Kia EV3 Study Car made with BASF’s sustainable and high-performance material solutions 

 

• Kia EV3 Study Car is the 3^rd concept car collaboration between Hyundai-Kia and BASF

Seoul, Korea, April 3, 2024 - Hyundai-Kia and BASF have once again co-created for its 3rd concept car - the Kia EV3 Study Car, an experimental model developed together with Hyundai-Kia’s Materials Research & Engineering Center of the Advanced Vehicle Platform division. Made with BASF’s innovative and sustainable performance materials, the Kia EV3 Study Car is designed to enhance both the vehicle’s performance, design, functionalities and environmental footprint by applying sustainable material solutions in, for example, plastics, textiles, tires, and steel.

The Kia EV3 Study Car features 8 sustainable materials from BASF in various parts and components of the car. These material solutions included Ccycled^® & Biomass Balance (BMB) Engineering Plastics (Ultramid^® and Ultradur^®), Bio-based, Ccycled^® Polyurethanes (Elastoflex^®), Post Industrial Recycled (PIR) Infinergy^® (E-TPU) in Super Critical Foaming (SCF), Bio PU synthetic leather (Haptex^®), and water-based binder (Acrodur^®), and contributed to the overall CO₂ carbon emission reduction. 

“We are delighted for the opportunity to work with Hyundai-Kia Group again for what is now our 3^rd concept car^*,” said Andy Postlethwaite, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials Asia Pacific. “This project exemplifies BASF’s ongoing efforts to support the automotive industry’s transition to more sustainable practices and to provide innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of consumers and manufacturers alike.”

Sustainable solution applied in the Kia EV3 Study Car will be showcased at PU TECH (9-11 April) and CHINAPLAS (15-18 April) in 2025.

*     The previous concept cars developed by Hyundai in collaboration with BASF included:

• the RN30 Concept Car, a high-performance vehicle that combined motorsport-inspired looks with a series of innovative technologies was unveiled in 2016. The advanced materials by BASF contributed to the car’s design flexibility, as well as lightweight structure and durability, which enhanced its performance and safety and efficiency.
• the i-flow Concept Car which was unveiled in 2010, represented a forward-thinking approach to automotive design and sustainability. BASF provided lightweight plastics, innovative coatings, and energy-efficient solutions that played a pivotal role in making the i-flow a showcase of sustainable automotive design.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

About BASF’s Performance Materials division

BASF’s Performance Materials division leads the transformation of the plastics industry by merging sustainability with a competitive edge. Our broad material competencies and product portfolio, backed by deep industry knowledge and understanding, make us the ideal one-stop-shop. With dedicated material-focused teams and strong R&D power, we constantly deliver industry-leading technologies and expertise to our customers worldwide. Our global network ensures a competitive advantage through superior innovations, regional proximity, and tailor-made solutions that meet local market demands. We are committed to enhancing performance and efficiency across sectors such as automotive, consumer goods, industrial applications, and construction. With BASF, our partners embark on #OurPlasticsJourney towards a more circular and sustainable future. In 2024, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €6.8 billion. Join #OurPlasticsJourney on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/basf-performance-materials/ and in our newsletter https://plastics-rubber.basf.com/global/en/performance_polymers/plastics-journey-newsletter