A vehicle interior panel such as an instrument panel includes a substrate having a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2.25 mm, inclusive, a decorative layer, and an intermediate layer located between the substrate and the decorative layer. A post-form warpage of the substrate is less than 15 mm at an edge region of the substrate. A serpentine rib located near the edge region helps impart structural rigidity to the panel during a foaming process to achieve an adequate degree of post-form warpage.

Please substitute the new Abstract submitted herewith for the original Abstract: An interior component for a motor vehicle covers a region of the motor vehicle. The interior component has a main body with a visible surface, wherein the visible surface has a first surface region and a second surface region. The first surface region is formed as a high-gloss region and the first surface region and the second surface region are formed on the same side of the interior component. The second surface region is provided in the form of a light scattering region.

Systems and methods for a moveable cover panel of an autonomous vehicle is provided. A vehicle can include a front panel disposed proximate to the front end of the passenger compartment, a vehicle motion control device located at the front panel, and a cover panel located at the front panel. The cover panel moveable relative to the front panel between an isolating position and an exposing position. The cover panel can isolate the vehicle motion control device from the passenger compartment when in the isolating position and expose the vehicle motion control device to the passenger compartment when in the exposing position. A method can include obtaining vehicle data identifying an operational mode, state, and/or status of the vehicle, determining a first position of the cover panel, and initiating a positional change for the cover panel based on the vehicle data and the first position.

A multilayer damping material for damping a vibrating surface comprising: at least one constraining layer; at least one dissipating layer; and at least one kinetic spacer layer comprising multiple spacer elements. The kinetic spacer layer is arranged between the constraining layer and the vibrating surface, when used for damping the vibrating surface. Each spacer element has opposite ends. At least one end of each of the multiple spacer elements is embedded in, bonded to, in contact with, or in close proximity to the dissipating layer, such that energy is dissipated within the multilayer damping material, through movement of the at least one end of each of the multiple spacer elements.

A vehicle interior component with a heater/heating element is disclosed. The component may comprise an assembly with the heating element produced in a mold tool by a process comprising assembling the heating element between a cover layer and a fiber layer to provide a pre-form assembly; consolidating the pre-form assembly (e.g. including trimming/compressing and/or heating); forming the pre-form assembly in the mold tool into a compression-formed body with a shape; applying a cover to the compression-formed body to provide a compression-formed panel. The compression-formed panel may be provided with the shape and an external surface provided by the cover. The texture/feel at the external surface of the compression-formed panel for the component may obscure the presence of the heating element within the component. The component may comprise a console; floor console; tunnel console; armrest; instrument panel; door; door panel; trim component; or panel.

A vehicle has a windshield, a cladding element having a front surface, which faces the windshield, a rear surface, which faces away from the windshield, and a top surface, which is arranged between the front surface and the rear surface and is angled toward the front surface and rear surface. An airflow element has a wall element, a grille element and an air inlet. At least the front surface and the top surface of the cladding element have a recess in which the wall element and the grille element are arranged. The grille element is designed to direct air from the airflow element to the windshield.

A cover assembly for use in a vehicle to protect electronic components on a vehicle's dashboard, shield the interior of the vehicle from rain and debris, and provide privacy to occupants in the vehicle when in the vehicle. The cover assembly includes a dash cover, rain curtains, and privacy curtains that include long and/or short bungee cords for attaching and securing the cover and curtains to roll bars in a vehicle. The cover and some of the privacy curtains also include suction cups that are attachable to a vehicles windshield or back window. The cover assembly is quickly installed within a vehicle with ease to cover door and/or window openings, or the windshield or back window of a vehicle. The cover assembly may come in a variety of different sizes to accommodate use with different makes and models of vehicles having roll bars, and removable doors, rooftops, and/or windows.

A safety airbag mesh, which includes a fiber layer. The fiber layer includes a warp fiber unit that extends warpwise and a weft fiber unit that extends weftwise, characterized in that the warp fiber unit includes a plurality of first fibers and second fibers arranged weftwise. The first fibers warpwise cover a buffer area and a support area, and the first fibers in the buffer area take on nonlinear formation, and extend longer than the second fibers in the area.

A component for a vehicle interior configured to provide a moveable panel/door is disclosed. The component may comprise a structural substrate and a reinforcement for the panel at a hinge area. The reinforcement may comprise a stitch pattern to reinforce the hinge area during movement of the panel. The stitch pattern may comprise thread sewn into the structural substrate. The stitch pattern may be pressed into a surface of the structural substrate. The structural substrate may comprise a compression-formed component, a generally rigid fiber mat, or a fiber panel. The stitch pattern may be concealed at an exterior surface of the component by a cover. The component may comprise at least one of an instrument panel, a door panel, a trim panel, a trim component, etc. A vehicle interior/trim component comprising a structural substrate with a reinforcement to provide a door/opening for airbag deployment is also disclosed.

A cladding part has a carrier part and a surface covering, which is arranged on a side of the carrier part that faces the surface covering. The surface covering is made of an intrinsically stiff knitted-fabric material.