As automakers race to transform vehicle cabins into intelligent, responsive living spaces, Covestro and Jiangsu Genofort are joining forces to bring ultra-flexible haptic technology into next-generation automotive interiors.
The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop and industrialize ultra-flexible printed electronics haptic interaction systems designed for automotive applications, targeting a future where cockpit surfaces can sense, respond and adapt in real time.
The partnership comes as automotive interiors rapidly evolve beyond static controls and displays. Emerging cockpit concepts now envision seats that can detect occupant body shape and automatically adjust posture settings for improved comfort, alongside touch-sensitive interior surfaces capable of delivering precise haptic feedback.
But enabling those features across increasingly complex three-dimensional cabin designs has remained a major industry hurdle. Conventional rigid materials and hard circuits often fall short on flexibility, durability and seamless integration.
Under the agreement, Covestro will spearhead the research, development and industrialization of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film substrates — a critical component for ultra-flexible printed electronics systems. The company said its TPU films offer the flexibility, durability, processing versatility, ink adhesion and long-term stability needed for advanced automotive applications.
The material expertise will be paired with Genofort’s capabilities in haptic interaction assembly systems, creating what the companies describe as a fully integrated value chain for next-generation cockpit technologies.
The collaboration will focus on high-value automotive interior applications including center consoles, steering wheels, door panels, seats and headliners. The companies aim to integrate body-shape sensing, adaptive comfort, thermal regulation, health monitoring and responsive touch interaction into unified intelligent cabin systems.
Beyond product development, Covestro and Genofort also plan to help shape future industry standards to accelerate commercialization and wider adoption of ultra-flexible haptic technologies across the automotive sector.
“The next generation of intelligent cockpits places entirely new demands on interior materials. They must not only conform to complex surfaces, but also enable sensing and interaction functions,” said Weihong Du, Head of Marketing and Development Asia-Pacific, Specialty Films, Covestro.
“Through our collaboration with Genofort, we aim to bring material innovation and system integration closely together, helping advance flexible haptic interaction technology from the laboratory to large-scale production and delivering differentiated solutions for automotive customers.”
“Ultra-flexible haptic interaction systems represent a critical direction for the intelligent transformation of automotive interiors,” said Lingyao Lu, Chairman of Genofort.
“Covestro’s leadership in high-performance film materials forms a powerful complement to our proprietary system integration technology. This collaboration will accelerate the global adoption of ultra-flexible printed electronics, enable us to enter the global premium supply chain, and together open new frontiers in this arena.”
