BMW Group to Integrate Natural Fibre Composites in Future Vehicles

BMW is set to incorporate natural fibre composites into its production models as part of its sustainability efforts. After extensive development and research, the BMW Group has created these composites using organic materials, which have successfully met the strict requirements for roof structures in homologation tests. These lightweight composites, developed in collaboration with Bcomp, a Swiss cleantech company, are flax-based and aim to reduce CO2e emissions. BMW holds a stake in Bcomp through its venture capital arm, BMW i Ventures. The shift to natural fibres is significant for reducing CO2 emissions and the overall carbon footprint. Tests indicate that these composites are well-suited for both interior and exterior components. Replacing traditional carbon fibre parts in BMW’s upcoming lineup could lead to a 40% reduction in emissions. These components have already been utilized in BMW M Motorsport, including the 2019 Formula E season and the BMW M4 DTM and M4 GT4. Since 2022, BMW has been an official partner for BMW M Motorsport for the BMW M4 GT4. Further testing will occur during the BMW GT4 24-hour race on the Nürburgring to assess impact resistance and mechanical durability. The parts from BMW M Motorsport and Bcomp will now also be used in future BMW M series vehicles.