Nissan vows to use high strength steel to curb vehicle weight

Nissan has announced their new initiative to significantly shed vehicle weight in the next few years. This initiative will involve the use of high strength steel in up to 25 percent of all new vehicle parts.

Although the use of high strength steel is not exactly new to the auto industry, but its applications has been limited. Behind its greatness for reducing weight, it can be difficult to mold into complex shapes.

However, Nissan has solved that issue with the development of a new 1.2 GPa ultra high strength steel. The new 1.2 GPa steel retains all the structural benefits of typical high strength steel, but offers a higher degree of formability and greater elongation, allowing it to be used for parts with complex shapes.

Moreover, Nissan says its current production lines can be modified to use the new steel without any major investments.