Cadillac Unveils Electric Vehicle with Reishi Mushroom Leather Interior

A biotech company called MycoWorks just crafted “leather” for parts of Cadillac’s electric car’s interior using mycelium from Reishi mushrooms. The “Sollei” is still a concept car, but according to Design Bloom, the mycelium biomaterial appears as accents inside the vehicle and has been refined into a texture that’s soft, silky, and has a “rawness to the finish.” The mycelium leather will line the charging mats and the door map pockets of the electric convertible. 

Cadillac, owned by General Motors, first hinted that it would engage in the “shroom boom” in June 2024, when it announced a collaboration with MycoWorks. The companies launched a card holder made of mycelium leather as a teaser for their collaboration. A few weeks later, Cadillac announced that it would be launching Sollei — named for “Sol,” meaning sun, and “Lei,” referencing leisure — an electric convertible accented with Reishi mushroom bio-leather, made from its patented “Fine Mycelium” technology. 

This process is said to “engineer mycelium cells as they grow to create three-dimensional structures that are densely entwined, and inherently strong,” according to its website. “Grown in our proprietary trays under precise conditions, each sheet has a unique code that allows us to monitor and fine-tune the material, from inoculation to harvest. Fine Mycelium is an advanced platform that allows designers to fully customize desired specifications. Like thickness. Strength. Texture. And Drape. Among other features.”

READ: 14 of the Very Best Mushroom Memes

The shroom leather used in the Cadillac Sollei is tanned and finished by MycoWorks’ heritage tannery partners in Europe, using its own “proprietary chrome-free tanning and dyeing techniques.” The surface of the material mimics the feeling of mycelium woven into fabric, honoring the natural feel of mycelium. The colors and texture of the Reishi leather are designed to complement the wooden elements of Sollei’s interior, as well as the light cream color of the traditional leather seats.

Another wild accessory of the Sollei electric vehicle is that it comes with an array of bird whistles made from a 3D-printer — a specific appeal to bird watchers. “SOLLEI also caters to bird-watching connoisseurs with a…custom brushed metal and leather-wrapped case houses 3D printed acrylic bird calls, a leather-bound journal with hand painted bird illustrations and a leather tool roll for pens and pencils, made to custom match the vehicle interior, allowing enthusiasts to capture their bird-watching experiences,” according to Cadillac’s Solleil announcement.

Between crafting an electric vehicle with mushroom leather and bird-call whistles, Cadillac says it this effort is meant to signify a shift toward a renewable product. “[This vehicle] reflects Cadillac’s mission to pioneer renewable automotive resources.”

This collaboration with MycoWorks also showcases how mushrooms can be utilized in highend, mainstream products. The mushroom biotech company boasts celebrity investors like Natalie Portman and John Legend, and its mycelium material has already caught the eye of major fashion houses, including Hermès.

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