Cooper Standard Showcases Sustainable Sealing on Renault Group's Emblème Demo Car

Rhea-AI Summary

Cooper Standard (NYSE:CPS) announced its collaboration with Renault Group on the Emblème demo car project, featuring two innovative sealing solutions: FlexiCore™ thermoplastic body seal and FlushSeal™ sealing system.

The company successfully implemented a 100% thermoplastic solution, replacing traditional rubber-plus-metal sealing designs. This marks the first validation of a fully colored visible surface on automotive door seals using FlexiCore technology. The innovations contribute to reduced CO2 emissions, enhanced recyclability, and improved vehicle aesthetics through flush glass styling.

Positive

• Transition to 100% thermoplastic solution enables lighter, more sustainable vehicle architecture
• New sealing systems are fully recyclable, reducing environmental impact
• Innovation enables new aesthetic customization opportunities for automakers
• Continued collaboration with major automaker Renault Group strengthens market position

Negative

• None.

Insights

Automotive Industry Analyst

Cooper Standard's sustainable sealing technologies on Renault's concept car demonstrate innovation leadership in the critical automotive lightweighting trend.

Cooper Standard's collaboration with Renault Group on the Emblème demo car represents a strategic positioning in the automotive industry's sustainability transition. The integration of two key technologies—FlexiCore™ thermoplastic body seal and FlushSeal™ sealing system—addresses multiple industry pain points simultaneously.

The transition from traditional rubber-plus-metal sealing to a 100% thermoplastic solution is particularly significant from a manufacturing perspective. This innovation delivers three critical advantages: weight reduction (directly impacting vehicle efficiency), full recyclability (addressing end-of-life vehicle challenges), and aesthetic customization opportunities (enabling brand differentiation).

From a technical standpoint, the FlushSeal system's aerodynamic properties further contribute to vehicle efficiency through reduced drag. The company's ability to validate a fully colored visible surface on an automotive door seal demonstrates a valuable manufacturing capability that could drive higher-margin business as automakers increasingly seek aesthetic differentiation.

What's most notable is Cooper Standard's strategic alignment with the automotive industry's dual trajectories: sustainability and vehicle aesthetics. By developing technologies that simultaneously reduce carbon footprint while enhancing design flexibility, the company is positioning itself as an enabler of two key industry trends. The Renault showcase validates Cooper Standard's technical capabilities in the European market, where regulatory pressure for sustainability is particularly intense.

NORTHVILLE, Mich., July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper Standard (NYSE: CPS) today announced its collaboration with Renault Group on the Renault Emblème project, an eco-conscious family demo car that aims to reduce CO₂ emissions over its lifecycle. The groundbreaking project integrates two of Cooper Standard's low-carbon, high-performance vehicle innovations: the FlexiCore™ thermoplastic body seal; and FlushSeal™ sealing system.

"We were honored to be selected to collaborate with Renault Group on the Emblème project, showcasing our innovative sealing systems that support vehicle design evolution and climate goals," said Patrick Clark, president, sealing systems and chief manufacturing officer, Cooper Standard. "As the automotive industry accelerates toward net-zero targets, Cooper Standard continues to lead the way by developing forward-thinking solutions that balance environmental responsibility, high performance and cost effectiveness."

Accelerating Sustainable Progress
As part of this collaboration, Cooper Standard successfully transitioned from a traditional rubber-plus-metal sealing design to a 100% thermoplastic solution using its FlexiCore thermoplastic body seal. This shift enables a lighter, more sustainable vehicle architecture that significantly reduces CO₂ emissions associated with production. Additionally, the seal is fully recyclable, making it a major advancement in both material efficiency and environmental impact.

The Emblème demo car also incorporates Cooper Standard's FlushSeal sealing system, which was originally introduced in 2019 in collaboration with Renault. This easy to install system features Cooper Standard's next generation aerodynamic design with enhanced window guidance and offers material flexibility with lightweight options.

Redefining Vehicle Aesthetics
The Emblème project is the first time Cooper Standard has validated the use of a fully colored visible surface on an automotive door seal using its FlexiCore thermoplastic body seal. This innovation opens new doors for aesthetic customization in vehicle interiors, enhancing brand differentiation and design flexibility for automakers. In addition, Cooper Standard's FlushSeal sealing system enables the styling trend known as flush glass or flush glazing. This innovation merges style with cutting-edge technology to improve both vehicle appearance and performance.

For more information about Cooper Standard's sustainability efforts and commitments, please see Cooper Standard's latest Corporate Responsibility Report.

About Cooper Standard 
Cooper Standard, headquartered in Northville, Mich., with locations in 20 countries, is a leading global supplier of sealing and fluid handling systems and components. Utilizing our materials science and manufacturing expertise, we create innovative and sustainable engineered solutions for diverse transportation and industrial markets. Cooper Standard's approximately 22,000 team members (including contingent workers) are at the heart of our success, continuously improving our business and surrounding communities. Learn more at www.cooperstandard.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. 

Contact: Chris Andrews
Cooper Standard
(248) 596-6217
candrews@cooperstandard.com

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SOURCE Cooper Standard

FAQ

What new technologies did Cooper Standard (CPS) showcase on Renault's Emblème demo car?

Cooper Standard showcased two key innovations: the FlexiCore™ thermoplastic body seal and FlushSeal™ sealing system, both designed to reduce CO2 emissions and enhance vehicle aesthetics.

How does Cooper Standard's FlexiCore technology improve sustainability in automotive sealing?

FlexiCore technology replaces traditional rubber-plus-metal sealing with 100% thermoplastic solutions that are fully recyclable and lighter, significantly reducing CO2 emissions in production.

What is unique about Cooper Standard's sealing system on the Renault Emblème?

It's the first implementation of a fully colored visible surface on automotive door seals using FlexiCore thermoplastic body seal, offering enhanced aesthetic customization options.

When was Cooper Standard's FlushSeal system first introduced with Renault?

The FlushSeal sealing system was originally introduced in 2019 in collaboration with Renault, featuring aerodynamic design and enhanced window guidance.

What are the key benefits of Cooper Standard's new sealing technologies?

The key benefits include reduced CO2 emissions, full recyclability, lighter vehicle weight, enhanced aesthetic customization options, and improved aerodynamic performance.