Mazda develops plant fibres for use in car interiors

Mazda has unveiled a new fabric for car interiors made entirely from plant-derived fibres. The fabric was shown at the recent Tokyo Motor Show on the seat covers and door trim in the new Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid. The biofabric does not contain any oil-based materials and is being hailed as another step towards developing an 'eco-friendly car society'. It has been developed in collaboration with Teijin Ltd and Teijin Fibers Ltd, which have R&D and manufacturing sites near Mazda’s headquarters in Hiroshima. The new biofabric is resistant to abrasion and damage from sunlight; it is also flame-retardant while still meeting the highest quality and durability standards needed for vehicle seat covers. Mazda now plans to strengthen its future research and development on non-food-based materials. In 2006, the company developed a bioplastic which is used on the Premacy Hybrid’s instrument panel and other interior fittings.
Seita Kanai, Mazda’s director and senior executive officer in charge of R&D, commented: “We are convinced that our new technology, which enables the manufacture of this material without any oil-based resources, will become a cornerstone for future biotechnologies aimed at reducing the burden on the environment.”