ETH Zurich · Focus Project

NatureDrive

Redefining What Cars Can Be Made Of

We are the next generation of engineers trying to innovate and revive wood in the automotive industry.

OUR VISION

Inspiring Change Through New Perspective.

For thousands of years, wood carried humanity: across oceans in ships, through the skies in early aircraft, and onto the road in the first automobiles.

Then we forgot it. We are Convinced it is time to rethinking what wood can do.

Curious? Discover our vision here.

Learn More Here


MARK I
Take a Look...
...at what our team developed over the span of one year.
It is proof that a wooden car monocoque is feasiblewhen material innovation meets resilient engineers.


November 12th, 2025
Disassembling the "Kyburz eRod".


December 18th, 2025
First prototype with half of its chassis built from plywood.

May 29th, 2026
Driving the Mark I and its monocoque made almost entirely from engineered wood.









MARK II
What the Future Holds.
Phase two of NatureDrive has officially begun. We are pushing the limits of sustainable lightweight design to bring a more refined and practical vehicle to the streets. Curious about the journey ahead?
Find OutEmbark With Us 







OUR NEW TEAM
An Ambitious Team of Engineers
We're a team of ETH mechanical engineering students driven by curiosity, ambition, and a love for tough problems. Our question: can wood replace the modern car body and cut its CO₂ footprint without sacrificing strength?








SENIOR SUPPORT
Guided by ETH's Institute of Virtual Manufacturing


Prof. Dr. Dirk Mohr

Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich & Head of the Institute of Virtual Manufacturing


Dr. Thomas Tancogne-Dejean

Senior Scientist at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich


Dr. Markus Zogg

Senior Researcher at Inspire AG