Abstract: A method of making an automotive vehicle interior structural component having a decorative close-out panel includes, in an exemplary embodiment, positioning a thermoplastic material sheet in a forming tool, the thermoplastic material sheet includes a thermoplastic resin, positioning a decorative material sheet in the forming tool adjacent to the thermoplastic sheet, attaching the decorative material to the thermoplastic material with an integral hinge, and forming the structural component by applying at least one of heat and pressure to the forming tool.

Abstract: A multi-layered fiber reinforced sheet for automotive vehicle interior structural components includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a permeable fiber reinforced thermoplastic core layer having a first surface and a second surface. The core layer includes a plurality of reinforcing fibers bonded together with a thermoplastic resin, and has a density of about 0.1 gm/cc to about 1.8 gm/cc. The multi-layered fiber reinforced sheet also includes at least one first reinforcing skin applied to the first surface of the core layer, and at least one second reinforcing skin applied to the second surface of the core layer. Each first and second reinforcing skin includes a matrix of reinforcing fibers and a thermoplastic resin wherein the matrix of reinforcing fibers applied to the first surface are arranged in a bi-directional orientation and the matrix of reinforcing fibers applied to the second surface are arranged in a bi-directional orientation.