How E-Textiles and Flexible Electronics Are Changing Automotive Interior Designs
Automotive interiors are evolving every day to meet the demands of the future. Next-generation vehicles will feature smart cabins with seamless integration of advanced technologies that enhance connectivity and user experience. Interiors will be designed with lightweight, innovative materials and technologies that improve safety and comfort while still providing aesthetic appeal. E-textiles and flexible electronics are central to this transformation, as they are expanding beyond their traditional boundaries and entering into big industries like automotive.
One example of how smart fabrics are used in car interiors and designs is Loomia's integration with the Hyundai Palisade concept car. Loomia provided a scalable, multi-axis flex circuitry solution for their automotive interior. In 2021, Hyundai Worldwide hosted an Open Innovation Lounge at their headquarters in Seoul. This event featured 11 startups from around the globe that provided technologies and solutions in vehicle entertainment, interior design, safety, and hygiene. Loomia’s soft flexible circuitry solution, the LEL, was one of those unique innovations with the potential to change the vehicle design and future mobility.
Loomia integrated a user interface and heater into the vehicle's leather upholstery. This innovation transformed traditional surfaces, like door panels, into smart, interactive elements that enhance the overall connectivity and functionality of the vehicle. As vehicles become more integrated with advanced technologies, the importance of smart surfaces in interior design will continue to grow.
But how do Loomia’s smart textiles differ from traditional methods and materials used in car interiors before? Traditional wires and rigid PCBs have good electrical performance but are unable to drape and conform to surfaces. Effective, reliable interior integration requires exceptional mechanical performance to maintain comfort and safety standards in automotive interiors.
Loomia’s electronic layer met both electrical and mechanical needs for essential Hyundai’s 2021 Palisade concept car. By directly integrating into the trim and removing the necessity for plastic housing, Loomia added lighting to switches on the door panel. Loomia's LEL technology can also integrate ambient lighting into headliners and seats with no bulky wires or costly components, which means room for creativity and future design opportunities while complying with safety and comfort standards.
Loomia continues to partner with Tier 1s and OEMs to make the vehicle cabin smarter and... better. Follow us on social media platforms and subscribe to our newsletter on our website to keep up with our updates on the automotive sector.
Loomia provides solutions to many other sectors, like medical, robotics, wearables, and military.
If you have a design idea and want to test our technology, you can always request a free sample!