Nissan to expand use of advanced light steel in vehicles

Nissan Motor Company said on March 12 that it will expand the use of advanced light steel in vehicle parts to reduce vehicle weight for better fuel efficiency and less carbon dioxide emissions.
The automaker also said it has developed a new material called 1.2 gigapascal ultra-high tensile strength steel, which is lighter, stronger and easier to manufacture, and it employed this steel in the Infiniti Q50 sedan that will hit the North American market this year.
Nissan plans to use advanced high tensile strength steel, including the newly developed one, in up to 25% of vehicle parts by weight in all new models from 2017 as part of an effort to cut vehicle weight by 15%.
The automaker added that it will first prepare a supply system for the advanced steel material in Japan and aim for wider adoption in its global line-ups down the road.
As part of its environmental initiative, Nissan is looking to reduce CO2 emissions by new vehicles by 30% in 2016 from 2000 levels and by 90% by 2050.
(March 12, 2013)