Engineers at Ford Motor Co. are developing ways to turn branches, twigs and leaves that are discarded during olive harvesting into sustainable auto parts.

The start of the year is a good time to think about what lies ahead. We have identified three trends to keep an eye on in 2024.

MLADÁ BOLESLAV, Czech Republic—The seats of ŠKODA’s new ENYAQ iV electric vehicle will be upholstered with fabric that combines wool with polyester made from recycled plastic bottles.

STUTTGART, Germany—Mercedes-Benz is increasingly integrating recycled and sustainable materials into its vehicles.

DEARBORN, MI—Drivers of the Ford Escape may be surprised to find out there is a plant inside the door. As part of its overall effort to make vehicles more sustainable, Ford is making the vehicle’s door bolster from the fibers of the kenaf plant.