Carbon fiber is on its way out for BMW, as it instead leans toward natural fiber composites –

Carbon fiber is one of the most popular materials in modern motorsports and car building because the material is both lightweight and strong, ideal for manufacturers looking to improve performance without sacrificing safety. However, carbon fiber is expensive and demanding to make, and it is clear that BMW sees it as a place where it can improve, so much so that it has long been exploring natural fiber composite technology.

This has gone reasonably well for BMW, and now it wants to continue its commitment to the new material. This is confirmed in a press release in which BMW explains that in the future it will use natural fibers in more of its motorsports activities and also on roof structures for its cars.

The material is made by Swiss technology company BComp, and another reason BMW seems to like it so much is that it reduces its C02e footprint by about 40% compared to using carbon fiber.

Although the future seems to be very much focused on natural fibers, BMW also notes that the “ultimate performance test” coming, as the material will be used in his BMW M4 GT4 during the 24-hour race around the Nürburgring.