Press Releases

Asahi Kasei’s AKXY™ concept car chosen for German Design Award

November 7, 2018
Asahi Kasei Corp.

The AKXY™ concept car developed by Asahi Kasei jointly with GLM Co., Ltd., has been chosen to receive the German Design Award 2019 in the Special Mention Category, a highly regarded prize conferred by the German Design Council. The award ceremony will be held in February 2019 in Frankfurt, Germany.

  • The AKXY™ concept car

Since its debut in May 2017, the drivable concept car AKXY™ has been displayed at various public events and private exhibitions around the world, invigorating discussion with people in the automotive industry about the future of the automobile and solutions that vehicles can provide.

The selection of AKXY™ for the German Design Award Special Mention Category 2019 was made in recognition that it “combines all relevant interior and exterior vehicle elements into an advanced design whose form and function are impressive in every detail – and that thus provides an intriguing glimpse of the automobiles of tomorrow.”

Leveraging the AKXY™ drivable concept car at exhibitions and other events worldwide, Asahi Kasei will continue to build connections with more customers, and provide comprehensive proposals on various key items that contribute to vehicle safety, comfort, and environmental performance.

“AKXY™ exquisitely integrates organic curves with inorganic straight lines,” said Michitaka Udaka, General Manager of Asahi Kasei’s Automotive Marketing Department, “I am thrilled that this design, which embodies our ideal for the future of automotive safety, comfort, and environmental performance, has earned such a prestigious recognition.”

About AKXY™

AKXY™ is a drivable concept car focused on vehicle safety, comfort, and environmental performance. It features 36 Asahi Kasei products and technologies including driver sensing technology to support save driving, fiber materials and a communication system to enhance interior comfort, and performance polymers to reduce the environmental burden. The name derives from Asahi Kasei X (multiplied by) You (the customer).

The German Design Council

The German Design Council is one of the world’s leading centres of expertise in communication and knowledge transfer in the area of design. Currently, more than 290 companies belong to its foundation. The German Design Council was founded in 1953 on the initiative of the German Bundestag to support and enhance the design expertise of German industry. It pursues a wide range of activities with a single goal: to communicate increased brand value on a sustained basis via the strategic use of design.