Aikexun’s Carbon Fiber Innovations Lead the Charge in Automotive Lightweighting Competition

What happens when vehicles undergo “weight loss”? Research indicates that for electric vehicles, reducing weight by 10% can enhance the driving range by 5% to 8%. For traditional gasoline vehicles, shedding 100 kg can lower fuel consumption by 0.3 to 0.6 liters per 100 kilometers, which translates to approximately 5 grams of CO2 emissions reduced per kilometer. This represents a significant advantage for energy saving and emissions reduction.

How can manufacturers achieve this weight reduction? Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) play a crucial role in automotive lightweighting. At the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, Dongguan Aikexun Composite Materials Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Aikexun”) unveiled an impressive all-carbon fiber display vehicle. This showcase highlighted a range of carbon fiber components, from interior and exterior parts to structural elements, including mirrors, welcome pedals, and wheels, emphasizing the vast application potential of carbon fiber in automotive parts.

As a leader in high-performance carbon fiber automotive components, Aikexun, founded in 2012, has redefined the boundaries of automotive lightweighting through revolutionary material innovations and intelligent manufacturing techniques. How does Aikexun position itself as an “invisible champion” in the field of carbon fiber materials through its technical breakthroughs, R&D advantages, and future strategies?

In the realm of carbon fiber innovation, the “invisible champion” steps into the spotlight. The global automotive industry is currently facing dual challenges: the goal of carbon neutrality and the shift towards electrification. Lightweighting technology has emerged as a core factor determining product competitiveness during this critical transition to electric and intelligent vehicles. Thanks to the excellent properties of carbon fiber materials—lightweight, high strength, and appealing aesthetics—carbon fiber automotive components are becoming increasingly vital in the lightweighting and differentiation processes. For instance, all-carbon fiber structural components can reduce weight by 20% to 40% compared to traditional configurations while enhancing strength by 20% to 60%. This results in improved driving range, comfort, and handling.

“In recent years, the global, and particularly the Chinese, carbon fiber industry has matured significantly. Carbon fiber components are no longer exclusive to luxury car consumers; they are essential elements for automotive lightweighting,” stated Liao Guoxing, Chairman and Planning Director of Aikexun. As the world’s largest automotive market, China sees numerous OEMs eager to adopt differentiated lightweight carbon fiber products for vehicle customization, allowing Aikexun to contribute significantly in this new phase.

At the Shanghai Auto Show, Aikexun’s carbon fiber vehicle showcased an array of components made entirely from carbon fiber. Not only does it boast a stunning appearance, but it also provides novel ideas and solutions for the automotive industry’s development, thanks to its lightweight and high-strength characteristics. This comprehensive display signifies that this “invisible champion” in the field of carbon fiber automotive parts is stepping into the limelight.

As a high-tech enterprise focused on specialization and innovation, Aikexun has achieved remarkable success in carbon fiber solutions. To date, Aikexun has consistently progressed each year. Notably, the company has received the prestigious JEC Innovation Award in the automotive and road transport category four times, recognizing its creative projects that demonstrate the forefront of composite materials. In 2014, Aikexun won for its carbon fiber chassis, presenting a new approach to weight reduction through innovative design and processes. In 2016, it was awarded for its rapid prototyping process for automotive center consoles, significantly shortening production cycles and enhancing efficiency. In 2018, the company received another award for its lightweight design of stabilizers and connecting rods, achieving over 55% weight reduction in mass production for automotive chassis. In 2023, Aikexun launched the world’s first mass-produced all-carbon fiber roll cage, which meets the International Automobile Federation (FIA) load and road testing standards, resulting in over 40% weight reduction while maintaining Class A appearance quality. This product has been widely recognized within the industry and is already in production vehicles.

Overall, driven by the trend of automotive lightweighting, Aikexun has made impressive strides in the field of carbon fiber automotive components. With exceptional product quality and a robust supply chain, Aikexun has become a first-tier supplier for over 30 top global automotive companies and a strategic partner for numerous Fortune 500 firms. It is also the preferred supplier for many European supercar manufacturers and a key technology ally for Asian new energy vehicle enterprises. To date, Aikexun has achieved a production capacity of over 3 million carbon fiber products.

In 2024, Aikexun’s factory-produced carbon fiber mirror shells are expected to reach a shipment volume of 100,000 units, making it the top global supplier, a testament to its years of dedication in the carbon fiber automotive component sector.

Innovation as the Driving Force: Technology is the primary driver of enterprise development. “Our founding team has deep roots in the composite materials industry, spanning over half a century,” said Liao Guoxing. “We started with carbon fiber sporting goods and later transitioned to carbon fiber bicycles.” In 2012, we established Aikexun, venturing into the research and manufacture of automotive composite component products. Our team’s expertise now exceeds 30 years.” Over the past decade, Aikexun has grown alongside European high-end brand manufacturers and has now become a global enterprise.

As of now, Aikexun has formed a complete ecosystem in automotive carbon fiber products—from structural reinforcement components and chassis assemblies to a full range of interior and exterior mass production solutions. Liao emphasized, “These innovations not only break through the performance limits of traditional materials but also provide vehicle manufacturers with lightweight solutions that average a 30% to 50% weight reduction.” In the technically demanding field of automotive carbon fiber, Aikexun’s robust and complete product system is underpinned by its emphasis on R&D investment.

