Automotive Steel Performance Advantages
Why Steel is Still the Right Choice

As environmental and climate change concerns escalate, pressure is being applied in every industry to reduce the GHG emissions produced by our modern lifestyles. Consequently, the automotive industry is receiving increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining safety and affordability.

In the process, an erroneous perception has emerged that automotive light weighting and reduced GHG emissions are primarily associated with the application of low-density materials, like aluminium, magnesium and plastics.

Based on published research such as the studies shown in the Reference Section of this document, steel, and in particular AHSS, is indeed the light weight material that best addresses society’s need for reduced GHG emissions without compromising safety and affordability.

AHSS, currently the fastest growing material in automotive applications, is relatively new to vehicle design and is significantly different from the conventional steel it replaces. Its light weight capability results from its unique combination of strength and ductility. These attributes stem from complex composite structures of several different steel phases, each with unique material properties.

AHSS provides for light weight automotive solutions that are low cost and environmentally friendly, providing peace of mind and unmatched safety for automotive manufacturers and consumers. As automakers address the climate change impact of their products, steel remains the right choice for vehicle applications.

On this page, you'll find links to highlights of research that summarize automotive steel performance advantages. Click the related documents above to read more about steel's automotive performance advantanges online.  Or, click the attached file to download the entire Automotive Steel Performance Advantages document.