In a newly established project office in Nuremberg, engineering and design experts from both companies are working on the vehicle doors of the future . With their lightweight doors, Coburg-based Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH and plastics processor Plastic Omnium from Levallois-Perret, near Paris, hope to anticipate the future needs of the automotive industry. Brose is contributing its many years of expertise in mechatronics, as well as in door and vehicle access systems, while Plastic Omnium is bringing its know-how in the design and manufacture of painted exterior chassis parts. The aim of the cooperation, however, is not only to reduce the weight of doors, but also to enhance driver and passenger safety and convenience.

Brose’s doors already integrate all key functions, such as the window regulator, latch, and electronics, on a plastic carrier plate, which reduces weight and significantly simplifies assembly processes. The company is currently working on an electric drive that automatically opens and closes vehicle side doors. New sensor technology should prevent collisions and enable easier vehicle access for the driver.