This archive report was first published on 31 August 2019.
On August 31, 2019, BMW made headlines with the unveiling of its Vantablack X6, a vehicle coated with the world's darkest black pigment.
The Vantablack X6 is a showpiece that showcases the capabilities of this unique material. Developed for use in aerospace components, Vantablack uses tiny carbon nanotubes to absorb up to 99.965% of light striking its surface.
While the Vantablack X6 may look striking, its true purpose may not be as glamorous as it seems. According to BMW, the company is exploring other applications for Vantablack, such as reducing sun reflections on screens and displays, which could improve the accuracy of driving assistant systems.
It seems that the future of Vantablack in cars may lie in its ability to reduce reflections on the inside of vehicles, rather than its aesthetic appeal. As one BMW representative noted, "The use of Vantablack allows to reduce drastically sun reflections on screens/displays/lenses and could make it's way in Head-up-Displays or camera lenses used for driving assistant systems, making them more accurate by reducing reflections."
