Abstract
Linked to major technological changes to meet customers' expectations in terms of performance, safety and environment respect, the market's competition is continuously growing. Hence, car manufacturers are compelled to cut their cost prices.
The design process of a car manufacturer tends towards a stronger and stronger involvement of the suppliers' research & development departments.
This article recalls the importance for PSA, of such a way to proceeding, describes the evolution prospects of materials and gives expected tendencies in terms of collaboration with materials producers and equipment suppliers.