Steel makes the case as the mainstay material for vehicles
By James Bakewell2020-03-06T15:35:00
With OEMs demanding vehicle-structure materials that are low in mass, crash-protective and economic to use, steel grades stay true to form
Steel may be something of an old dog in the automotive industry but, as we are learning, it can still be taught some new tricks.
Carmakers are increasingly demanding strong, lightweight and cost-effective materials for the construction of both their battery electric- and internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicles.
Steelmakers the world over are responding to these demands by developing new grades and refining existing processes for the production of automotive parts from the metal.
Steel has been a mainstay of the automotive industry more or less since its inception and, despite competition from lighter-weight alternatives such as aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) in recent years, it is still the most widely used material for the production of cars today.
According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, 95.6 million vehicles were produced in 2018 and the World Steel Association says that, on average, each of these contained almost a tonne (900 kg) of steel…