As Liao pointed out, “Technological research and development is Aikexun’s core strategy, and we view technology and innovation as the primary driving force for development.” Currently, Aikexun’s R&D team consists of over 150 members, including technical experts from its European branch. Importantly, most members of the R&D team have extensive experience in the automotive and composite industry, covering the full chain of technology from sample development to final product delivery, ensuring that technical solutions are both forward-looking and quickly aligned with mass production needs.

As of now, Aikexun holds over a hundred patents, including many invention patents. The characteristics of Aikexun’s R&D system can be summarized as a “Golden Triangle Combination”: a deep integration of cross-domain experts, an international perspective combined with local experience, and dual capabilities of innovative exploration and mass production implementation. Liao analyzed this model thoroughly, stating, “Aikexun’s R&D model adheres to a blend of international and local integration, with a European technology center and a Dongguan R&D base. This allows us to absorb global top-tier technological concepts while optimizing costs based on the characteristics of the Chinese supply chain.”

This R&D advantage has already translated into concrete outcomes. Aikexun has built a “smart factory” system, with its thermosetting carbon fiber rapid prototyping process leading the industry by 2 to 3 years. The AI visual inspection system achieves a 99.99% factory acceptance rate, coupled with dual manufacturing bases in Dongguan and Vietnam for efficient production. Furthermore, Aikexun strictly adheres to industry standards such as IATF16949 and has established an internal “innovation laboratory” mechanism. This ensures that top-tier safety lightweight structural components, like the all-carbon fiber roll cage, achieve technical breakthroughs while maintaining automotive-grade reliability.

Aikexun’s R&D investments are consistently focused on high-performance carbon fiber material applications, process innovations, and breakthroughs, as well as efficient and high-quality large-scale production. Consequently, Aikexun has made remarkable achievements in research and development.

Currently, Aikexun has pioneered a 9-meter radial weaving technology, successfully developing several all-carbon fiber wheels that have passed rigorous testing and are road-legal. Notably, the cutting-edge carbon fiber wheels have become a star attraction at Aikexun’s exhibition booth, with visitors eagerly touching and inquiring about them.

Carbon fiber automotive components are playing an increasingly significant role in the lightweighting sector. Data shows that in 2023, the demand for carbon fiber composites in China breaks down by industry: 18,000 tons for sports and leisure (26.1%), 17,000 tons for wind turbine blades (24.6%), and 8,000 tons for aerospace (11.6%). Other applications include carbon-carbon composites, pressure vessels, and hybrid molding, accounting for 10.9%, 6.2%, and 6.1%, respectively. Research institutions believe that the automotive sector and hybrid molding will have immense application potential due to the rapid development of new energy vehicles in China. However, the high cost and complex processes of carbon fiber materials have long limited their widespread application, creating a pressing need for technological breakthroughs to overcome this stagnation.

Fortunately, the cost issues surrounding carbon fiber materials are expected to improve. Liao believes, “The domestic market is highly sensitive to the price of carbon fiber. However, material innovations, enhanced production efficiency, coupled with strong demand for carbon fiber in China, are all conducive to driving prices down to more affordable levels.” The application scenarios for carbon fiber products are continually expanding. Liao stated that carbon fiber components will transition from being a “substitute option” in the automotive lightweight market to a “must-have option.” The automotive composite materials market is poised for sustained growth, driven by the rise of electric vehicles and increasing demand for lightweight materials. This opens up new opportunities for composite materials applications and brings about competition within the industry, leading to diverse developments.

As competition intensifies, suppliers will face more challenges, necessitating quicker rollout of new processes to meet the bulk production demands of major OEMs. So, what is Aikexun’s competitive advantage? “Aikexun has continuously and stably supplied bulk carbon fiber components to over 30 domestic and international OEMs,” stated Liao Yuanli, Production Director at Aikexun. “Aikexun’s advantage lies in our ability to adeptly meet the technical standards of various OEM clients and translate that into stable, large-scale production.” Currently, Aikexun boasts one of Asia’s largest automated carbon fiber production lines and a world-class precision machining center. It also possesses a complete development design verification system and a production base managed according to European standards. These capabilities enable Aikexun to provide OEMs with comprehensive services from conceptual design to bulk delivery.

More importantly, Aikexun’s core strength is its ability to differentiate customer requirements regarding product appearance and performance, subsequently enhancing competitiveness in both domestic and international markets. Liao Yuanli emphasized, “For Aikexun, conducting thorough research on our clients and deeply understanding the specific usage scenarios and requirements of their products allows us to propose targeted solutions that meet their needs.”

Conclusion: As the “invisible champion” steps into the limelight, Aikexun showcases its commitment to technological excellence and high-quality innovation by designing lighter, higher-performing carbon fiber products in the wave of automotive lightweighting. At the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, Aikexun exhibited premium carbon fiber products, highlighting its determination to lead the automotive industry towards lightweighting, high performance, and sustainability in collaboration with partners. This underscores the broad prospects of its “Power of Carbon” vision, as it continues to spearhead the future of carbon fiber lightweighting.