Synthetic leather for a car dashboard is a PVC, PU, or TPU material engineered to wrap or mould onto the dashboard surface, the hottest and most UV-exposed part of a vehicle's interior. Kodel Decorative supplies this material from Thailand to dashboard skin manufacturers, interior fabricators, and reupholstery workshops that need consistent heat and colour stability.
Unlike seat leather, dashboard material rarely needs a soft hand-feel. It needs to resist cracking, fading, and glare while staying mouldable enough to follow the dashboard's shape without tearing at the vents or corners.
10+
Years of material expertise
REACH
Certified, phthalate-free lines
1–3
Days to dispatch, in stock
Request dashboard material samples
Test our PVC, PU, and TPU grades for heat and vacuum-forming performance before ordering a production roll.
Synthetic leather for a car dashboard is typically a PVC or PU skin layer laminated onto a fabric or ABS backing, then vacuum formed or wrapped onto the dashboard substrate. The skin layer carries the grain pattern and colour, while the backing provides the structure needed to hold the dashboard's shape.
Highest heat exposure of any interior surface, since the dashboard sits directly under the windshield in full sun
Needs to be vacuum-formable or mouldable without cracking at curves and vent cutouts
Usually finished in a matte or soft-touch texture to reduce windshield glare
Often needs flame-retardant performance where the panel sits near an airbag deployment zone
| Type | Construction | Strengths | Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC/ABS composite | PVC skin calendered or laminated onto an ABS or fabric backing | Cost-effective, forms well under vacuum, wide colour and texture range | Needs UV stabilisers to resist fading and cracking over years of sun exposure |
| PU-coated fabric | Polyurethane skin coated onto a knit or woven backing | Soft touch, strong abrasion resistance | Generally costs more than PVC |
| TPU leather | Thermoplastic polyurethane skin, often PVC-free | Recyclable, phthalate-free, flexible | Higher cost, narrower supplier base than PVC |
AUTO BLACK, AUTO PRIME, and MERCEDES all include the matte and soft-touch finishes commonly specified for dashboard skins, in colours already matched to OEM interior codes.
6 Colours
AUTO BLACK
15 Colours
AUTO PRIME
17 Colours
MERCEDES
Leather-grain and carbon-fibre-look textures
Matte or soft-touch surface coatings for glare reduction
Embossed logos or stitched-line detailing
Custom colour matching to an OEM interior code
Beyond the dashboard itself, the same material family covers door panel uppers, console lids, and airbag cover skins. Any panel near an airbag deployment zone should be tested to the relevant flammability and tear-propagation standard before use, since deployment performance depends on the covering material as well as the airbag mechanism.
See our automotive seat leather page if you need matching seat material for the same interior programme.
Yes, if it is formulated for it. UV-stabilised PVC and PU grades are built to resist the cracking and fading that untreated material develops after repeated exposure to direct sun through a windshield. Ask for a heat-ageing test report before ordering a production batch.
PVC/ABS composite material is generally more cost-effective and forms well under vacuum, which suits high-volume dashboard production. PU-coated material costs more but offers a softer touch and strong abrasion resistance, which suits premium interior programmes.
Grades intended for use near airbag zones or in flammability-regulated markets are tested against standards such as FMVSS 302 or UN ECE R118. Confirm the test report for your specific application before use in a safety-relevant panel.
Yes. PVC/ABS composite and PU-coated grades are commonly supplied for vacuum forming. Share your dashboard mould or panel geometry and we will confirm which grade forms cleanly around your curves and vent cutouts.
Stock textures and colours carry a lower MOQ than custom-matched runs. Share your target colour code and volume for a specific quote.
Dashboard material prioritises heat resistance, UV stability, and mouldability over the soft hand-feel that seat leather needs, since it does not receive direct skin contact in the same way.
Compliant grades are available and tested against REACH Annex XVII and RoHS restricted-substance limits. Ask for the current certificate before placing an export order, particularly for shipments into the EU or UK.
Share your dashboard panel specification and target volume, and we will send matching samples and a quote.
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