The business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan predicts that the automotive carbon fiber composites market will grow by a third annually during the next four years. Observers expect that most early commercial applications will be exterior body panels because they can be replaced without altering the basic car architecture. On such assumptions, carmakers, carbon fiber producers and composite manufacturers enter into alliances to secure supply chains. For example BMW, SGL Group and Mitsubishi Rayon have entered into a joint venture when General Motors and Teijin Limited will co-develop advanced carbon fiber composite technologies for potential high-volume use in GM cars, trucks and crossovers. Ford is joining forces with Dow to focus on ways to use composites to reduce the weight of cars.