---
title: "Japan Just Unveiled a Supercar Made out of Wood"
description: "Japan has unveiled a wooden car two years in the making, but while the vehicle looks cool, it seems far from road ready at this time."
date: "2019-10-31"
modified: "2019-10-31"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/japan-made-wooden-car"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
tags:
  - "cellulose nanofiber"
  - "Japan"
  - "the digest"
  - "wooden car"
---

# Japan Just Unveiled a Supercar Made out of Wood

![Japan has unveiled a wooden car two years in the making, but while the vehicle looks cool, it seems far from road ready at this time.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/japan-made-wooden-car.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: NCV Project\</em\>*

## Wooden Car

Japan just unveiled its vision for the car of the future — and it's [made from wood](<https://jalopnik.com/the-car-is-made-of-wood-1839437562>).

Specifically, the car's entire body and much of its structural tub are made of [cellulose nanofiber](<https://youtu.be/5PpNusoDaWg>), a super-strong, super-light material derived from plants.

Twenty-two groups contributed to creating the vehicle, which Japan's Ministry of the Environment unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show this week — but based on what we know so far, the wooden car is far from road ready.

## Style Over Substance

The wooden car certainly looks futuristic, with its butterfly doors and sharp angles. But it's hard to say just how close the vehicle comes to the team's [stated goal](<https://youtu.be/48ZLgxbD8nE>) of a 10 percent weight reduction, and details about what's under the hood are hard to come by.

[*Carscoops* did report](<https://www.carscoops.com/2019/10/nano-cellulose-vehicle-concept-is-the-most-eco-friendly-supercar-ever/>) that the vehicle is "thought to feature a hydrogen fuel cell and have a top speed capped at a mere 12 mph (20 km/h)." If that's true, it seems this car is an extremely early concept — unless, of course, Japan envisions people driving very, very slowly in the future.

**READ MORE:** [The Car Is Made Of Wood](<https://jalopnik.com/the-car-is-made-of-wood-1839437562>) \[*Jalopnik*\]

**More on wooden cars:** *[New "Metallic Wood" Could Lead to Super-Light Cars](<https://futurism.com/metallic-wood-super-light-cars>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)