Conti develops materials to remove “new-car smell”

Hanover, Germany – Continental Corp. has developed a solution to eliminate unpleasant odour of a new car, the company announced 16 April.

ContiTech engineers in Zhangjiagang, China have developed ‘perfumed Acella’ polyurethane foams for use in applications for automotive interiors.

The technology involves integrating fragrance into a layer of the standard Acella interior surface material, the company release said.

The fragrant material was developed following a JD Power China studies found that Chinese customers found the “fresh-from-the-factory odour” unpleasant.

The smell inside a car is the second most important issue for customers after fuel consumption, the study suggested.

The upgraded Acella materials come in scents of oranges, green tea and men’s perfume, to create a “second living room” for car users, ContiTech said.

The fragrance, it noted, is still slightly perceivable after six to eight months before it completely fades away.

Interior air quality has been regulated in China since 2012, with limits on VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Acella, according to ContiTech, is free of stabilisers containing heavy metals and has passed the VOC test in China.