Strengthening its focus on lightweight materials, BMW secures a 15.16 percent stake in SGL Carbon SE, one of the best names in business.

Before this Mercedes too had signed with another carbon fiber specialist to provide them with a lifetime supply of CF. This magical material is currently exclusive to supercars and expensive stuff, but soon car makers will have no other choice than use it in the mainstream models to bring the weight, and therefore fuel consumption down.

Such strategic partnerships will bring the cost of producing CF down so it can be used more extensively.

SGL and BMW are already partners in a joint venture in which SGL Group holds 51% and the BMW Group 49 % of shares. The two partners have built a new state-of-the-art carbon fibre manufacturing plant together in Moses Lake in Washington State in the U.S. The new plant plays an important part in the two companies’ strategy to automate the production of ultra-light carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRPs) for use in future vehicle concepts.

“Lightweight construction will play an increasingly important role in the automobile industry in the future. Our stake-holding in the SGL Group is a logical step that will further strengthen our successful cooperation,” stated Friedrich Eichiner, member of the Board of Management, responsible for Finance, in Munich on Friday. The company is not disclosing the financial details of the transaction. From today’s perspective, the BMW AG will not seek a seat on the Supervisory Board of SGL Carbon SE.