Does Toyota use carbon fiber?
Yes. Toyota uses carbon fiber in racing machines, select production cars like the Lexus LFA, and in the hydrogen storage tanks on its Mirai fuel-cell vehicle. It also pursues CFRP research with suppliers to develop broader adoption in the future.
What follows is a closer look at where carbon fiber appears in Toyota's lineup, why it is used, and what it could mean for the company’s future—from the racetrack to the showroom and beyond.
In racing and performance
Endurance racing and CFRP
Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Le Mans program relies on carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) to maximize stiffness and minimize weight in its top-tier machines. The GR010 Hybrid, which competes in the Le Mans Hypercar class, uses CFRP for its monocoque chassis and many body panels. Earlier machines, including the TS050 Hybrid, followed suit, establishing Toyota’s track record with carbon fiber technology.
Technology transfer to production
Racing CFRP programs have served as testing grounds for Toyota’s manufacturing processes and materials science, with learnings potentially migrating to street cars in the future as costs come down and supply chains mature.
In production road cars
Lexus LFA as a CFRP milestone
The 2010–2012 Lexus LFA stands as the most prominent Toyota-produced model to use carbon fiber reinforced polymer extensively in its body and structural elements, a rare feature in mass-produced performance cars of its time.
Current road cars and CFRP usage
In today’s lineup, carbon fiber appears only selectively in production cars, typically in high-end trims, concept-adjacent models, or limited editions where weight reduction and performance justify the cost. It is not yet a standard material across Toyota’s mainstream lineup.
In hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
Hydrogen storage tanks on Mirai
Toyota’s Mirai uses carbon fiber reinforced polymer for its high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, enabling safe storage at about 700 bar. CFRP help manage weight and volume constraints inherent to hydrogen propulsion built on fuel cells.
Partnerships and development
To push CFRP toward broader use, Toyota collaborates with materials suppliers and research institutes. These partnerships focus on cost reduction, recyclability, and scalable manufacturing processes.
- Toray Industries has worked with Toyota on carbon fiber materials and processes intended to reduce part costs and enable lighter components for automotive use.
- Joint research targets scalable production, easier integration into vehicle platforms, and the development of recycling methods for CFRP components.
These collaborations reflect Toyota’s strategy: deploy CFRP where it yields the greatest performance or efficiency gains today, while continuing R&D to bring the technology to more models in the future.
Future prospects
As supply chains mature and costs decline, Toyota envisions a broader role for carbon fiber in its vehicles—especially where weight reduction and rigidity directly improve performance and efficiency. The automaker remains cautious about the mass-market case, emphasizing incremental adoption and a continued emphasis on safety, durability, and recyclability.
In short, carbon fiber is already part of Toyota's toolkit, but its footprint across the entire lineup remains limited by cost and supply constraints. Expect incremental expansions in performance models, motorsport-driven technology, and energy storage applications in the coming years.
Summary
Carbon fiber already plays a meaningful role at Toyota in racing and specialized applications: CFRP-driven performance for the GR010 and TS050 race cars, a CFRP-intensive road car in the Lexus LFA, and CFRP hydrogen tanks on the Mirai. Through partnerships with suppliers like Toray and ongoing development efforts, Toyota aims to expand CFRP use as costs decrease, while preserving safety and recyclability. The technology is likely to grow gradually rather than revolutionize the entire lineup in the near term.
