IHS SupplierBusiness' latest report looks at the challenges and opportunities in the lightweighting in the automotive industry
Weight reduction is again a priority across the industry, as strict new regulations push for greater vehicle efficiency/CO2 reduction in the US and Europe. From the smallest fasteners to entire vehicle architectures, engineers are wringing excess weight out of new components and systems, while looking for new ways to lighten existing designs.
Although the motivations for and benefits of automotive weight reduction are plentiful, a number of barriers exist to the development of lighter, more streamlined and mass-efficient vehicles. The IHS SupplierBusiness Weight Reduction in Automotive Design report looks at weight saving methods, competition between OEMs, barriers, drivers and government regulation.
Introduction
Emissions Regulations by Region
Europe
Germany
United States
China
Japan
South Korea
The long-established battle between aluminium and steel
Future use of aluminium – and geographic variations
North America
Plastics and composites – the alternative to steel and aluminium
OEM Strategies
BMW
Daimler/Mercedes-Benz
Fiat Chrysler
Ford
General Motors
Hyundai-Kia
Jaguar Land Rover
PSA
Renault-Nissan
Toyota
Volkswagen Group
Volvo
Other
Platform Analysis
Other Materials
Carbon-fiber
Feedstock capacity constraint, but which feedstock?
Cost headache
Search for a process for mass production
A different supply base
Collaborations
Plastics
Thermoplastic Polyester Engineering Resins
High-Performance Thermoplastics
Polycarbonate
Polyurethane Elastomers
Aromatic Ketone Polymers
Supplier Developments
Product developments
Aluminium
Steel
Supplier Profiles
Alcoa
ArcelorMittal
BASF
Bayer
Constellium
Hydro Aluminium
Nippon Seiki
Novelis
Tables
Table 1: Passenger car CO2 emissions and fuel consumption, normalized to NEDC
Table 2: C-class estate % weight of body by lightweight metals
