Motoring giant Volkswagen AG is launching an electric SUV – which has a vegan leather interior made from apples.
The seven-seater ID. Roomzz, which is set to become available in 2021, was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show earlier this week.
Apple leather
The apple leather, called AppleSkin, is partly made from apple-juice waste including cores and skin from the fruit. It has been described by Volkswagen as a ‘renewable raw material’.
According to the Apple Nine Alliance: “Apple Peel Skin is an innovative and highly sustainable hybrid material (Vegan-leather) made in Italy, which integrates organic apple peels into the skin of the material, making it an Eco-Friendly alternative for those who care about the environment and animals.”
Electric car
According to Volkswagen Sales and Marketing boss Jurgen Stackmann the key markets for the car are China and North America.
“These two countries love space,” he added. “I wouldn’t reckon that ID Roomzz will be a core model [for Europe]”
“The ID Roomzz shows us what we can expect from full-size electric SUVs in the future,” added Volkswagen Designer Klaus Bischoff. “The puristic look emphasizes the clear function and the user experience is intuitive and natural. Plenty of space inside allows for completely new seating configurations.”