Basic HTML Version
MOTORINDIA
l
April 2012
77
Individual material sec-
tors have made impressive
advances in individual ma-
terials – aluminum inten-
sive, steel intensive and
plastic intensive vehicles.
Lightweighting
Lightweighting materi-
als are high strength steels,
aluminum, composites and
magnesium.
- Material substitution
(incremental approach -
regular practice)
- Material optimization
(high risk, many engineer-
ing resources, expensive).
For example, aluminum or carbon fiber intensive vehi-
cles.
Less performance / content but increased crash-wor-
thiness and ride / handling relates to smaller cars, fewer
trucks and framed vehicles, and smaller powertrains.
Vehicles are made with more advanced materials to
mitigate increasing weight (for fuel economy and han-
dling) and for improving crash performance. Mass de-
compounding is estimated at 30 per cent (secondary ef-
fects).
The most likely dramatic changes for the automotive
market through 2025 could well be a result of mandates
by the federal government to improve the fuel economy
performance and vehicle safety.
The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is in-
volved in the research of significant issues that relate to
the future direction of the global automotive industry.
Its automotive industry research is done by four distinct
groups – the Manufacturing, Engineering & Technol-
ogy Group, Transportation Systems Analysis Group,
Labor and Industry Group, and Sustainability & Eco-
nomic Development Strategies.
CAR, based in Ann Arbor, MI, is a non-profit organi-
zation focused on a wide variety of important trends and
changes related to the automobile industry at the inter-
national, federal, State and local levels. It conducts in-
dustry research, develops new methodologies, forecasts
industry trends, advises on public policy, and sponsors
multi-stakeholder communication forums.
In the field since 2003, CAR was formerly a division
of the University of Michigan and has been conducting
leading edge research and industry events throughout its
30+ year history.
* Presentation made during the recent visit of Indian
journalists to CAR at Michigan
w
Focus on Detroit
Mr. Jay Baron
Vehicles are made with more advanced materi-
als to mitigate increasing weight (for fuel econ-
omy and handling) and for improving crash per-
formance. Mass de-compounding is estimated at
30 per cent (secondary effects).