BMW has developed the material that follows carbon fiber, and it will be featured in your next M car.
BMW
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BMW is set to replace its carbon fiber roof components with plant-based fibers. When the BMW M4 GT4 participates in the upcoming 24-hour race at Nürburgring, it will be testing these flax-based natural fiber composites. While it doesn't imply that you can consume your BMW just yet, it will make the manufacturing process more environmentally sustainable.
Visible trim elements on M models that previously used carbon fiber will gradually be substituted with this similar-looking plant material. BMW announced this week that its flax fiber composite (not officially named) has achieved “series maturity,” indicating its readiness for mass production.
BMW
The German automaker has collaborated with the Swiss clean-tech company Bcomp for several years to create new lightweight composites from renewable resources. Although natural fibers have been used in BMW’s racing vehicles for a while (including Formula E in 2019 and the M4 GT4 and DTM later), this concept is now set to be implemented in road cars.
BMW holds an investment in Bcomp through its venture capital division, BMW i Ventures.
BMW
The primary objective is to decrease carbon emissions at a corporate level—not just the tailpipe emissions from individual cars. As stated in their announcement, “Lightweight construction has been a vital area of development for the BMW Group. The incorporation of natural fibers with a reduced CO₂e footprint in composite materials has become increasingly significant. Tests on materials have shown that these fibers are highly suitable, particularly for visible exterior and interior elements.”
Shortly, BMW will replace carbon fiber roofs in its road vehicles with this plant material, claiming it will reduce corporate emissions by about “40% in production.” I find it appealing—especially the demo photos shared by the company.
The fiber prior to becoming a car component, and afterward. BMW
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BMW has developed the material that follows carbon fiber, and it will be featured in your next M car.
BMW's carbon fiber components will soon be substituted with a lightweight natural fiber made from flax, which is about to enter mass production for consumer vehicles shortly.