The Economic Times

In 1931, Henry Ford began investing in soybean research; 10 years later, he unveiled a plastic-bodied car that never reached mass production

Henry Ford explored using soybeans for industrial materials, leading to an experimental plastic car. This lightweight vehicle featured 14 molded panels attached to a steel frame. Ford envisioned agricultural products replacing some metals in manufacturing. World War II halted production before this innovative car could be mass-produced. The project remained an unusual chapter in Ford's long history of experimentation.