Covestro and Genofort Partners to Unveil the World's First Smart Haptic Interior Film, Turning Vehicle Interiors into Intelligent Sensors

Recently, German materials company Covestro and Chinese technology company Genofort jointly released the world’s first ultra-flexible printed electronics TPU film. This material-and-electronics integration technology upgrades traditional automotive interior surfaces from simple decorative trim components into intelligent interactive interfaces with multi-dimensional sensing capabilities, marking the transformation of vehicle cabins into a new stage of full-domain perceptive interaction.

1. Technological Breakthrough: One Film, Three Layers of Sensing

This film, with a thickness of less than 0.5 mm, integrates a large number of micro-sensors and electronic circuits into a flexible polyurethane substrate through precision printed electronics technology. It achieves the one-piece integration of electronic components and interior materials, and combines three core functions: human posture recognition, zoned intelligent temperature control, and in-cabin occupant health monitoring.

Covestro’s Head of Mobility Business, Michael Schmidt, stated that this product is not merely an iteration in materials, but a disruptive transformation in automotive interior design logic. Traditional interiors only serve the function of surface wrapping and decoration, whereas the new intelligent film can capture the real-time status of occupants and proactively match interaction needs, thereby reshaping the way humans and vehicles communicate.

Currently, this technology has been implemented in three core interior areas: the steering wheel, center console, and door panels, forming a complete practical application scenario. The intelligent steering wheel collects grip force, hand temperature, and heart rate in real time. After recognizing fatigue or high-pressure states, it provides warnings through vibration and lights, simultaneously linking with the vehicle's driver assistance system. The zoned temperature-controlled surface heats up rapidly in 30 seconds, independently adapting to the body temperature of each passenger, overcoming the shortcomings of traditional heating systems with uniform temperature control. The door panels are equipped with contactless sensors that continuously collect heart rate and respiratory data, providing support for health monitoring during long-distance travel.

2. Industry Outlook: Material–Electronics Convergence Becomes the Next Battleground

Zhang Liming, CEO of Genofort, believes that the competitive focus in the second half of automotive intelligence is shifting from chips and large displays toward the deep integration of materials and electronics. Soft–hard integrated solutions will define the standards of the next-generation smart cockpit. Industry analysis suggests that in-cabin innovation has already moved beyond the “more screens” approach, with full-domain smart surfaces emerging as a new growth track. According to calculations by Gaogong Intelligent Automotive Research Institute, the global smart surface materials market is expected to exceed USD 120 billion by 2030, becoming a core incremental growth segment in the automotive industry, following power batteries and autonomous driving.

According to official disclosures, the film has successfully passed a full suite of stringent automotive-grade certifications, including high temperature and high humidity testing, mechanical fatigue testing, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing. Mass production and delivery are scheduled to commence in Q1 2027. At present, multiple leading automakers in China and Europe have already integrated the technology into concept vehicles. Production models equipped with this technology are expected to enter the market gradually starting in 2028.

About Genofort: 

Genofort Electronics is a global technology company specializing in ultra-flexible and soft printed electronics haptic interaction systems for automotive interiors. Its independently developed “Adaptive Interactive Circuit (AIC)” technology represents a next-generation solution for comfort and control systems in L3/L4 autonomous driving interiors. It enables vehicles to achieve an upgraded interaction model of “recognition → interpretation → understanding”, adding a third sensing dimension to automobiles beyond vision and hearing.

It enables vehicle interiors to return to “touch-based interaction,” while also giving embodied robots a true sense of touch. The company’s AIC technology also delivers complete tactile interaction solutions for embodied robotics, electronic skin, and consumer electronics, enabling printed circuits to be applied to virtually any surface without spatial constraints. In addition, the comfort functional layer has achieved a breakthrough in energy efficiency, reducing power consumption by more than 30% compared with traditional technologies. The company is headquartered in Germany, with its Asia-Pacific headquarters located in Wuxi, China. As a young innovative technology enterprise, Genofort has achieved an average annual sales growth rate of 300% over the past two years.