Automakers Use Cost-Effective Steel Sheet to Lower Vehicle Weight
3 August 1999
American Iron and Steel Institute Announces Automakers Use Cost-Effective Steel Sheet to Lower Vehicle Weight, Improve Performance
Steel industry reports on automotive parts
returning to or staying with steel
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 2 -- As automakers continue to
develop composite, aluminum and other non-ferrous materials applications, they
remain consistent in their choice of steel to achieve weight, performance and
cost targets necessary to remain competitive and environmentally responsible.
The latest results of ongoing research by the Advanced Materials
Technology Group of American Iron and Steel Institute's (AISI) Automotive
Applications Committee, which tracks automotive materials usage, provides
ample evidence of automakers' steel-based light weighting strategies.
According to Marcel van Schaik, manager, Advanced Materials, Automotive
Applications, AISI, the research contains listings of parts previously
manufactured with non-steel materials that have returned to steel and parts
that have remained steel after being considered for a non-steel material.
Examples of data from the report include:
* Hoods on 1999 Jaguar S-type. (Ford switched the hoods from aluminum
sheet to galvanized steel sheet during the design process to meet intricate
design specifications.)
* Decklids on 2000 Ford Taurus and Sable. (Ford moved the decklids to
galvanized steel sheet from aluminum sheet.)
* Roofs, hoods, decklids and fenders on 2000 Saturn mid-size, L series.
(Saturn switched the parts from plastic to galvanized steel sheet.)
* Body and structural components of the redesigned 2000 Plymouth and Dodge
Neon. (DaimlerChrysler elected to continue using galvanized steel sheet for
the body and structural components, actually increasing the amount of steel
sheet compared to the previous models.)
* Transmission shield plates on the 1999 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet
Silverado. (GM moved the parts from aluminum sheet to high strength steel
sheet.)
* Running board waffles on the 1999 Ford Explorer. (Ford switched the
parts from aluminum sheet to steel sheet.)
Virtually all body structures made in North America in 1999 are
constructed in steel sheet. As automakers advance the state-of-the-art in
body structure construction, they are adopting the latest in steel sheet
technologies, such as:
* Tailor welded blanks for the shock tower in the 2000 Lincoln LS.
* Tailor welded blanks for body side inners in the 2000 GM
Aurora/Bonneville/Park Avenue/LeSabre.
* Tailor welded blanks for body side inners in the 2000 GM SUVs --
Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Suburban and Yukon and Cadillac
Escalade models.
* Tailor welded blanks for the B pillar in the 1999 Ford Focus.
* High strength steel sheet body panels and closures in the 1999 Ford
Focus.
* Hydroformed front frame rails and cross members in the 1999 GMC Sierra
and Chevrolet Silverado.
* Hydroformed side rails in the 1999 Corvette.
* Hydroformed roof rails in the 1999 Buick Park Avenue.
* Hydroformed engine cradles in a wide range of 1999 GM models.
* Hydroformed radiator support in the 2000 Lincoln LS.
* Hydroformed instrument panel beam and front suspension cross-member in
the 1999 Dodge/Plymouth Neon.
* Hydroformed engine cradle in the 1999 Chrysler Concorde/LHS/300M and
Dodge Intrepid.
* Tailor welded blanks for the body side inners in the 1999 Jeep Grand
Cherokee and Dodge Durango.
Automakers are accelerating their use of high strength steel sheet, tailor
welded blanks and hydroformed parts as they implement their strategies to cost
effectively reduce weight and improve performance of their vehicles
"We've developed options for automakers to consider as they select the
right material for the right application for the right reason," said Darryl
Martin, senior director, Automotive Applications, AISI. "We recognize that
some non-steel materials are better suited for certain applications. However,
for body structures, body panels, closures, suspension systems and wheels,
steel sheet continues to provide optimal solutions."
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) is a non-profit association of
North American companies engaged in the iron and steel industry. The
Institute is comprised 48 member companies, including integrated and electric
furnace steelmakers, and 178 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers
to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its
applications, view American Iron and Steel Institute's website at
http://www.steel.org
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. With offices and staff located
in Detroit, cooperation between the automobile and steel industries has been
significant to its success. This industry cooperation resulted in the
formation of the Auto/Steel Partnership, a consortium of DaimlerChrysler, Ford
and General Motors and the member companies of the AAC.
This release and other steel-related information are available for viewing
and downloading at American Iron and Steel Institute/Automotive Applications
Committee's website at http://www.autosteel.org
Automotive Applications Committee member companies:
AK Steel Corporation
Acme Steel Company
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Dofasco Inc.
Ispat Inland Inc.
LTV Steel Company
National Steel Corporation
Rouge Steel Company
Stelco Inc.
US Steel Group, a unit of USX Corporation
WCI Steel, Inc.
Weirton Steel Corporation