AKXY2 is the third-generation next-generation concept vehicle model created by the Japanese comprehensive multinational Asahi Kasei. The brand name derives from “Asahi Kasei × You 2”, pronounced as “ax-ee”. Asahi Kasei was established on May 25, 1922, and is a diversified Japanese multinational enterprise with business covering materials, housing, and health sectors. AKXY2 was unveiled in May 2022. As a grand commemorative work for Asahi Kasei's centenary, it carries the enterprise's reinterpretation of future automotive value.
Different from traditional automakers, Asahi Kasei is not a car manufacturer but a leading global materials supplier. AKXY2 was born from the group's operating policy established in 2016 to strengthen automotive business. It is a systematic engineering project where Asahi Kasei concentrates its full industry chain material technology in the context of a "revolution in the automotive industry once in a century".AKXY2 is not a mass-produced model for the public market, but a whole vehicle concept car built on a technology platform based on autonomous driving concepts — a concept car created with Asahi Kasei's own strength.
AKXY2 takes the indispensable "3S" for expressing automotive value as the pillars of its concept."3S" stands for Sustainability (Manufacturing of sustainable automobiles), Satisfaction (Improving satisfaction with automobiles), and Society (Connection between society and automobiles). In Asahi Kasei's conception, as electrification and automation deepen, automobiles will evolve from simple transport tools into customizable "third living space", connecting humans with nature and society.Through manufacturing whole vehicle concept cars, Asahi Kasei moves scattered technical materials from behind the scenes to the forefront, and discusses new values for future mobility with global customers.
The launch of AKXY2 was not achieved overnight. From the first-generation AKXY to AKXY POD and then AKXY2, Asahi Kasei has built a clear evolutionary path through three generations of concept vehicles.
In 2016, Asahi Kasei officially launched the whole vehicle concept car project as a chemical materials manufacturer — which lagged behind other chemical manufacturers at the time.The company established an Automotive Business Promotion Office, with members from internal departments. Despite limited experience in the automotive manufacturing field, they were determined to create a "signature concept car" for Asahi Kasei.The project established three major goals: make Asahi Kasei's automotive-related businesses widely known, help the company better understand automobiles, and unite the group to focus on automotive business.
First Generation AKXY (2017): Asahi Kasei collaborated with Kyoto pure electric vehicle startup GLM to create a "mobile showcase" equipped with 37 Asahi Kasei technologies. With SUV-style design as the main theme, "Contribute to automotive safety, comfort, and environment", the goal was to combine Asahi Kasei's strength to provide passengers with a comprehensive experience.
Second Generation AKXY POD (2019): With the rise of autonomous driving and CASE technology trends, Asahi Kasei's focus shifted to in-vehicle space experience. In 2018, Asahi Kasei acquired the American interior material manufacturer Mori, further strengthening its interior material business.AKXY POD is an in-vehicle space concept model for the fully autonomous driving era, interpreting future carriage space through multiple senses (vision, hearing, smell, and touch), allowing passengers to experience future travel modes in actual experience.
Third Generation AKXY2 (2022): From May 25 to 27, 2022, AKXY2 was officially unveiled at the "People and Car Technology Expo" held in Yokohama, and it was planned for an international premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in September 2022.Due to the global pandemic, Asahi Kasei re-evaluated the social value of automobiles — automobiles can become secure private spaces, providing authentic experiences and communication venues that cannot be replaced remotely, soothing people's minds.AKXY2 incorporates these concepts into its design, becoming the embodiment of Asahi Kasei's profound thinking on future mobility.
As a comprehensive display platform for Asahi Kasei, AKXY2 is not aimed at mass production, so the product matrix centers on a single concept model. However, Asahi Kasei simultaneously displayed its full product line in the automotive materials field, covering multiple application areas such as exterior and interior, electrical and electronic, thermal management, and sensors.
AKXY2 Concept Car: The exterior features a split body design, with an upper glass roof combined with lower foldable streamlined doors. The front face is equipped with dot matrix profile lights and concise strip headlights. The rear adopts the same design style, with aerodynamic wheel covers built into the wheel hubs.The biggest highlight is the fully transparent resin roof where the roof and windows are integrated, creating a wonderful experience of being inside a glass bubble.The body coating uses high weather resistance HDI-type curing agent DURANATE™, reducing VOC content in the paint while maintaining an elegant appearance and metallic luster.The side windows use hard coating agents for resin glass (In development), achieving resin-based substitution for glass, significantly reducing vehicle weight and extending driving range.
