Abstract: A vehicle component that includes at least one fiber preform. The fiber preform includes a substrate, a fiber bundle having one or more types of reinforcing fibers, and a thread. The fiber bundle is arranged on the substrate and attached to the substrate by a plurality of stitches of the thread to form a first preform layer having a principal orientation. The vehicle component includes a core having a geometry with at least one edge and at least one the fiber preforms positioned along the at least one edge, the core and the fiber preform being overmolded in a resin. A process of making the vehicle component includes providing the core having the at least one edge, positioning the at least one fiber preform along the at least one edge, and overmolding the core and the at least one fiber preform in the resin.

Abstract: A process of forming the fiber preform includes providing a substrate, applying a first layer of a fiber bundle to the substrate in a predetermined pattern having a principal orientation, stitching the first layer of the fiber bundle to the substrate using a thread, building up subsequent layers of the fiber bundle from the first layer, and stitching each of the subsequent layers to a preceding layer using the thread. A process of forming a unitary reinforced composite material includes the fiber preform. The process of forming a unitary reinforced composite component includes placing the fiber preform a mold platen, heating the perform to promote fusion of the thermoplastic fibers therein, cooling the perform until solidified with contours of the component, and removing the vehicle component from the mold platen.

Abstract: A process of forming the fiber preform includes providing a substrate, applying a first layer of a fiber bundle to the substrate in a predetermined pattern having a principal orientation, stitching the first layer of the fiber bundle to the substrate using a thread, building up subsequent layers of the fiber bundle from the first layer, and stitching each of the subsequent layers to a preceding layer using the thread. A process of forming a unitary reinforced composite material includes the fiber preform. The process of forming a unitary reinforced composite component includes placing the fiber preform a mold platen, heating the perform to promote fusion of the thermoplastic fibers therein, cooling the perform until solidified with contours of the component, and removing the vehicle component from the mold platen.