Continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite co-developed by Li Auto, Röchling, FRECO rolls off production line

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 26, Chinese new energy vehicle maker Li Auto announced that the CFRT (Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic) composite it co-developed with Röchling and FRECO successfully rolled off the production line at Röchling's Kunshan plant. This marks a significant milestone for Li Auto, demonstrating its capability to independent development and design in the CFRT composite.

Photo credit: Li Auto

At the ceremony, Duan Jichao, Director of Materials Technology of Li Auto, said Li Auto is committed to developing innovative materials and components, delivering a safer, more comfortable, convenient, and refined driving experience for its users.

Röchling, a globally renowned plastic products manufacturer with over 200 years of history, has long been providing high-quality products and solutions to its customers. FRECO is a company specializing in the R&D and industrial application of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. Notably, FRECO is China's first supplier to possess a dual-steel-belt press machine production line. 

CFRT is a high-strength, low-density composite widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, shipping, and rail transportation. Compared to traditional materials used for fuel tank skid plates, CFRT offers significantly higher puncture resistance. Li Auto has pioneered the use of CFRT in fuel tank skid plates, providing superior protection for the fuel tank.

By tackling key challenges including low fiber strength, poor compatibility between glass fibers and polymer resins, and warping during component molding in the formulation design, material processing, and manufacturing of CFRT composites, Li Auto, in collaboration with Röchling and FRECO, has developed a self-engineered material that offers superior puncture resistance compared to imported alternatives, which significantly reduces the risk of fuel tank punctures, ensuring greater safety for users. The new material will be featured in  Li Auto's 2025 L series' models.

The project's technology director Guo Qing highlighted that the material has surpassed 1,000N/mm in the puncture resistance for the first time in the industry, thanks to innovations in resin and fiber formulation design.