BMW is killing carbon fibre to build its lightweight M cars from plants

BMW has developed an all-new material as a more sustainable replacement for carbon fibre, which is now ready for development and set to be used on production cars – including the new electric BMW M3 – within the next few years.
Engineered in collaboration with Swiss firm Bcomp, natural-fibre composites offer similar properties to their carbon-fibre counterparts, but emit far less CO2 throughout production. Plus they can be recycled, unlike most forms of carbon-based composites.
When developing such materials, the key issue was to ensure they are strong enough to be homologated for use on a car's roof; BMW says that when applied to its next-generation performance car – which we assume means the forthcoming BMW M3 EV – the usage of natural fibre coincides within a reduction of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions by 40 per cent, compared with using carbon fibre. The company says it can also help cut the usage of plastic in the interior by up to 70 per cent, too. Advertisement - Article continues below
In appearance, natural fibre looks very similar to its carbon counterpart, with a distinctive weave pattern designed to replicate leaf veins, as well as a dark-grey colour. In fact, it's so similar that you may not have noticed it already being used on BMW's racing cars, including the M4 GT4 and DTM. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
As their name suggests, natural-fibre composites are made from materials such as plants or animal products. In this case, BMW and Bcomp's material is constructed using flax (a flowering plant) fibres that are grown naturally and harvested in Europe.
The CEO of BMW M, Franciscus van Meel, said he was 'delighted' by the recent breakthrough, describing the new material as a 'vital element of innovative lightweight solutions in motorsport, allowing for a reduction in CO2e emissions in the manufacturing process'.
'We are now looking forward to the use of these materials in future BMW M product ranges,' he concluded.
This breakthrough comes at a vital time, after the European Union recently drafted legislation to classify carbon fibre as a 'hazardous substance' as part of its ongoing End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive.
This is because when carbon fibre is disposed of, the tiny particles generated can be an irritant – and even harmful – when inhaled or exposed to human skin. Such particles are also conductive, so have the potential to short-circuit machinery.
However, thankfully for the automotive industry, the legislation remains at a draft stage, following the likes of Audi and Mercedes-AMG strongly submitting evidence against it. BMW also appealed to the EU, but the brand's recent investment in alternative materials does suggest it may just be a matter of time before carbon fibre disappears altogether.
Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals…
Find a car with the experts New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival
Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival
The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too
New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too
Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Reuters

2 hours ago

• Reuters

World Bank urges 'radical' debt transparency for developing countries

LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - The World Bank is urging "radical" debt transparency for developing countries and their lenders to stave off future crises, it said in a report released on Friday. The Bank wants to broaden the depth and detail of what sovereign countries disclose regarding new loans, as more of them enter complex, off-budget borrowing deals due to global market turmoil. "When hidden debt surfaces, financing dries up and terms worsen," World Bank senior managing director Axel van Trotsenburg said in a statement, adding: "Radical debt transparency, which makes timely and reliable information accessible, is fundamental to break the cycle." The Bank wants countries to make legal and regulatory reforms that mandate transparency when signing new loan contracts and to share more granular debt data. It also wants more regular audits, the public release of debt restructuring terms, and for creditors to open their loan and guarantee books. It is calling for better tools for international financial institutions to detect misreporting. The World Bank and other multilateral banks have been pressing for years to improve lending transparency. The proportion of low-income countries reporting some debt data is now above 75%, up from below 60% in 2020. But only 25% of them disclose loan-level information. As financing costs spike due to trade wars and geopolitical risk, more countries are using arrangements such as central bank swaps and collateralized transactions that complicate reporting. Senegal has used private debt placements as it negotiates with the International Monetary Fund over misreporting of its previous debts, and Cameroon and Gabon have also used what are known as "off-screen" deals. Angola recently had to pay a $200-million margin call after a rout in its bond prices. In Nigeria, the central bank disclosed in early 2023 that billions of U.S. dollars of its foreign exchange reserves were tied up in complex financial contracts negotiated by the previous leadership. The Bank said broader loan coverage and deeper loan-by-loan disclosures would enable the international community to fully assess public debt exposure.