Cockpit Space: The interior is equipped with two independent seats, using Cubit™ 3D mesh material made from PET (recycled polyester) and part bio-based PTT as cushioning. The surface is covered with Dinamica® microfiber. Some materials are made from recycled polyester, achieving lightweighting while bringing flexible comfort.Equipped with a minimalist information display, a small wooden table, and a footrest.The vehicle is equipped with a touch module access control system from UltraSense, a US strategic portfolio company invested by Asahi Kasei. It detects finger presses through ultrasonic and multi-mode sensing technology, allowing easy door opening even wearing gloves or in humid conditions.A carbon dioxide sensor monitors in-vehicle air quality and optimizes energy consumption. Antibacterial fabric protects the interior from pathogen transmission.
Currently, AKXY2 only exists in the form of "concept display"; Asahi Kasei has not yet announced other product models based on this design.
As AKXY2 is not a mass-produced model, there are no public sales data. Its value lies in industry influence and technology display.
AKXY2 received a warm response after its debut at the "People and Car Technology Expo" in Yokohama from May 25 to 27, 2022.The car had its international premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit from September 14 to 15, 2022.In the same year, AKXY2 appeared sequentially at Asahi Kasei bases and relevant expos in Germany, France, the United States, China, and India.In 2023, Asahi Kasei brought the car to multiple auto exhibitions and technical exchange activities for display.As a concept car project led by a materials supplier, AKXY2 achieved Asahi Kasei's expected goals of enhancing group brand awareness and strengthening technical exchange with whole vehicle enterprises in professional expo scenarios.
At the capital and technical cooperation level, the Asahi Kasei group owns a Venture Capital Office (CVC Office) investing in innovative technologies. AKXY2 incorporates the touch module technology of the US UltraSense company invested by this department, reflecting the group's full-chain collaborative capability from capital investment to industrial application.Furthermore, Asahi Kasei cooperates closely with European and US teams (such as interior subsidiary Sage Automotive Interiors) to achieve high customization of interior solutions.Asahi Kasei is also competing with Japanese chemical material giants such as Toray, Teijin, and Mitsubishi Chemical in the automotive materials field.
The core technology system of AKXY2 revolves around "3S", but implemented at the physical level, it focuses on two pillars: new material solutions and intelligent sensing technology. The major changes in the automotive industry come not only from electrification but more from the key differentiating factor of "materials used by users inside the car".
New Materials and Lightweight Technology: The AKXY2 body uses high weather resistance HDI-type curing agent DURANATE™. This polyurethane coating curing agent has high weather resistance and excellent mechanical and chemical properties. Combined with low viscosity and low-temperature curing technology, it can reduce VOC and carbon dioxide emissions.The fully transparent roof uses resin material to replace traditional glass, significantly reducing vehicle weight and extending electric vehicle driving range.
Sustainable Interior Material System: Almost all visible and touchable components inside the car are manufactured or jointly developed by Asahi Kasei, forming a complete sustainable material ecosystem. Seats use 3D mesh material Cubit™ and Dinamica® microfiber.The floor mat is made from plant-derived materials;S-SBR tires are made from bio-based butadiene, with lower rolling resistance and reduced microplastic generation;Interior fabrics use sustainable raw materials such as recyclable PET, bio-based PET, natural mixtures, and marine waste.
Intelligent Sensing and Healthy Cockpit: Asahi Kasei's millimeter-wave radar can detect children or pets inside the car, preventing them from being forgotten;Carbon dioxide sensors optimize air conditioning energy consumption and ensure air quality;Antibacterial fabric controls pathogen transmission inside the car.Door and roof opening and closing are achieved through the UltraSense touch module system, utilizing ultrasonic and pressure dual-mode sensing, combining high precision with waterproof and dustproof characteristics.
