Perhaps when you hear about hemp, you might only think of it in terms of textiles, bricks, medicine, or food. However, in reality, the plant also stands out as an exceptional element for the manufacturing of future vehicles.
An important topic that receives a lot of attention is sustainable mobility. How can we generate cars without polluting? One solution is using hemp.
It is not new to use this crop for vehicle production. In 1941, Henry Ford conceived a car that “grows from the ground” with a body and fuel made from hemp.
Hemp, a surprise for sustainable mobility
But the project of the founder of one of the world’s most important car companies never prospered. Inspired by this idea, an American engineer named Bruce Dietzen developed a project.
“Hemp is a versatile product that we can use to have a better planet,” says Dietzen. His project began in 2017, after he started worrying about environmental pollution. Although it only resulted in particular models without mass production.
However, in 2025, during Milan Design Week, Kia presented not only a car but a manifesto for the future. The Kia EV2 is not just electric: it is organic, sustainable, and literally grows inside.
As part of the Journey exhibition, Kia presents the interior of their concept car EV2, which is not just any electric vehicle. Its cabin is made of hemp, mycelium (fungus network), flax fibers, and recycled textiles.
With this model, Kia opens a new chapter in the world of sustainable mobility, where not only batteries and emissions matter, but also materials, design, and comfort. The company says the car’s interior is inspired by nature.
Externally, the car has a robust yet futuristic silhouette. The Kia EV2 is more than just an all-terrain electric vehicle. It is a manifesto of modern, sustainable mobility with perfected design.
The Volkswagen case
Following this trend, Volkswagen presents an innovative and sustainable material for the interiors of future cars: industrial hemp leather.
The German brand’s goal is to research and develop sustainable materials based on industrial hemp. They could be used as sustainable materials in Volkswagen models starting in 2028.
The material made from 100% organic hemp uses waste from the regional hemp industry. “We are very open to new ideas from many different sectors.”
“In Technical Development, we focus especially on innovative, creative, and sustainable solutions for the comprehensive development of vehicles that save resources,” they commented from the company.
“The sustainable use of resources is a key pillar of our strategy. Our clear goal is to merge customer desires, sustainability requirements, and corporate interests,” added the responsible parties from the car manufacturer.
An alternative to 100% organic leather from industrial hemp. This material, made from hemp grown for the food industry, is a single-layer and fully natural material called LOVRTM (the letters stand for leather-free, oil-free, vegan, and waste-based) specifically developed for the automotive industry.
The hemp fibers and a completely organic adhesive are combined through special technology and processed to become a surface material.
This truly circular material comes from regional hemp fields and is fully recyclable and/or compostable once it reaches the end of the car’s life cycle.
In conclusion, a future with the undeniable use of hemp cultivation is foreseen. Let’s hope that in the present, the necessary conditions can be created for this plant to be used for a future that is just around the corner.
Source: Germán Pereira- Recetas Cañameras
