Premium OEM Lightweighting Strategy

The automotive industry has historically always been on the lookout to replace existing materials in favor of lighter and new alternatives that can help it attain cost benefits while supporting the fuel and mileage benefits for its internal combustion engines (ICEs). However, this has not always resulted in lightweighting in terms of the total vehicle weight.

Total vehicle weight has been increasing in the last 40 years or so, despite the efforts of the automotive industry to bring lighter alternative materials into the mix. Most of this increase in weight can be attributed to additional features being introduced in the vehicles for customer delight and improved safety norms. In the past 10 years or so, though, the average vehicle weight has been constant amid increased pressure to improve the fuel efficiency of ICEs.

However, the global push for stringent emission norms has now forced the automotive OEMs to look for options beyond the customary emissions aftertreatment. All major automotive markets have developed policies that dictate the reduction of CO2 emissions while improving the fuel efficiency as well as the safety norms.

About this report

IHS Markit is studying the penetration of these materials across the vehicles of premium OEMs, in terms of use in the number of vehicles sold. This research aims to establish in detail the effect of specific material usage on the lightweighting strategy of the OEMs. When fully complete, it will be a true referral index for tracking the lightweighting path of all OEMs.

This report will take a look at some early trends coming out of this IHS Markit Lightweighting Forecast report. We will look at some of the major takeaways for chassis, powertrain, and interior and exterior component areas quantitatively; the research on the BIW is currently on a qualitative basis only.

1. Introduction
2. Appendices
3. Technical Analysis
   1. Lightweighting—A savior for today and tomorrow
   2. Emission norms—Pushing down global emissions, and vehicle weight with it
   3. Lightweighting efforts improving fuel economy
   4. Restraints on the road to lightweighting
4. Strategies around lightweighting—The premium OEMs' way
   1. Introduction
   2. Lightweighting Strategies by Premium OEMs
5. OEM analysis
   1. General Motors
   2. Volkswagen Group
   3. BMW Group
   4. Tesla motors
   5. Daimler AG
6. Summary
   1. Penetration of materials in premium OEMs—Component areas

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