General Motors has been busy shedding weight wherever it sees fit across nearly every brand and every vehicle. The latest receive a diet is the chinese-market Chevrolet Lova RV (recreational vehicle), which has gone on an extensive high-strength steel diet.
Through the newfound strength and ductility, the new materials founding the Chevrolet Lova RV have reduced the weight of selected body components by 20-percent, with fuel economy increasing six- to eight-percent for every 10-percent reduction in body weight.
According to GM China Science Lab Director John Du, “Safety and fuel economy are two things that vehicle buyers worldwide have made a priority. This has created the need for lightweight, strong and affordable materials.”
Du adds, “The GM China Science Lab has expertise in lightweight technology research. Through open innovation, we have advanced the research, development and application of lightweight automobile technologies. We look forward to partnering with more suppliers to jointly promote technological development.”
Over the past 25 years, GM has helped innovate the latest technology to allow this third-generation of high-strength steel to come to fruition through its SAIC partnership in China. But the labor has been applied across the world, with a global development network put in place to ensure successful implementation of advanced steel technologies in GM vehicles.
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