Motor1 reports that the European Parliament drafted an amendment to add carbon fiber to a list of hazardous materials in the European Union (EU). This would effectively ban the use of the lightweight material in production cars. However, Motor1 made a follow-up story confirming that sources told Motor1 Italia that the European Parliament had removed the amendment. If passed, it would’ve banned carbon fiber in car construction by 2029.
The EU considered deeming carbon fiber a hazardous material because of concerns about tiny flakes of carbon fiber entering the atmosphere and harming human skin. The drafted amendment would’ve made the EU the world’s first government to call carbon fiber hazardous.
Approximately 20 percent of the world’s carbon fiber production is automotive, and it’s also used heavily in the aviation industry. One likely reason the amendment was scrapped is the potential harm it could’ve caused the European economy, which makes up a considerable portion of the material’s global production, second only to Japan.
If the ban came to pass, or if it’s considered again, it would’ve impacted a couple of GM models offered in Europe. The Chevy Corvette has limited availability in Europe, and carbon fiber is used in some wheel opinions, aero packages, spoilers, and interior trim. There’s also the Cadillac Lyriq-V, a performance luxury SUV that’s available with the weight-saving material in its aero package. The Cadillac Vistiq could become available in Europe soon, and it is available with carbon fiber interior trim.
This isn’t the first time strict European regulations have threatened the availability of GM performance vehicles on the continent. We reported back in 2017 that the 2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE couldn’t legally be sold in Europe. The EU has pedestrian safety regulations that factor in a car’s front-end design, and the ZL1’s aggressive aero package was deemed too dangerous to pedestrians.
One of our favorite materials to see in performance cars and SUVs appears to be safe in Europe for now, but there’s no telling what the EU will ban next.
Comments
never liked much the appearance this material
Add this to the ever growing list of why the EU sucks.
funny they have no problem having race cars using carbon fiber…guess they don’t put little chips in the air? LOL
Imagine what this would have done to the exotic cars that use carbon tubs?
None of this is surprising other than they removed it. Even here metallic brakes are being banned in some states and tires are now under attack.
Virtue Signaling 101
Yawnnnn
“One likely reason the amendment was scrapped is the potential harm it could’ve caused the European economy, which makes up a considerable portion of the material’s global production, second only to Japan.”
Don’t know if it’s entertaining or disturbing that nobody considered the economic impacts BEFORE proposing the amendment. You can’t keep 21st century wealth and comfort while turning the clock back to the 1600’s…