Li Auto Successfully Develops CFRT Material in Collaboration with Röchling and FRECO
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 26, Li Auto, a leading Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer, announced a significant milestone in its development journey. The company successfully rolled off the production line the CFRT (Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic) material co-developed with Röchling and FRECO at Röchling’s Kunshan plant.
Photo credit: Li Auto
During the ceremony, Duan Jichao, Director of Materials Technology at Li Auto, expressed the company’s commitment to developing innovative materials and components to enhance the driving experience for its users.
Röchling, a globally renowned plastic products manufacturer with a rich history of over 200 years, has been delivering high-quality products and solutions to its customers. On the other hand, FRECO specializes in the research and development of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites, making it the first supplier in China to possess a dual-steel-belt press machine production line.
CFRT is a high-strength, low-density composite material widely used across industries such as aerospace, automotive, shipping, and rail transportation. Li Auto’s pioneering use of CFRT in fuel tank skid plates provides superior protection for the fuel tank compared to traditional materials.
By addressing challenges in formulation design, material processing, and manufacturing, Li Auto, in collaboration with Röchling and FRECO, has developed a self-engineered material that offers exceptional puncture resistance. This innovation significantly reduces the risk of fuel tank punctures, ensuring enhanced safety for users. The new CFRT material will be featured in Li Auto’s upcoming 2025 L series models.
The project’s technology director, Guo Qing, highlighted that the material has achieved over 1,000N/mm in puncture resistance for the first time in the industry, thanks to groundbreaking innovations in resin and fiber formulation design.
