The first mass-produced car to feature a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic passenger cell was the BMW i3.
BMW designed the i3 around two main structures. Its aluminium Drive Module carried the battery, suspension, motor and chassis hardware, while the lightweight CFRP Life Module formed the passenger compartment. Separating these functions reduced weight and helped offset the mass of the electric battery pack.
The i3 debuted as a concept in 2011, was officially unveiled in 2013, and entered series production in September 2013. BMW developed a specialized supply chain: carbon fibre was produced in Moses Lake, Washington, processed into parts in Germany, and assembled at BMW’s Leipzig plant. Adhesive bonding, rather than conventional spot welding, joined much of the carbon-fibre structure.
The BMW 7 Series and M4 GTS used carbon-fibre components, but neither was the pioneering mass-produced model described here. The i8 also used a CFRP passenger cell, yet it was a related plug-in sports car launched alongside the i3 rather than the canonical first answer.