Flax composites enter serial automotive production via Volvo EX30

Sustainable lightweighting company Bcomp (Fribourg, Switzerland) has announced the application of its natural fiber composite technology, ampliTex, in the new Volvo EX30. This landmark project will see Bcomp’s flax fiber composites offered as an optional trim for the dashboard, and doors of the EX30. The collaboration follows Volvo Cars Tech Fund’s Series B investment in Bcomp last year.

While Bcomp’s natural fiber composites have been well-proven in demanding motorsport applications like Formula 1, Formula E, and SuperFormula, this is the first production vehicle to reach consumers, according to the company. The Volvo EX30 is an all-electric small SUV that combines safety, sustainability, cutting-edge tech and Scandinavian design. Drivers can choose from four distinct interior “rooms” — the Mist and Pine rooms — two of which embrace the natural aesthetic of ampliTex trim panels.

Bcomp previously worked with Volvo Cars (Gothenburg, Sweden) previously in 2018 for the Volvo Ocean Race Recycled Plastics Demonstrator Vehicle. This was followed by the Concept Recharge in 2021, which demonstrated the future direction that Volvo Cars would take in all-electric car development. It included extensive use of Bcomp composites in the interior and exterior, from storage areas to bumpers and sills.

Bcomp’s ampliTex technology is a technical reinforcement fabric made from renewable flax fibers grown in Europe. It combines sustainability, low weight and distinctive design opportunities. The use of ampliTex in the EX30 is said to mark a significant stride in Bcomp’s vision for mobility, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainability and long-term efforts to reduce the lifetime emissions of passenger vehicles. It is also in support of Volvo Cars’ sustainability strategy, which includes the aims to sell solely all-electric cars by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2040.

The Volvo EX30, featuring Bcomp’s ampliTex technology, was officially launched on June 7, 2023 and is available for order or pre-order in selected markets.

“This is a milestone moment for Bcomp. We are all incredibly proud to see ampliTex composites in the new Volvo EX30 — it will be the first production vehicle delivered to customers with our materials,” Christian Fischer, CEO and cofounder at Bcomp, emphasizes. “We have had the pleasure to work closely with Volvo Cars for a long time, sharing the same vision for sustainable mobility and the potential for bio-based materials to contribute to a circular future. This is the first step of our plan to scale into the large-scale mobility industry and continue our mission to help our customers decarbonize their supply chains.”