Case study: supporting sustainability initiatives in the vehicle restoration market

September 16, 2024

As technology advances and the world becomes more environmentally conscious, it has become imperative for vehicle restoration companies to not only master the engineering and design aspects of vehicle models, but also incorporate sustainable practices into their work.

The global automotive restoration market is anticipated to cross €4.5 billion by 2029, and is projected to continue growing in the coming years as more vintage car enthusiasts show interest in owning and preserving classic cars. In terms of market dynamics, the demand for classic, vintage and antique cars is driven by collectors who have a strong passion for owning unique and rare vehicles. This has led to an increase in the number of restoration companies globally, specializing in different types of vehicles ranging from muscle cars to luxury sports cars.

Despite the growing demand for automotive restoration services, there are many challenges that these companies face when trying to incorporate sustainable practices into their work.

• One major challenge is sourcing eco-friendly materials that can be used in restoring vehicles without compromising on quality or authenticity. For example, finding sustainable alternatives to traditional chrome plating can be difficult as it is a common practice in vehicle restoration but also extremely harmful to the environment.

• Another significant challenge is dealing with the carbon footprint associated with vehicle restoration. This process often involves extensive use of energy for welding, painting and other restoration activities. Reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency are crucial steps towards sustainability.

• Another issue arises in locating missing parts, as OEMs may only produce modern parts that are not compatible, or may not carry any replacement parts for older models. While many of our restoration clients have the expertise to craft spare parts from existing marterials, this process can be time-consuming and expensive, making it challenging to incorporate sustainable practices.

To overcome these challenges, our restoration clients have put in place efforts to implement sustainable practices and reduce their environmental impact. Some strategies include using eco-friendly paints and coatings, sourcing recycled or upcycled materials for interior and exterior components, and incorporating renewable energy sources into their operations.

Sustainable vehicle restoration also extends beyond just the manufacturing process; it includes preserving the history and culture associated with these vintage vehicles. Many restoration companies have started offering educational programs and workshops on traditional craftsmanship techniques used in restoring vintage cars, thus passing on this knowledge to the next generation and ensuring the preservation of these skills.

Our work with restoration artisans has been focused on aligning our clients' restoration processes with modern sustainability practices while maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship. In doing so, our work has focused on analyzing existing workflows and material sourcing methods, while also benchmarking eco-friendly alternatives for paints, solvents, and other materials that reduce environmental impact.

Additionally, we have also worked on assisting our restoration clients to adopt energy-efficient technologies in workshops and garages, such as LED lighting and solar panels, was proposed to further reduce carbon emissions. We have also helped our restoration clients host workshops and events with dealers and collectors, providing experiences that are informative, artistic and centered around sustainability.

Going forward, we hope to continue our work assisting restoration boutiques through expanding innovations, such as the use of recycled materials and digital tools to reduce paper waste, as part of their ongoing commitment to sustainability. We hope that this market continues to grow, giving rise to partnerships with OEMs to incentivize consumers to repair and restore vehicles.

CPM