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Honda Civic Captures AISI Great Designs in Steel Automotive Excellence Award

DETROIT, April 9, 2008 -- The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced today that it has selected the research and development team of the 2006 Honda Civic for this year's Great Designs in Steel Automotive Excellence Award based on the vehicle's evolutionary and cost-effective use of advanced high-strength steels.

The award recognizes individuals or teams from automaker, supplier and academic ranks who embrace innovation and make significant contributions to the advancement of steel in the automotive marketplace.

Award winners are chosen based on presentations from the previous year at AISI's Great Designs in Steel Seminar. Candidates from the 2007 seminar were rated in several categories, including: implementation in production; overall contribution to the advancement of steel; challenges and benefits associated with cost, weight savings and performance; replacement of competitive materials; and structural performance and efficiency. The Honda Civic presentation was delivered in March 2007 by Mark Pafumi, Honda Research and Development Americas, Inc.

"Honda's sophisticated design approach has resulted in a Civic body structure that incorporates structural optimization with steel," said Brian Aranha, vice president of ArcelorMittal Dofasco and chairman of AISI's Automotive Applications Committee. "The extensive use of high-strength steel in the Advance Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure creates a new- generation platform that is safer and stronger, enhancing the vehicle's ability to deal with crash energy during impact."

According to AISI, new advanced high-strength steels offer significant weight savings, improved energy absorption and crash resistance. The Honda uses several new steels and processing technologies. Body features include extensive use of tailored blanks for improved body performance, reduced weight and cost. Honda also achieved 50 percent high-strength steel content in the body. The high-tensile steel beams provide increased side-impact protection and the overall design with steel provides enhanced body rigidity, earning an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety five-star crash rating.

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 31 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 130 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent approximately 75 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.

The Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) is a subcommittee of the Market Development Committee of AISI and focuses on advancing the use of steel in the highly competitive automotive market. For more news or information, visit: www.autosteel.org. American Iron and Steel Institute/Automotive Applications Committee members include AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal, Nucor Corporation, Severstal North America Inc., and United States Steel Corporation.