Precious metals in the car
For over 50 years, precious metals have played a key role in the evolution of the car. Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium are famous for cleaning what comes out of the tailpipe. These metals plus Iridium and Ruthenium now contribute to other critical components.
Cleaning the Air
In internal combustion engines, emission systems have become increasingly effective at cleaning exhaust fumes. Petrol cars rely on three-way catalysts with Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd), and Rhodium (Rh) to reduce Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides (Nox). Diesel vehicles use Pt/Pd in Diesel Oxidation Catalysts or Pt/Pd/Rh in Lean NOx traps to manage NOX and some use Pt/Pd in particulate filters to manage soot. While the systems have grown in complexity, the reliance on these metals remains constant.
Sparking Longevity: Why Iridium is the Hybrid’s Best Friend”
Under the bonnet, modern engines have made iridium spark plugs the benchmark for durability. By 2026, they routinely last 120,000–150,000 miles, significantly reducing replacements. This resilience is vital for demanding stop/start cycles of hybrid vehicles. Platinum continues to serve as a reliable workhorse for older vehicles and the aftermarket, maintaining its long-standing role in engine performance.
High-Tech Under the Dashboard
A modern vehicle contains 10,000+ multilayer ceramic capacitors and more than 200 electronic control units (ECUs), all dependent on ultra-reliable interconnections. Gold remains the standard surface finish for printed circuit boards, but OEMs have increasingly adopted Palladium-based (electroless nickel, electroless palladium, immersion gold) ENEPIG coatings beneath the gold layer. This Palladium layer improves durability under extreme thermal cycling (–40°C to 150°C) beyond the limits of standard coatings, making it an ideal solution for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), engine control modules, and infotainment platforms.
The EV pivot
As the industry pivots toward Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), the role of precious metals is evolving. While the tailpipe may disappear, the demand for reliability and safety intensifies. Palladium is used as a safety trigger called pyrotechnical disconnect devices (pyrofuze) to short circuit the high voltage electric vehicle car battery in a crash. Resistance wires made from precious metals can be used as an airbag initiator to trigger the front and side air bags and also the seat belt tensioner. For battery manufacturing, ultra-thin copper foils that are used as the current collector in EV batteries require Iridium-coated anodes to help produce these foils. Looking even further ahead, next generation Lithium-Sulfur batteries are looking to Platinum and Palladium catalysts to unlock higher energy densities and faster charging speeds although not in production scale yet.
Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Ruthenium-Enhanced Performance
Let’s kick the tyres and look at where precious metals appear in advanced materials. Beyond the engine and electronics, Ruthenium has a role in the chemistry used to make and improve modern tyre materials. In some specialised processes, Ruthenium helps manufacturers fine-tune rubber properties such as durability and performance. While this isn’t a standard method across the entire industry, it highlights how precious metals can support innovation in next-generation tyre development.
Bumper to Bumper: The Palladium Behind Every PET Part
Bumpers and other automotive components rely on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and related polymers. To make these polymers, Platinum is used in the production of paraxylene (PX), and a Palladium catalyst is used in the production of purified terephathalic acid (PTA). Both PX and PTA are used to make PET. We don’t even have to open the petrol cap to know that there is a whole science in petro-chemicals that depend on precious metals to provide high-octant gasoline and remove the sulfur from diesel fuel.
Breathe Easy: How PVAc is Cleaning Up the Cabin
Like that new car smell? It may gradually become a thing of the past. Upcoming stricter in-cabin air quality standards are pushing automakers to reduce emissions of substances such as formaldehyde, changing the materials used inside vehicles. To meet these standards, automakers are moving away from solvent-heavy glues in favour of water-based dispersions, such as those based on polyvinyl acetate (PVAc). Behind the scenes, these interior materials are made possible by Iridium and Ruthenium-based catalysts used to produce acetic acid of the adhesives themselves. Even the air you breathe in a modern cabin is a direct result of precious metal chemistry. Rhodium-based processes remain the biggest contributor to the global production of acetic acid.
The modern car is as much a triumph of chemistry as it is mechanical engineering. As the industry pivots toward Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), the role of precious metals is evolving. While the tailpipe may disappear, the demand for reliability intensifies. Whether it's the sensor helping you park or the adhesive holding the door panel together, these elements are the silent partners in automotive innovation.