Swiss sustainable lightweighting company Bcomp has announced the application of its natural fibre composite technology, ampliTex, in the new Volvo EX30.

The project will see Bcomp’s flax fibre 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 fibre 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. The Volvo EX30 is an all-electric small SUV that combines safety, sustainability, cutting-edge tech and Scandinavian design and drivers can choose from four distinct interior ‘rooms’ – two of which embrace the natural aesthetic of ampliTex trim panels.

Bcomp previously worked with Volvo Cars, in 2018 on the Volvo Ocean Race Recycled Plastics Demonstrator Vehicle, 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 both the interior and exterior, from storage areas to bumpers and sills.

AmpliTex is a technical reinforcement fabric made from renewable flax fibres grown in Europe. It combines sustainability, low weight and unique design opportunities. The use of ampliTex in the EX30 marks 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 aim to sell solely all-electric cars by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2040.

The Volvo EX30 is now available for order or pre-order in selected markets.

 “This is a milestone moment for Bcomp,” said CEO and co-founder Christian Fischer. “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. 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.”

www.volvocars.com

www.bcomp.ch