Nissan, Honda Team to Mass Produce Carbon Fibre Vehicles TOKYO, JAPAN -- July 25, 2008 -- We might see an era of mass-produced vehicles with carbon-fibre bodies sooner than anticipated. A Tokyo business daily has reported that Honda and Nissan have joined with Toray Industries Inc. to develop a new carbon-fibre material for use in auto bodies. The goal is to mass produce cars that are lighter than steel vehicles by as much as 40 per cent.

The group aims to establish mass production technology for the new material by the middle of the next decade. Joining Honda, Nissan, and Toray will be  textile firms Mitsubishi Rayon and Toyoba, andplastic parts maker Takagi Seiko. Also part of the team are researchers from the University of Tokyo.

Although carbon-fibre is currently very expensive comparted to steel or even aluminum, the gap in prices is expected to narrow. Right now, carbon-fibre construction is typically limited to high-end sports cars.