The group aims to establish mass production technology for the new material by the mid-2010s, the business daily said.
By replacing most of the steel used in cars, they aim to develop vehicles up to 40 percent lighter than their steel counterparts, it said.
Carbon fiber boasts one-quarter the weight of iron, but is 10 times as strong. Today, steel accounts for three-quarters of the average car weight of around 1,350 kilograms, it said.
By replacing most of the steel used in key parts with carbon fiber, the weight can be reduced by up to 40 percent to slightly above 800 kilograms, helping improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent, or 0.7 ton, per car a year, the report said.
($1 = 107.88 yen)
yasuhiko.seki@thomsonreuters.com
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