Henry Ford’s soybean car: The eco-friendly dream that came 80 years too early
Henry Ford’s soybean car was an eco-friendly innovation decades ahead of its time—plastic panels and plant power long before they hit the mainstream.
Every once in a while, an invention is made before its time, and only in the future can we marvel at its ingenuity. Henry Ford’s soybean-powered car is one of those examples.
The futuristic car made its debut on the automotive scene more than seventy years ago, in August 1941. Ford unveiled it during Dearborn Days, an annual festival held in the city where the company was founded.
The car had a plastic body and weighed around 2,000 pounds—about half the weight of a steel car from that era, according to the Henry Ford Organization. While the exact formula for the plastic used in the car is known, company historians note that contemporary accounts mention soybean fiber as one of the ingredients.
It’s important to remember that the car’s launch came in the middle of World War II, when military demand for steel was high and placed limits on the auto industry. The Henry Ford Museum notes that the shortage led Ford to explore alternative materials for designing and building his vehicles. Ford also reportedly claimed that the plastic panels made the car safer than traditional steel models.
Why the ‘soybean Ford’ never took off
A few years later, when World War II had ended and the industrial pressures on Ford’s production had eased, the project was abandoned. The company showed little interest in investing in research to explore how plastic construction materials could be integrated at scale, leaving the idea behind.
Today, plastic plays an important role in automotive design and manufacturing. While more than half of a car’s weight still comes from its steel content, automakers have found ways to reduce overall weight by incorporating lighter plastic components into their models.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.