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As automakers strive to improve fuel economy, they have turned increasingly to lightweight materials to reduce overall vehicle weight. For example, most light vehicle engine blocks are now made of aluminum rather than cast iron, and in many cases, aluminum wheels have replaced heavier steel wheels as standard equipment. Use of regular steel has declined by over 250 lb per vehicle from 1995 to 2014 while the use of high- and medium-strength steels has increased by 325 lb per vehicle. The increased use of high- and medium-strength steel is significant because it allows manufacturers to improve the structural integrity of vehicles while keeping the overall vehicle weight to a minimum. The use of plastics and composites has also increased by almost 40% and lightweight magnesium castings have seen greater use in dashboards and other interior applications such as seat components, replacing the heavier steel components that were previously used.
Average Materials Content of Light Vehicles, 1995-2014
Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2016 Vehicle Technologies Market Report, May 2017.