Plastic Omnium and France’s CEA to co-develop cutting-edge mobility tech

Plastic Omnium and the CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) have signed a partnership agreement to conduct advanced research together into real-world solutions to make the mobility of tomorrow decarbonised, safer and more connected.

The five-year collaboration will reveal its first demonstrators in 2023. The two partners will collaborate to develop cutting-edge technologies for smart energy control and management, control and power electronics, software and optronics, delivering innovation, performance and efficiency for electric vehicles. For example, they will work on optimizing how photovoltaic panels are integrated into car roofs, and on developing algorithms and integrated battery pack sensors to control battery performance and lifespan.

The tie-up with the CEA covers all areas of Plastic Omnium’s expertise and its complete product portfolio. In addition to its three historical exterior systems, front-end modules, and fuel storage systems divisions, the Group now includes dedicated hydrogen and lighting divisions, and its new Software House that specializes in on-board software and connected services.

This collaboration forms part of the Group’s strategy for diversifying into high added-value technologies. The new cooperation agreement includes the CEA’s various laboratories and its ecosystem of start-ups and spin-offs.

Alexandre Corjon, Executive Vice-President for Innovation at Plastic Omnium, commented: “We are committed to relying open innovation and collective intelligence to underpin the Group’s fast-paced transformation process. This is what drives the partnership with the CEA, a world-famous research center. Together, we have built a strong trust-based relationship that means we will be offering the best technologies to the market by 2025.”

Stéphane Siebert, CEA Chief Technology Officer, added: “At a time when connected electric vehicles are overthrowing long-established conventions across the automotive industry, the CEA offers its partner technological experience built up over more than 15 years with every key actor in the field. From energy management to digital technologies, we will support Plastic Omnium to deliver its impressively ambitious program against a background of intense international competition.”

Now numbering five divisions, Plastic Omnium is accelerating its transformation as it becomes a more innovative and technologically focused Group. In 2030, 40% of Plastic Omnium’s revenue will be generated by technologies that do not feature in the Group’s current product portfolio. Plastic Omnium aims to record revenue of 15 billion euros (Rs 125,535 crore) by then.