Self-Healing iPhone Cases Prototyped by Nissan

Nissan, the Japanese car maker, is beta testing a protective case for Apple’s iPhone. It’s no ordinary case, as it features the company’s self-healing paint that eliminates fine scratches.

The ‘Nissan Scratch Shield’ case has three key benefits, according to its makers.

First, it has the highly flexible and elastic properties of the Scratch Shield paint technology that the company pioneered with cars. The technology allows fine scratches to quickly mend themselves.

Second, the case offers good grip via its tactile gel-like texture, as opposed to glossy surfaces.

Third, the case itself is made of a high-grade substance widely used in the automotive industry called ABS plastic. It’s allegedly more rigid and robust than other plastics.

Bob Laishley, overseas programme director business development for Nissan in Europe, said: "We like to think laterally by taking the great innovations we've got from an automotive point of view, and looking at how they could be applied to improve everyday issues.”

“The Scratch ShieldiPhone case is a great example of us taking a Nissan automotive technology that has had a huge impact for our customers, and then shifting the boundaries to apply it to another everyday product," added Laishley.

The Scratch Shield paint finish was initially designed for automotive use. It was developed by Nissan in collaboration with University of Tokyo and Advanced Softmaterials Inc.

Cars equipped with the paint include the Nissan Murano, 370Z and X-Trail along with the Infiniti range.

“Now, thanks to Nissan’s pioneering approach, this technology is being trialled for the first time on a non-automotive product in Europe, with the Nissan Scratch Shield iPhone case,” according to the company.

The case is currently being tested by a select group of people. Nissan plans to bring the case to market later this year, but only if the iPhone community shows demand.