What’s the fist thing that comes to mind when you imagine sitting in a luxury car? It’s the smell of leather, isn’t it?
Leather’s been linked to the motor industry since the very beginning- the very first car, built by Carl Benz in 1886, had leather seats. It was the obvious choice 139 years ago because of its flexibility, durability and beauty. And it remains the obvious choice today. The global automotive interior leather market is expected to hit $36.5 this year, and motor to nearly $57.9 billion by 2032 [1].
First car built by Carl Benz in 1886
Apart from practicality and its luxury, there are a couple of very important hidden benefits to all this leather use. It prevents the production of oil-derived synthetic alternatives that could be used in its place and it prevents waste. Every year, the industry rescues about 3.8 billion kilograms of hides from the beef and dairy industries. That’s roughly the weight of 6,650 fully loaded Airbus A380s saved from landfill or incineration. Around 18% of that goes straight into car interiors, enough to wrap the planet 1.8 times. [2].
That all adds add to a huge industry. Bigger in fact than the tea, rice, cotton, sugar, coffee and rubber industries combined. Leather generates 53.8 billion annually and around 40% of that finds its way into cars, furniture and décor [3].
Modern Porsche 911 1950s British sports tourer
Leather may have been used in the car industry since the start but that doesn’t mean the way it is used hasn’t evolved. Almost all car leather (99.9%, to be exact) is pigmented to even out colour, aid durability and mask natural imperfections [4]. Some manufacturers even use infrared-reflective pigments which can keep seats up to 25 °C cooler in direct sunlight compared to untreated materials [7]. Leather seats can be so resilient they actually outlast the cars they’re in [5]. That’s why many vintage motors still sport their original seats.
Leather interiors also make financial sense. Cars with them tend to hold 49-59% of their value after five years, compared to 39-49% for cloth interiors [6].
In the luxury world, leather work becomes pure artistry. Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin source only the finest hides; with some interiors taking more than 250 hours of handcrafting [8]. That’s not manufacturing, that’s couture for cars.
Leather isn’t just a relic of automotive history, it’s an evolving material that turns waste into beauty, withstands decades of wear and helps cars hold their value longer.
That’s why, after nearly a century and a half, leather still drives the industry forward.
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