ŠKODA AUTO to use wool combined with recycled polyester for the seat covers of all of its ŠKODA ENYAQ iV electric vehicles

ŠKODA AUTO to use wool combined with recycled polyester for the seat covers of all of its ŠKODA ENYAQ iV electric vehicles

• ŠKODA AUTO consistently focuses on sustainability along the entire value chain
• Car manufacturer works with suppliers and the scientific community on innovative materials which are then used in series production
• Video reveals how the seat covers for the ENYAQ iV are made from wool and recycled disposable bottles

(PRESS RELEASE) MLADÁ BOLESLAV, 24-Jan-2022 — /EuropaWire/ — ŠKODA AUTO, one of the world’s oldest car makers and Czech Republic largest private company part of Volkswagen Group, has announced that it will start using  wool combined with recycled polyester from disposable PET-bottles for the seat covers of its Design Selection LODGE as part of the company’s plan to replace its classic equipment lines with Design Selections for the interior of the all-electric ŠKODA ENYAQ iV. The car maker collaborates with suppliers and the scientific community on sustainably produced, recyclable and durable materials for use in series production. Furthermore, ŠKODA AUTO’s procurement processes in the future will place even more emphasis on sustainability and the circular economy along the entire value chain.

Markéta Truhelková, Coordinator of Purchasing – Interior at ŠKODA AUTO, emphasises, “The consistent use of sustainably produced materials in our current vehicles is changing the requirements in the Purchasing division and therefore also the demands on our suppliers. That’s why – true to our Simply Clever ethos – we are working together to develop innovative sustainable materials that stand up to everyday use, are easy to work with and create attractive design accents.”

AUNDE makes fabric from recycled plastic bottles, which is then used for seat covers in the all-electric ŠKODA ENYAQ iV.

As the largest private-sector company in the Czech Republic, ŠKODA AUTO is making sustainability in the purchasing of materials and components an even more important priority. In doing so, the car manufacturer is involving its supply partners along the entire process chain.

ŠKODA AUTO has been working with the Czech supplier Sage Automotive Interiors from Strakonice for several decades. It develops innovative materials that are then used in series production. These include fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles for the Design Selection LODGE in the all-electric ŠKODA ENYAQ iV. The company also develops fabrics with special fibres that function as seat heaters and enhance the comfort as well as special reflective yarns. The company works closely with the Technical University of Liberec.

The manufacturer AUNDE also produces technical textiles from recycled PET bottles and wool for the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV. The bottles are crushed, melted and processed into granulate. This is used to make a durable yarn. Once on the loom, 6,000 such threads are turned into a resistant fabric according to the specifications of ŠKODA’s interior designers. The material is then washed and dried to give it the required stability.

The production process is presented in a video, which also highlights how the innovative material is used.

Media contact:

Jens Katemann
Head of Communications
e: jens.katemann@skoda-auto.cz
t: +420 326 811 778

SOURCE: ŠKODA AUTO a.s.