BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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and Boeing have signed a collaboration agreement to research how to recycle carbon fiber. Both companies are rapidly increasing their use of carbon fiber and want to find end of lifespan uses for the material.

Boeing is headquartered in Washington state, and BMW has a carbon fiber development center there. Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner is made from 50% carbon fiber, and BMW will be using carbon fiber reinforced plastic in the bodies for its upcoming i-series cars. 

“This collaboration agreement is a very important step forward in developing the use and end use of carbon fiber materials. It is especially important that we plan for the end of life of products made from carbon fiber. We want to look at ways to reclaim and reuse those materials to make new products. Our work with the BMW Group will help us attain that goal," said Boeing Vice President of Product Development Larry Schneider.

The agreement says that BMW and Boeing will share their carbon fiber manufacturing processes.

BMW manufactures the raw carbon fiber it needs for the i3BMW i3Germany, 2011 > present26 photos
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and i8 in Washington and ships it to Germany to be woven into fabrics. Final assembly is at the BMW factory in Leipzig.