In the past, the classiness of a car was partially determined by the quality of an owner’s interior. This meant a car showed its worth when the seats were leather, the wide dash was sturdy, and the door panels were uniquely designed with a set pattern. However, that may change with the current transition from carbon fiber to plants.

Several well-known automakers have begun to move away from the usual material used for car interiors to something more eco-conscious and quality condition. These companies include Land Rover, Volvo, Toyota, Hyaundai, Ford, Faraday Future, and Audi. The allure for so many companies to make this change is how the plant interiors satisfy the modern consumers want for luxury as well as their desire to be eco-friendly. This trend of renewable, green materials in the automotive industry will continue to grow as Grand View Research predicts by 2025 synthetic leather will make up a $45 billion industry and the automotive industry will be the second largest in the use of renewable textiles.

There are a number of plant fabrics automakers are using to outfit vehicle interiors. Take, for instance, Range Rover’s use of Eucalyptus Melange and Dinamica Suedecloth on its new Range Rover Evoque. Eucalyptus Melange is a material made of 30 percent of tensile fibers or eucalyptus fibers and 70 percent polyester. It differs from the current customary materials like plastic or Alcantra through its smaller water intake and ability to be dyed any color. The other material, Dinamica Suedecloth, is a fireproof and sturdy imitating suede fabric made of recycled plastic bottles.

In addition to the plant fabrics, automakers are including or planning to add more eco-conscious options. Presently, Toyota has its seat cushions made of renewable sugar cane, Hyundai has its sedan support pillars made of crushed volcanic rock, and Ford has its seat foam made of soybeans. For the future, Volvo plans to have its 2025 models incorporate 25 percent or more of plastics made from recycled materials; exceeding the 5 percent of recycled material plastic used today.