The automotive interior of the future: from display to vegan seat covers
Covestro and its partners develop a premium concept
• Material solutions for a seamless, fully networked mobility
The car of the future will be fully networked and will integrate seamlessly into everyday life as trends of electric mobility, connectivity and car sharing start to redefine vehicle utility. Vehicle interiors, especially, will undergo groundbreaking change, becoming multifunctional living and working spaces. In order to meet these demands, Covestro has worked alongside its partners to develop a premium concept with material solutions, presenting them for the first time at the K 2019 plastics trade fair.
“Plastics and technologies will play a key role in designing the automotive cockpit of the future,” said Jochen Hardt, Vice President Global Marketing Mobility and concept coordinator, as he spoke to international media during a live online broadcast. “Our comprehensive concept offers material solutions for functionality, comfort and design, while at the same time responding to the automotive industry's demands for brand differentiation, improved efficiency, and light-weight design.”
Highlights of the concept include among others multi-sensory infotainment systems, innovative seating concepts and a sound-insulating dome. High-tech materials from Covestro open up a kaleidoscope of new possibilities for many different components. The company is a leading player in this area.
Three-dimensional multifunctional display
Displays and indicating instruments will be particularly important in new automotive interiors. They will become infotainment systems that will connect passengers with the outside world and provide them with information or entertainment, depending on their use.
Working with an industry partner, Covestro has developed a seamlessly integrated, three-dimensional multifunctional display – a large-format visual experience for the user, made possible by the high optical quality of Makrolon® Ai polycarbonate and Makrofol® polycarbonate film. A sophisticated combination of process technologies shapes the surface design and durability.
Vegan seat covers
As the classic function of the driver's seat will no longer be required, the car interior can be given a new look and design. Not only should the seats be comfortable, they should also offer enough flexibility to expand the interior space. The properties and advantages mentioned assert Covestro as trailblazers in this area.
“Our vegan water-based INSQIN® technology for textile coating offers the same attractive appearance as leather, but at a lower cost and with reduced solvent emissions,” explained Thomas Michaelis, Head of Textile Coating in the Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America region. “What is exciting is the possibility of allowing light to shine through the coated surface, creating an all new kind of ambient lighting.”
Peace and privacy in a small space
The new movable Privacy Dome is designed to protect users' privacy. A sound-absorbing acoustic foam based on the Baynat® polyurethane system provides each passenger with individual peace and quiet, independent of other passengers and the outside world. In addition, passengers can relax to calming sounds such as the soothing sound of waves on the beach.
About Covestro:
Covestro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. Covestro supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from Covestro are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.
The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, Covestro aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group’s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. Covestro generated sales of EUR 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.