Collaboration and advanced materials drive award-winning automotive innovations for Celanese and its customers

Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global chemical and specialty materials company, has been recognized as a finalist and award winner at the 54th annual Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Innovation Awards Competition and Gala, held November 5^th in Livonia, MI. These innovations showcase the power of plastics in advancing automotive design, sustainability and performance.

Zytel^® PA66 and Celcon^® POM received awards in their respective categories and were featured in the following category-winning advanced mobility applications:

Body Interior Category Winner – Power Sliding Console: Ford Motor Company’s 2025 Expedition features a segment-leading power sliding console, developed in partnership with Celanese, Summit Polymers, Brose and Washington Penn. The console offers:

• Best-in-class hidden storage (32.4L total), accessible in both open and closed positions.
• 20% weight reduction by replacing metal with plastic, optimizing storage and system design.
• 50% fewer components resulting in cost reduction.
• Use of recycled PP (GF+TD)35 and Celanese Celcon^® M90 POM for structural components, supporting sustainability goals. This innovation sets a new standard for interior flexibility and efficient use of materials.

Body Exterior Category Winner – Self Sealing Pin & Grommet Bumper Retainer: Celanese and Nifco America Corp., in collaboration with Toyota, introduced a self-sealing pin and grommet bumper retainer for the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia. This part:

• Integrates a plastic umbrella-shaped seal, eliminating the need for foam and manual assembly.
• Reduces components, improves recyclability and lowers cost.
• Enables mass production feasibility and supports Toyota’s Circular Factory Initiative for end-of-life recycling.
• Utilizes Celcon^® POM design for easier recycling and increased sustainability. This innovation is already in mass production and will expand to future Toyota vehicles.

Chassis / Thermal Category Finalist: General Motors, Cooper StandardP and Celanese collaborated to develop an integrated coolant temperature sensor within the plastic quick connector for EV/ICE cooling systems on the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq. This Zytel^® PA66 solution eliminates the need for a separate inline connector, reducing part count, installation complexity, and potential leak paths. Key benefits include:

• Over 30% lower piece cost and over 10% weight reduction compared to traditional designs.
• Simplified manufacturing and assembly, with fewer tube forming operations and tooling investments.
• Enhanced reliability and sustainability.

“Innovation begins with collaboration, and at Celanese, that means working side by side with our customers to unlock new possibilities as we design for the future,” said Todd Elliott, Senior Vice President, Engineered Materials, at Celanese. “These award winning applications demonstrate how advanced material solutions help engineers design the smarter, more sustainable, and high performing vehicles of tomorrow.”

The SPE Automotive Innovation Awards program is the largest and most prestigious competition in the automotive and plastics industries. To learn more, visit https://speautomotive.com/spe-automotive-div-innovation-awards/.

About Celanese​

​Celanese is a global leader in chemistry, producing specialty material solutions used across most major industries and consumer applications. Our businesses use our chemistry, technology and commercial expertise to create value for our customers, employees and shareholders. We support sustainability by responsibly managing the materials we create and growing our portfolio of sustainable products to meet customer and societal demand. We strive to make a positive impact in our communities and to foster inclusivity across our teams. Celanese Corporation is a Fortune 500 company with more than 11,000 employees worldwide and 2024 net sales of $10.3 billion.

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