A composite component (16) for a vehicle (10) includes a laminate (18) made from a composite material, a first pad-up area (22) applied to the laminate (18), where the first pad-up area (22) includes a plurality of first tows laid next to one another in a side-by-side arrangement and where the first pad-up area (22) defines a first fiber orientation, and a second pad-up area (24), where the second pad-up area (24) includes a plurality of second tows laid next to one another in a side-by-side arrangement and where the second pad-up area (24) defines a second fiber orientation that differs by a predetermined angle from the first fiber orientation. The first pad-up area (22) and the second pad-up area (22) intersect at an intersecting area and together form a first pad-up ply on the laminate (18).