Covestro materials feature in SUE autonomous minibus

UE | STUDIOS has unveiled the SUE (Self-driving Urban E-Shuttle), a fully autonomous electric minibus developed for public transport applications using materials from Covestro. The vehicle, which features a 381cm polycarbonate windshield and recyclable monomaterial interior components, will be tested on public roads at speeds of up to 50km/h later this year.

The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the European Union, and developed in collaboration with a consortium of ten partners including the Institute for Automotive Engineering at the Lower Saxony Research Centre for Automotive Technology, TÜV Nord, Fraunhofer Institute EMFT and Deutsche Bahn.

Covestro’s Makrolon AG polycarbonate is used for the panoramic glazing, while sensor-transparent Makrolon AX ST enables integration of autonomous driving sensors behind opaque covers. The interior features the first automotive application of Arfinio, a recyclable monomaterial with stone-like appearance, alongside TPU-based seat upholstery designed for durability in continuous public transit operation.

Jochen Hardt, Head of Global Marketing Mobility at Covestro, said: “We considered recycling during the design process and worked with three fully recyclable monomaterials—Arfinio, TPU and polycarbonate—that can be found either in interior or exterior.”

Alexander Uedelhoven, Founder and Project Manager of SUE at UE | STUDIOS, added: “We wanted to develop not just a technologically advanced vehicle, but one optimally aligned with passenger needs in terms of service, information, ergonomics and aesthetics.”

Source: Covestro