| Abstract: | The material strategy in the automobile industry is geared towards product features such as consumption reduction (lightweight design), performance gain in the powertrain, safety, improved comfort and enhanced driving pleasure, or towards new functions and effects achievable using materials, surfaces and layers. All of these features are required to meet the criteria of low‐cost and environmentally‐friendly producibility and resources recovery. Lightweight design has a key role to play in the development of vehicles with low consumption and emissions. Some examples and current trends are reviewed in this article. |
