Covestro thinks the future car interiors will look like this

The privacy dome is moveable and will allow users of ride-share vehicles to have separate spaces to enjoy; blocking out sounds from other passengers and the outside world. The Baynat noise cancelling acoustic foam used in the dome also allows for soothing sounds to be played to passengers.

Future versions of the dome could include displays, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). It could even be used to support autonomous driving by providing trip information or en-route entertainment.

Polycarbonate enables the creation of large, curved displays to seamlessly integrate control functions. The concept’s display features Covestro’s translucent Makrolon Ai with Makrofol film to give high optical purity and super-precise resolution of imagery, and its surface treatments promise high scratch and chemical resistance.

Similar materials are used in the overhead control panel, where LEDs and Makrolon resin are embedded between two films.

Future interior trim parts will feature a variety of natural materials such as wood or marble. These are combined with injection molded transparent or translucent Makrolon Ai polycarbonate to create ambience.

Makrolon Ai polycarbonate also opens a new avenue of lighting effects, for example in combination with innovative light outcoupling technologies. Production steps can be streamlined by combining surfaces, transparent or translucent structural components, light and other smart functions.

The vegan water-based INSQIN technology for textile coating offers the same attractive appearance as leather, but at a lower cost and with reduced solvent emissions.

Waterborne polyurethane synthetics produced using INSQIN offers a lower carbon footprint than traditional wet-processed materials. This makes it possible to save up to 95% of water and 50% of energy compared to a non-waterborne polyurethane production.