Automotive Lightweighting

News items about the continual development of advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) and other materials for use in the development of lighter vehicles with better fuel efficiency without compromising safety.

Latest News

New Steels Can Help Automakers Cut Vehicle Weight, Industry Representatives Say

05 August 2015 - Although some automobile manufacturers said they'll use a combination of materials -- steel, aluminum and carbon fiber -- to cut down weight, steel industry representatives counter that they could reach that goal just as easily by using the latest ultra-high-strength steels.

Missouri S&T's New "Third-Generation" AHSS Could Help Automakers Improve Fuel Efficiency

01 July 2015 - A high-strength steel being developed at Missouri University of Science and Technology could help auto manufacturers in their quest to meet future fuel efficiency requirements.

ArcelorMittal Produces First AHSS at Vega do Sul Plant in Brazil

26 June 2015 - As reported by Automotive Business, ArcelorMittal has produced its first coil of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) at its Vega do Sul flat steel rolling mill in Southern Brazil.

AK Steel to Upgrade Dearborn Works' Hot-Dip Galvanizing Line to Produce Next-Generation Advanced High-Strength Steels

03 June 2015 - AK Steel announced plans to introduce one of the first commercially available Next-Generation Advanced High Strength Steels in the world.

Nissan Recognized By SMDI For Use Of Advanced High-Strength Steel At 14th Annual Great Designs in Steel Seminar

19 May 2015 - The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) awarded Nissan Motor Co. the Automotive Excellence Award for implementing advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) to reduce mass in body-in-white structures while also reducing cost.

WorldAutoSteel Case Studies Stress Need For Lifecycle Mindset In Vehicle Emissions Regulations

26 November 2014 - WorldAutoSteel, the automotive group of the World Steel Association, recently released findings of two new case studies that examine the effect various automotive materials can have on total life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for light-duty truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) classes.

Tata Steel Expands Range of Full-Finish Products for Car Body Panels

12 November 2014 - Tata Steel has unveiled three new products for car manufacturers to help make their vehicles more stylish and affordable.

Tata Steel's Breakthrough XPF Range Opens Up New Potential for Lighter Vehicles

06 November 2014 - Tata Steel has unveiled a new range of breakthrough steels1 aimed at helping car makers reduce the weight of undercarriages and increase fuel efficiency.

SSAB Introduces New AHSS Grade for the Automotive Industry

20 October 2014 - With the new Docol 1700 M, SSAB offers automakers worldwide a new high-strength structural steel for safer, lighter and more fuel-efficient cars with improved environmental performance. The new grade is appropriate for a range of applications including energy-absorbing details in bumpers.

WSD Predicts Short-Lived Gains For Aluminum Before AHSS Takes Over

06 October 2014 - World Steel Dynamics' (WSD) report AutoBody Warfare: Aluminum Attack, based on WSD's independent consultation with steel, aluminum and automotive experts, concludes that steel can easily deliver the weight savings required to meet federally mandated fuel economy targets for most vehicles.

ThyssenKrupp’s InCar Plus: New Solutions in Autos for Energy Efficiency, Electromobility, Weight Reduction

26 September 2014 - ThyssenKrupp AG has presented the results of its research project InCar plus. Engineers from the Essen-based company have developed 40 new components and solutions for the auto industry.

ArcelorMittal Unveils Range of New AHSS for Safer, Lighter Cars

03 September 2014 - ArcelorMittal has unveiled a new range of steels for the automotive industry that offers significant weight savings while improving safety.

Tata Steel Launches New Automotive Steel Grade Combining Crash Protection with 15% Weight Reduction

06 August 2014 - Tata Steel has developed an innovative new product for automotive manufacturers in response to market requirements for stronger and lighter steels.

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal’s Ultrahigh-Tensile Steel Receives Nissan Global Supplier Award

17 July 2014 - Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp. (NSSMC) received Nissan’s Global Supplier Award for Innovation for the development of high-formability ultrahigh-tensile steel sheet of the 1.2GPa class.

No One Should Doubt Steel Remains Auto Material of Choice, Mittal Says

18 June 2014 - Steel has all the capability to remain the preferred material for the automotive industry, ArcelorMittal chairman and CEO Lakshmi Mittal said yesterday.

ArcelorMittal's Largest R&D Center Unveils New Steels For Lighter Cars

02 June 2014 - ArcelorMittal has launched the first product in a new series of advanced high strength steels (AHSS), with 10 automotive steel projects set for launch in 2014.

worldsteel’s New AHSS Guidelines Support Use of the Latest, Lightest Steel Technologies

21 May 2014 - At the Great Designs in Steel automotive conference, WorldAutoSteel announced the launch of the Advanced High-Strength Steels Application Guidelines (AHSS Guidelines) Version 5.0, the largest and most comprehensive update since its first publication in 2004.

SMDI Honors GM for Innovative Use of AHSS at Great Designs in Steel Seminar

20 May 2014 - For its use of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS), the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), awarded General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 design team with the 2014 Automotive Excellence Award.

ThyssenKrupp's New Zinc-Magnesium Coatings Offer Protection for Entire Car Body

30 April 2014 - With ZM EcoProtect and ZM PrimeProtect, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe is the first steel producer in the world to offer two highly effective zinc-magnesium-based corrosion protection solutions that meet the high surface requirements for exposed body panels.