Suzuki Motor Corp. has adopted Mitsubishi Chemical’s Durabio bio-based polycarbonate as the grille material for its S-Cross compact SUV. Although Durabio had previously been applied to interior parts by Suzuki, the improved level of impact resistance and weather resistance has led to its current use for exterior applications. The S-Cross has been on the market since December 2021.

Made from the renewable plant-derived raw material isosorbide, Durabio is a bio-based engineering plastic with properties comparable to conventional engineering plastics, including impact, weather, and heat resistance.

Further, the plastic features excellent color development, enabling the realization of a sophisticated design with a gloss finish through colorant addition alone. The plastic requires neither painting nor coating, as its hard surface is scratch resistant, thereby reducing the generation of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions during production.