DEARBORN, MICH. (Aug. 31, 3:40 p.m. ET) — Ford Motor Co. is taking its use of soybean oil-based foam blends into another part of the car — headrests.
The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker was the first major automaker to begin using a soy foam blend when it put it into seats on the 2008 Mustang. It has now used in seats throughout Ford's vehicle lineup. In 2010, the company began using soy foam blends in headliners.
Now Ford will use a foam with 25 percent soy-based content in head restraints in three-quarters of its vehicles, including the top selling F-150 truck, the Taurus sedan and Explorer sports utility vehicle.
Supplier Lear Corp. will make the restraints. The Southfield, Mich.-based company was also the development partner on previous soy-based foam parts with Ford.
Ford estimates it has cut its use of petroleum-based foam by 3 million pounds per year by adapting to the soy blends made using renewable sources.
