ACC Comments on The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, A Proposed Rule by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency 

Automotive plastic and composites provide countless innovative lightweight solutions, including reconfigurable flexible interiors for autonomous vehicles, antimicrobial self-cleaning surfaces for fleet and ride share vehicles, interior and exterior lighting and important safety features such as back-up cameras and air-bags. Lightweight plastic and polymer composite auto parts comprise over 50 percent of a vehicle’s material volume, but less than 10 percent of its weight. Beyond plastic and composites, chemistry enables a multitude of vital vehicle innovations, including synthetic rubber for improved air retention over the life of the tires, adhesives and sealants for multi-material joining, lubricants for improved engine performance and batteries for vehicle electrification. Virtually every component of a lightweight vehicle, from the front bumper to the rear tail-lights, is made possible through chemistry.