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
WorldAutoSteel Launches Free Online Resource for AHSS Applications
22 September 2021 - WorldAutoSteel, a division of the World Steel Association, have released the latest version of its AHSS Applications Guidelines as an online resource to help automotive manufacturers understand and capitalize on the benefits of advanced high-strength steels (AHSS).
voestalpine: 20 Years and 300 Million Parts Later, Press-Hardened Steel is Auto Manufacturing Staple
13 July 2021 - voestalpine is celebrating a production milestone: it has manufactured its 300 millionth component made from its press-hardened, high-strength steel.
In Electric Vehicles, There's A Case to Be Made For — And Out of — Steel
17 June 2019 - As the number of battery electric vehicles begins to increase, steel might have a new opportunity in one critical component: battery boxes, Steel Market Development Institute vice president Jody Hall said on Monday.
U.S. Steelmakers Win Energy Department Research Grants
08 March 2019 - United States Steel Corporation, AK Steel Corp. and ArcelorMittal USA will share in US$1.2 million in federal funding, as well as in time on government supercomputers, for research into slab and hot strip production.
Third-Gen Automotive Steels Have Arrived
02 August 2018 - Third-generation steels that are at once strong and formable are now being sold into the automotive market and can readily substitute components made from earlier advanced steels with lower tensile strengths, reports Repairer Driven News.
Revised CAFE Standards Probably Won't Hurt Demand for Auto Steel
25 June 2018 - The Trump administration’s proposal to roll back the 2025 vehicle fuel economy standards likely won’t have a significant impact on the market for lightweight automotive steels, according to a Nucor Corp. official.
Nissan to Expand Use of Advanced High-Strength Steel
21 June 2018 - Nissan Motors Co. Ltd. said it plans to use more advanced high-strength steel in its vehicles and aims to have the material account for 25% of components by weight.
AISI Lauds Plans to Revise Vehicle Emissions Standards
05 April 2018 - The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) said it supports the Trump administration’s decision to revise the new fuel efficiency standards laid out during the Barack Obama presidency.
Thanks to Steel, These Two Pickups are Lighter and Stronger
15 January 2018 - The annual Detroit auto show is underway, and steel, it seems, is taking center stage.
Investment Firm Acquires Steel Technical Center
27 December 2017 - An investment firm that owns metals and logistics businesses has acquired Heidtman Steel’s automotive steel technical center for an undisclosed amount.
Steel is Better, Stronger ... And Automakers Notice
16 October 2017 - If you’re wanting real-world examples of the inroads advanced steels have made with automakers, look no further than the Audi A8 sedan, which had used an all-aluminum body but now has returned to using steel.
For Automakers, Steel May Be the Best Deal
22 August 2017 - The automakers, it seems, just can’t quit steel.
Volkswagen SUV Makes Heavy Use of Light Steels
18 August 2017 - The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, the largest SUV that the German automaker sells in the U.S., makes extensive use of advanced steels – and handily passed its Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, notes the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ Repairer Driven News.
For Steel to Win, More Collaboration is Necessary
01 August 2017 - In order for new steels to continue to make inroads into the auto industry, it is imperative that automakers and steelmakers collaborate.
ArcelorMittal to Expand Auto Steel Capacity Through European Investment
28 July 2017 - ArcelorMittal is planning expand its advanced automotive steel capacity through an investment of approximately US$112.8 million at two of its French mills.
Safety, Comfort Bring Steel Back Around for This Luxury Sedan
24 July 2017 - In the battle between steel and aluminum for automotive market share, the steel industry scored something of a victory in the new Audi A8 sedan, which previously had sported a body mostly made from aluminum.
Panel: Steel Leads in the Lightweighting Race
26 June 2017 - As the saying goes: You win some, and you lose some. But these days, automotive steel is mostly winning, even if competition from other lightweighting materials is intense.
POSCO Looks to Create 'One-Stop Shop' For Components Verification With New Lab
19 May 2017 - South Korea-based POSCO has cut the ribbon a new components-forming laboratory at is global research and development center in Songdo.
AK Steel Introduces Its Latest Advanced Steels to Automakers
28 April 2017 - AK Steel Corp. has delivered the first samples of its NEXMET 1000 and 1200 advanced high-strength steels to automotive customers, the company’s chief executive said.
General Motors Engineer to Lead Auto/Steel Partnership
13 March 2017 - A veteran automotive engineeer has been named executive director of the Auto/Steel Partnership, the organization said on Monday.