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The enhancement of material durability is a key development theme for automakers since customers own cars longer. Research is being carried out to extend the lifetime of current thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials by enhancing hydrolysis resistance while maintaining excellent low-temperature properties and scratch resistance. This development of enhanced hydrolysis resistance without degrading the melting properties of the material was achieved by introducing a new resin structure that is resistant to the invasion of water, acid, alkalis, and other substances causing hydrolysis.

Technological development of materials derived from plants (e.g., polylactic acid (PLA), and the like) is required to break dependence on fossil fuels and reduce CO2. PLA has inferior hydrolysis resistance, impact resistance, and molding ability than polypropylene (PP), and in order to overcome these disadvantages, a novel PP/PLA alloy has been conceived where PLA is incorporated into a PP matrix. By optimizing compatibilizer and elastomer addition, PLA has been successfully dispersed into a PP matrix at a sub-micron order, and interior parts have been successfully developed that fulfill the performance, appearance, and mass-production capability requirements for practical application.