Mitsubishi Chemical's Durabio Bio-based PC Debuts in the Interior of the All-New Audi Q3
2026-06-25
Mitsubishi Chemical has further deepened its strategic cooperation with Audi. The door switch trim panels of the brand-new Audi Q3 adopt Durabio bio-based polycarbonate (PC) material developed by Mitsubishi Chemical.
This cooperation marks a milestone, representing the first application of Durabio material in the interior components of Audi models. The newly upgraded door switch panel is manufactured as an integrated injection-molded part made of Durabio, achieving substantial improvements in production efficiency, design freedom and environmental performance simultaneously.
Independently developed by Mitsubishi Chemical, Durabio is a partially bio-based engineering plastic synthesized from isosorbide as the core raw material. Supported by its bio-based composition, this material drastically cuts down the consumption of fossil-based raw materials in automotive manufacturing.
The door switch trim panels of the all-new Audi Q3 are produced via one-piece injection molding with this bio-based polycarbonate material, available in three differentiated surface finishes: high-gloss finish, leather grain and matte finish. Image source: Audi Group
Superior Surface Molding Performance
Durabio boasts outstanding weather resistance, impact resistance and scratch resistance, making it an ideal material for high-end interior parts that require both premium aesthetic appearance and long-term durability. Adopting this material eliminates the need for surface spraying processes, which effectively reduces carbon dioxide emissions, production waste and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions throughout the production process.
The switch panel can be directly integrally molded with three distinctive textures including high-gloss surface, leather grain and matte surface, fully demonstrating the excellent injection molding adaptability of Durabio. This performance advantage removes the need for multi-part assembly and post-processing procedures such as spraying, simplifying production line workflows and lowering overall manufacturing costs. Featuring inherent in-mold colorability, the material can deliver premium paint-like textures such as piano black, and supports customized color matching to meet diverse personalized customization demands in subsequent automotive production.
In recent years, Mitsubishi Chemical’s Durabio bio-based polycarbonate has been applied in a number of mass-production projects in the mobility sector. Its existing automotive and transportation applications include audio system components for Dongfeng Nissan Teana, as well as colored body panels and windshields for Honda motorcycles.
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