Chemistry has a critical role in auto manufacturers' push to boost fuel efficiency to meet the U.S. government's Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, writes Lanxess CEO Axel Heitmann. Advanced composite materials such as plastic-metal hybrids are making headway in reducing vehicle weight. "As the government's rigorous new CAFE standards are phased in, advanced new materials developed by the chemical industry and its legion of highly skilled researchers are becoming critically important," Heitmann writes.