These adhesives are compatible with CTM to CTC battery structures of all generations, replacing traditional connections with adhesive bonding, effectively improving lightweighting and energy density.

3. Forward-looking Judgment: Integration Defines the Future Trend of Cockpit Hardware

Zhang Wenhui made three key predictions: 

• Adhesives used in the cockpit will undergo comprehensive functional integration, with six key properties—mechanical, thermal, flame retardant, and others—customized as selection standards for automakers.

• Automotive-grade environmental protection and high reliability will become mandatory thresholds, with low VOCs and adhesives resistant to high and low-temperature aging becoming widespread.

• Domestic alternatives will shift from individual product breakthroughs to system solution competition, with local companies gradually leading the high-end automotive adhesive market.

Silaibo Technology's Asia's largest high-end silicone sealant production base — Silaibo New Materials.

With its national-level enterprise technology center, CNAS-accredited laboratory, nine production bases, and an annual capacity of 370,000 tons, Silaibo Technology can provide adhesive solutions for over 90% of the vehicle, continuously advancing the process of domestic substitution for automotive adhesives.