Volkswagen fits ID. Buzz spoilers with PLEXIGLAS® (Röhm) Piano Black mold‑in‑color PMMA
- Volkswagen and supplier Magna specified PLEXIGLAS® Piano Black PMMA for the ID. Buzz rear spoiler, wingflaps and pillar trims.
- Coating accounts for roughly 40% of energy use in Volkswagen's Wolfsburg vehicle production, making mold‑in‑color a lever to reduce emissions.
- Finke Anwendungstechnik produces the 1,222 × 155 × 44 mm rear spoiler as a 2‑component polycarbonate part with a PMMA top layer using a three‑part cube injection‑compression mold and hydraulic ram.
- The EU End‑of‑Life Vehicles Directive (2026) will require a recycling concept for every plastic vehicle component, shaping material choices.
Mold‑in‑color to cut coatings and emissions
Volkswagen and its supplier partners used mold‑in‑color (MIC) injection molding for the ID. Buzz rear spoiler, wingflaps and pillar trims, replacing conventional coating. MIC removes wet‑painting steps that emit VOCs and consume heat and water, reducing energy use and the vehicle's carbon footprint; Volkswagen cites coating as about 40% of energy consumption at its Wolfsburg plant.
Material choice and performance
Röhm's PLEXIGLAS® PMMA molding compounds are offered in clear, transparent and opaque colors and provide Class A surfaces with high UV, weather and chemical resistance. Röhm developed a deep black (Black 9V022, “Piano Black”) for high‑gloss exterior applications; Volkswagen uses the material for multiple exterior elements where long‑term surface quality is required.
Production and tooling
The spoiler is produced as a two‑component part: a polycarbonate substrate with a PMMA top layer. Finke Anwendungstechnik manufactures the 1,222 × 155 × 44 mm spoiler using an injection‑compression embossing process in a three‑part cube mold, with a hydraulic ram to compact the PMMA and offset shrinkage. Postprocessing includes laser sprue removal and milling of the washer‑nozzle opening to preserve the flawless surface.
Regulatory and lifecycle drivers
Material selection is driven by lifecycle assessments under DIN EN ISO 14040/44 and upcoming regulation: the EU End‑of‑Life Vehicles Directive entering in 2026 requires a recycling concept for every plastic component, forcing trade‑offs between recyclability, function, aesthetics and cost.
Source: Röhm