Mercedes Concept Car Gets Silky, Sustainable Treatment

AMSilk partnered with Mercedes-Benz to develop car-door pulls made from a bio-based, certified-vegan silk-like fabric.

Stephen Moore

January 10, 2022

2 Min Read
Vision EQXX concept car
Image Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes Benz has unveiled its latest electric vehicle concept, the Vision EQXX, boasting a range of more than 1,000 kilometers on a single battery charge, which equates to less than 10 kWh of energy consumed per 100 kilometers. This is due in part to the exterior design and aerodynamics, which achieve a benchmark drag coefficient of 0.17.

The Vision EQXX also features innovative interior materials, “revealing a way forward for luxury design that conserves resources and is in balance with nature,” said the company. The Vision EQXX combines a mix of sustainable materials — from mushrooms to bamboo, cactus, and vegan silk — in its interior, showing that it is still possible to achieve automotive luxury and a feeling of premium comfort without using animal products. This approach has halved the carbon footprint of formerly leather-based appointments alone.

One example of interior innovation is AMSilk GmbH partnering with Mercedes-Benz to develop novel, sustainable car-door pulls employing Biosteel fiber. This high-strength, certified-vegan, silk-like fabric is made using AMSilk's proprietary biotechnology expertise. AMSilk is the world's first industrial supplier of vegan-silk biopolymers that are 100% biodegradable, recyclable, renewable, and zero-waste. Marking a first in the automotive sector, AMSilk's Biosteel provides the car industry with a bio-based alternative to petroleum-based content.

Silk-like bio-fiber can potentially replace rigid plastic door pulls in future automobiles.

Ulrich Scherbel, CEO of AMSilk, said: "We are extremely proud to partner with Mercedes-Benz on the technology program Vision EQXX, providing sustainable interior design solutions from our best-in-class bio-based fibers. Amid a fresh wave of ambitious climate pledges, we are proud to be playing a leading role in providing solutions for a zero-waste future."

Many other details demonstrate how consistently the Vision EQXX has been designed for aerodynamics:

  • the front face is smaller than that of a compact CLA and, thus, poses minimal resistance;

  • a narrower rear-wheel track allows the air to flow more efficiently;

  • transparent external wheel covers prevent virtually all air turbulence while allowing views of the stylish rose-gold magnesium rims.

About the Author

Stephen Moore

Stephen has been with PlasticsToday and its preceding publications Modern Plastics and Injection Molding since 1992, throughout this time based in the Asia Pacific region, including stints in Japan, Australia and his current location Singapore. His current beat focuses on automotive. Stephen is an avid folding bicycle rider, often taking is bike on overseas business trips, and proud dachshund owner.

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