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and the University of Stuttgart’s Institute for Aircraft Design have begun a joint research project to create new production processes for lightweight materials like carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The study will be done at the ARENA2036 Research Campus at the University of Stuttgart.

The concept for the project is that the new materials and their mass production methods will develop at the same time.

Doctoral candidates and employees from the Institute for Aircraft Design will conduct the research. The institute has been doing this kind of research for several years, but the point of the project is to find a way to produce CFRP components faster and less expensively.

“The challenge is to use FRP and also CRP in the series-production vehicle in such an economically efficient manner that the overall costs remain attractive for the customers. We are addressing this together within the framework of our cooperation," said Chief Environmental Officer of Daimler Herbert Kohler.

Mercedes is trying to reduce its car’s weight by 10% for each new generation of cars. To do this, it believes that it will have to find new, lighter materials.

ARENA2036 researches cutting edge lightweight technology through partnerships between public and private entities.