Reuters

3 hours ago

• Reuters

Breakingviews - China may win more than EU from auto tariff truce

LONDON/HONG KONG, June 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A détente in the electric vehicle tariff war may suit China more than Europe. Brussels and Beijing are haggling over a way for Chinese manufacturers to sell battery rides tariff-free, but at a minimum price. Embracing such a system would be a risky move. Europe's electric-vehicle tariffs are barely a year old. Brussels added extra levies of up to 35% to offset the competitive advantages that made-in-China vehicles get from government subsidies or cheap labour. Now, the People's Republic is pushing an alternative: rather than duties levied on imports, carmakers would commit to not sell below a certain price, a model used before with solar panels. Such a system could have benefits. Chinese manufacturers would not have to absorb the burden of levies through discounted prices. Europe, meanwhile, would be able to mollify Beijing and so avoid tit-for-tat tariffs on cognac and other exports, but still stop it dumping cars on the cheap. The latter is a potential mortal threat to Renault ( opens new tab or Volkswagen ( opens new tab. Last year, the Middle Kingdom exported, opens new tab some 1.25 million electric vehicles, more than half of the total production in Europe, as per International Energy Agency data. Look beneath the hood, however, and there are issues. Europe would probably want to find a level that reflects the extent of subsidies enjoyed by each carmaker, as it did with tariffs. A single tariff, likely China's preferred option, would be less precise. Either way, establishing a minimum floor for a complex vehicle with many moving parts would be challenging. It could also quickly become obsolete. Renault and Volkswagen are launching cheaper EV models to compete with China, and changes in battery technology will lower costs. A floor could reduce the incentive to innovate. Enforcement looks a bigger headache. Tariffs have the virtue of simplicity. Yet car prices are fluid: dealers offer discounts, and incentives such as cheap loans. And China's carmakers are already masters at bundling products to make their wares more attractive at home. BYD ( opens new tab, ( opens new tab includes its 'God's Eye' assisted driving software for all vehicles priced above 100,000 yuan (less than $10,000). Carmakers at April's Shanghai auto show touted perks such as multiple screens and built-in kitchenettes. Nio ( opens new tab owners have access to the brand's clubhouses. As such, European carmakers may still be undercut by Chinese rivals, incentivising production in China. True, Europe could impose minimum import quotas, as it did with Japan in the 1980s. Or it could set the price floor high but still impose tariffs below that level. But overall, minimum pricing may be the cost Europe must bear to maintain relations with Beijing and secure access to rare earths – meaning China would most likely be the winner. Follow @Unmack1, opens new tab on X and Katrina Hamlin on Bluesky, opens new tab and Linkedin, opens new tab

Auto Blog

3 hours ago

• Auto Blog

BMW's New M Cars May Feature Plant-Based Composites

A greener solution to weight reduction It seems like everything we used to consider good or tasty is getting some sort of veggie or plant-based alternative. These days, it's impossible to ignore the oat milk, plant-based cheeses, and Impossible meat on the menu at your local coffee shop or neighborhood bistro. Sometimes, those things taste just as good as the real animal-based thing. In today's eco-conscious world, equipping cars with lower-emission engines or electrifying powertrains is simply not enough for some automakers. Some manufacturers are going as far as decking their interiors with reclaimed wood trim, recycled plastics, as well as seats lined with 'vegan leather' instead of the kind that comes off the back of a cow. However, the best of BMW's Ultimate Driving Machines are getting a plant-based alternative to a space-age material. BMW plant-based carbon fiber Carbon fiber, meet 'Flax-Fiber' In a statement released this week, BMW unveiled a new lightweight material that it claims is a more eco-friendly alternative to carbon fiber. Dubbed 'natural fiber composites,' this new material is made from fibers derived from flax, the same plant used to create textiles like linen and special types of paper, including the ones used in banknotes. The Bavarians claim that this new composite material is stronger than the carbon fiber components it replaces and offers reduced CO2 emissions compared to producing carbon fiber parts. According to BMW, exchanging carbon fiber parts for those made of natural fiber composites in the roofs of next-generation BMW Group vehicles can lead to a CO2 reduction of around 40% in production. After years of research and development and trial runs in motorsport settings, BMW says these natural composites are ready to be used in BMW's road cars. In a statement, Franciscus van Meel, the CEO of the automaker's M division, said that the high-performance specialists 'are now looking forward to the use of these materials in future BMW M product ranges;' meaning that the the next-generation M3 and/or M4 may have a flax-roof when it reaches production. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The flax-based 'natural fiber composites' were made in collaboration with Swiss clean-tech firm Bcomp, a company the automaker has invested in through BMW i Ventures. BMW and Bcomp developed this eco-friendly space-age material through an experimental development phase over several years. BMW M Motorsport initially used reinforcement parts made with these natural fiber composites in the 2019 season of Formula E. Since then, the same parts have also been used to replace carbon fiber plastic (CFRP) parts in BMW's M4 DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) car and the M4 GT4 cars. BMW says that the M4 GT4 that will compete at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring will be equipped with these panels onboard. 'Natural fiber composites are a vital element of innovative lightweight solutions in motorsport,' he said. 'They allow for a reduction in CO₂e emissions in the manufacturing process. This is innovation that perfectly fits BMW M's identity: 'Born on the racetrack. Made for the streets.'' Final thoughts By looking at it, you can convince me or the untrained eye that this 'plant-based carbon fiber' is actually carbon fiber. On a more serious note, BMW and Bcomp are making significant strides toward sustainability with the introduction of this new sustainable lightweight material, especially at a time when there is a strong emphasis on creating more environmentally friendly vehicles. Reducing emissions involves more than just improving or removing engines; it requires comprehensive solutions that go beyond simply placing a green badge on cars with electric motors and batteries and calling it a day. About the Author James Ochoa View Profile