Thermal Management and Motor: Asahi Kasei's battery separators, biaxially oriented polyamide films, and microporous membranes provide support for electric vehicle thermal safety performance and range optimization.The polyphenylene sulfide resin used in the motor unit and bipolar materials used for fuel cells are core technology reserves for Asahi Kasei in the electrification field.
Lightweight and Passenger Enjoyment: The Dinamica® microfiber covering the interior surface feels similar to suede. Some are made from recycled polyester and produced by the Italian subsidiary Miko of Asahi Kasei Group.Translucent backlight fabrics and plastic fiber optical trim materials fill the interior with a tech atmosphere and achieve weight reduction..
Asahi Kasei is a globally operated enterprise. The AKXY2 and its series of concept car projects are an important window for the group to demonstrate technology strength globally. Its influence and technology verification network are spread worldwide.
North American Market: Asahi Kasei's US interior subsidiary Sage Automotive Interiors undertook the design and supply of AKXY2 interior materials, while Asahi Kasei Americas is responsible for business expansion and cooperation docking in the North American market.AKXY2 appeared at multiple exhibitions in North America, completing technology integration with American startup UltraSense, demonstrating Asahi Kasei's global collaboration capability for open innovation.
European Market: Heiko Rother, Head of Asahi Kasei Europe located in Dusseldorf, highly praised the project, emphasizing that materials will be a key factor for users choosing new brands.In Europe, Asahi Kasei promotes technology exchange and material display for concept cars together with major OEMs.Predecessor concept cars like AKXY POD have exhibited at German expos and R&D and exchange centers of Asahi Kasei in Paris, Dusseldorf, etc..
Asia-Pacific and China: AKXY2 has been displayed at Asahi Kasei bases in Japan, India, etc.In the China market, Asahi Kasei has always focused its exhibition efforts on national-level expos such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE). The company plans to display in-vehicle space concepts including AKXY POD in China, aiming to think together with the world's largest auto market about future technologies and holistic solutions needed.Asahi Kasei has multiple production and R&D bases in China, and its automotive business serves numerous domestic whole vehicle enterprises.
AKXY2 represents Asahi Kasei's core judgment on the future automotive society — materials suppliers moving from behind the scenes to the forefront, upgrading from "providing technology" to "creating holistic experiences". Asahi Kasei Group's localized R&D teams and global collaboration systems are using concept cars to create opportunities to establish strategic cooperation with vehicle manufacturers. With AKXY2 as a seed, it will spawn more innovations from "0" to "1".
Path to Commercialization: AKXY2 will not be mass-produced, but various technologies equipped on it are entering the mass production fast lane. Asahi Kasei's layout in technologies such as resin glass hardening coatings and polycarbonate lightweight window materials has entered the joint development stage with whole vehicle manufacturers, and is expected to be applied in next-generation new models.Millimeter-wave radar, carbon dioxide sensors, Cubit™ 3D mesh cushioning materials, etc., have been adopted or certified by multiple whole vehicle manufacturers. Asahi Kasei will continue to iterate material technologies and launch safer, more comfortable, and more environmentally friendly automotive material solutions to the market.
Extension of "3S" Philosophy: In the Sustainability field, Asahi Kasei is actively exploring microplastic solutions and upgrade paths for bio-based rubber. In terms of Satisfaction, the "third space" for the autonomous driving era needs more innovative material support for personalized customization and home space extension.At the Society level, the concept of "car and home integration" showcased by AKXY2 is a demonstration of cross-business unit collaboration within the Asahi Kasei Group. With changes in the social environment, the "Healthy Automotive Solutions" series of Asahi Kasei will continue to enrich the product line.
Integrated Capabilities: Asahi Kasei will more closely integrate the technical advantages of the four major sectors: fiber, resin, electronics, and chemicals in the future. Through the AKXY series concept car projects, CVC strategic investments, and joint laboratories established with whole vehicle manufacturers, it will build a replicable "from material definition to system design" industry benchmark.AKXY2 cannot be accomplished by one's own strength; it is a seed. Through discussion and co-creation with customers, it will finally be realized in a certain form.From the first mobile showcase in 2017 to the third-generation concept car AKXY2 in 2022 which integrates autonomous driving scenarios and social value thinking, Asahi Kasei is continuously evolving towards the positioning of a "material and system integration solution supplier" through the continuous iteration of concept cars.
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