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Stilfold x California Metals Sustainable Mobility

Pictures of electric vehicles made in steel

The project’s idea is to create a Digital Twin pilot that tracks the lifecycle of a sustainable mobility device —from raw material sourcing to customer. It delivers a Digital twin integrating California Metals’ sustainable material databases with STILFOLD’s innovative production technology. The expected results of the project are to deliver a CO₂-cutting prototype demonstrated in a Digital Twin.

California Metals, a leader in sustainable metal technologies, and STILFOLD, the Swedish design and technology company behind industrial origami manufacturing, are entering a joint venture to reshape how we create the mobility solutions of tomorrow.

At the core of the initiative is a strategic collaboration to radically improve the way raw materials are sourced and used. Since up to 70% of a product’s total CO₂ emissions are embedded in the materials themselves, optimizing supply chains and minimizing material usage and waste are critical levers for decarbonizing manufacturing. By aligning early-stage design with low-impact materials and data-driven production, STILFOLD and California Metals aim to set a new benchmark for clean, circular industrial ecosystems.

 

“This partnership is a catalyst for the future of clean manufacturing. By uniting California Metals’ expertise in sustainable metallurgy with STILFOLD’s pioneering folding technology, we’re paving a smarter, cleaner way forward—one fold at a time.”

— Michael Resl, CEO of California Metals.

Pictures of electric vehicles made in steel

The collaboration fuses sustainable materials sourcing and digital manufacturing into a seamless, end-to-end ecosystem—from raw metal to recyclable mobility solutions. At the heart of the project is a powerful Digital Twin platform, designed to cut emissions, eliminate waste, and turn design for sustainability into a regenerative force.

“Every fold and the material it saves is a step toward a cleaner planet. This is not just about building parts—it’s about reshaping the industry itself.”

says Jonas Nyvang, CEO of STILFOLD. 

metall is being designed


The initiative launches with a fully integrated lifecycle prototype, where smart data meets sustainable steel. Together, the two companies are laying the foundation for a new category of circular manufacturing—modular, scalable, and ready for global deployment.

 

Project outcomes and future development

By the end of the project, the team will have delivered a validated electric vehicle prototype, a functional Digital Twin, and a complete lifecycle assessment. These results lay the groundwork for sustainable production of urban EVs and next-generation mobility solutions.

The project is designed with scalability in mind—paving the way for larger, multi-application initiatives within the next three years, targeting both the urban mobility and electric vehicle markets.

Post-project, both partners will integrate the results into their broader operations and continue to collaborate on future innovation.
 

Project manager: Jonas Nyvang, CEO, Stilfold

Parties: STILFOLD and California Metals  

Period: 2025


Fund your Sweden–U.S. innovation project

This collaboration is supported by Future Mobility. An open call is now accepting new proposals. Read more and apply:

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Start an innovation collaboration with funding from Future Mobility

Future Mobility aims to contribute to new or strengthened innovation collaborations between Sweden and the United States (focus California) within sustainable mobility. We finance strategic projects...

Would you like to know more? 

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Hans Pohl

Future Mobility
Program Director
hans.pohl@lindholmen.se
+46(0)70-840 27 40
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Jan Hellåker

Future Mobility
Project Manager United States
jan.hellaker@lindholmen.se
+1 949 288-3216