Lighter Vehicle Design Using Composite Materials/Forward Engineering GmbH, Germany

Climate change has become an urgent global issue. Reducing energy consumption through the development of lighter transportation equipment, especially motor vehicles, is seen as an important way to address this challenge. The market for parts made from carbon fiber and other lightweight composite materials is expected to expand rapidly.

Forward Engineering GmbH, based in Munich, Germany, has an extensive track record in design and engineering of automotive lightweight structures using composite materials. Originally part of Roding Automobile GmbH, FE was established as an independent entity in March 2016.

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. has invested in Forward Engineering GmbH and will leverage its global network to support the expansion of Forward Engineering GmbH’s automotive lightweight design and engineering services.

Through this equity partnership, the two companies will globally expand design and engineering services for vehicle bodies and components using carbon fiber and other composite materials, in response to the growing demand for automotive lightweighting.

Furthermore, they aim to accelerate the expansion of the carbon fiber market in the automotive sector and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation industry.