Japanese Carbon Fiber Makers Push Into Robotaxis and Space

what happened

Japanese chemical and materials companies are expanding their carbon fiber businesses into autonomous driving and space, according to a report from the Yomiuri Shimbun, distributed by Dow Jones Newswires. Their strategy is to avoid a price war with Chinese producers, who have gained ground in mass-produced general-purpose materials, by focusing on durable high-value products.

Mitsubishi Chemical Group is increasing output of robotaxi body parts at a subsidiary plant in Italy. Most of those parts, made from carbon fiber combined with synthetic resin, go to Zoox, the ride-hailing unit of Amazon. After Zoox received U.S. approval for commercial robotaxi service in July, Mitsubishi Chemical expects its volume for the company in fiscal 2026 to rise 200% to 300% from a year earlier.

Toray Industries, which has made the material for more than half a century, is pursuing spacecraft and satellites, and is researching mass production of rocket materials with JAXA. Teijin's composite is used in an electric wheelchair launched by a Japanese startup, cutting the material's weight by more than 20%.

why it matters

Carbon fiber weighs roughly a quarter as much as steel yet is about ten times stronger, which keeps demand rising in automotive and aerospace. Fuji Keizai expects the worldwide composites market to reach roughly 300,000 metric tons by 2026, versus 120,000 in 2015. Chinese producers' share climbed from under 10% to about 40%, pressuring Japanese margins in commodity grades.

market impact

Mitsubishi Chemical, Toray, Teijin: new demand from robotaxis and space, but Chinese rivals are taking share.

tags

instruments