Johnson Controls was able to build seat structures that are more than 40% lighter than conventional ones yet equally as safe, earning the company this year's CLEPA (European Association of Automotive Suppliers) Innovation Award in the "Green" category.
According to the jury, the project represents an "outstanding, future-oriented solution for sustainable carbon dioxide reduction."
This was part of the CAMISMA (carbon-amide-metal-based interior structure using a multi-material system approach) research project, which aims to create cost-efficient, sustainable access to carbon-fibre-based materials systems.
Using an innovative industrial manufacturing process (with less steps required through a reduced number of attachment parts), volume production could reach about 200,000 units.
Johnson Controls said these new, lighter seats satisfied all of the strength requirements of current seats in initial rear-impact crash tests. They will be available in vehicles starting in 2019.
Source: Johnson Controls