Select BMW and Mini models to get ‘vegan’ interiors by 2023

BMW Group announced its plans to release its first vehicles featuring completely vegan interiors in 2023.

The automotive conglomerate made up of BMW, BMW Motorrad, Mini, and Rolls-Royce said that the initiative is being made primarily through the development of innovative materials with leather-like properties.

An example cited by the automotive consortium is the use of vegan materials in the steering wheel.

“With a steering wheel made from a high-quality vegan surface material, we are fulfilling the wishes of our customers who do not want to make any compromises in terms of look, feel, and functionality. The innovative material withstands wear and tear caused by abrasion, perspiration, and moisture and has all the desirable properties of leather,” says BMW Group Head of Development Body, Exterior Trim, Interior Uwe Köhler.

The BMW Group did not say what material will be used to replace the leather in BMW and Mini steering wheels. However, the corporation said that the new steering wheel surface material reduces carbon dioxide emissions along the value chain by around 85 percent compared to leather.

It has also been revealed that the BMW Group is working with start-up companies to develop innovative bio-based materials.

Mirum, which is 100 percent bio-based and petroleum-free, has the potential to mimic all the properties of traditional leather. Another new material, Deserttex, is made from pulverized cactus fibers with a bio-based polyurethane matrix.

With these materials, replacing raw materials of animal origin can be combined with a significant reduction in CO2.

The BMW Group is serving the demand for vegan and leather-free interiors, which is set to increase further in the near future, especially in the US, China, and Europe.

Photos from BMW

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