Europe wants to ban carbon fibre from new cars

If the amendment is approved, it will come into effect in Europe starting in 2029.

Carbon fibre is a huge part of cars today, not only in motorsports like F1 but also in road-going sports cars and EVs. The USP of carbon fibre has been its light weight and strength. But the European Union has other thoughts. EU law could deem carbon fibre a "hazardous material," and this move could impact automakers significantly.

An amendment drafted by the European Parliament aims to add carbon fibre to the EU's list of hazardous materials. That list currently includes lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium. These materials are still used sparingly in automotive and aircraft manufacturing.

The above amendment was added to the EU's End of Life Vehicles Directive during revision. The government arm believes that carbon fibre filaments could become airborne and be harmful if they come in contact with human skin. This is the first time anywhere in the world that a governmental entity has deemed carbon fibre a hazardous material.

If the amendment is approved, it will come into effect in Europe starting in 2029. Companies would then have to wind down the use of carbon fibre in manufacturing. Auto alone makes up 20 percent of all carbon fibre usage worldwide.

The ban could affect Japan in a big way as the country makes up 54 percent of the entire carbon fibre manufacturing market globally. Stocks of Japan's carbon fibre manufacturers fell sharply following the announcement by the EU. Apart from Japan, Europe accounts for the majority of other carbon fibre manufacturing.

This ban will hit sports car and supercar manufacturers the most. EV makers will also be affected. BMW, Hyundai, Lucid, and Tesla all use carbon fibre extensively in their construction.

Carbon fibre was a $5.5 billion industry in 2024, so it is expected that the amendment will face strong opposition from auto and aircraft manufacturers.

Source: Motor1.com