BASF, Magna Partner to Develop Green Auto Manufacturing Startups

Greentown Labs, BASF and Magna have announced five startup participants for Greentown Go Move 2022, a program designed to accelerate startup-corporate partnerships to decarbonize automotive manufacturing and reduce vehicles’ life-cycle impact, the companies announced.

The program specifically sought startups with novel solutions to some of the auto industry’s toughest problems: materials innovation for automotive efficiency and life-cycle-emissions reduction; materials design for recycling and new recycling technologies; and materials innovation for shared and future mobility, the companies said.

After a selection and deliberation process, a cohort of five startup participants was selected:

Carbonova (Calgary, Alberta, Canada): Carbonova is a technology company developing a solution to produce high-volume superior carbon nanofibers (Carbonova fiber) for use in various market applications, utilizing greenhouse gas feedstocks and turning them into a sustainable and valuable solid commodity.

Endeavor Composites (Knoxville, TN, U.S.): Endeavor Composites is pioneering high-performance, low-cost, and zero-waste composites to solve difficult manufacturing problems.

FibreCoat (Aachen, Germany): FibreCoat creates affordable and conductive fiber materials for integrated EMI-shielding, heat transfer, and weight reduction in EVs.

Heartland Industries (Detroit, MI, USA): Heartland produces materials and technologies to help decarbonize manufacturing.

MITO Materials Solutions (Indianapolis, IN, U.S.): MITO’s patented platform technology creates hybrid additives with unique attributes—and limitless possibilities.

Selected startups will work closely with BASF and Magna over a six-month period to advance commercialization efforts—collaborating to de-risk their technologies, discover potential industrial applications, and develop viable go-to-market strategies.

By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.