MARKET OUTLOOK FOE INCREASED-STRENGTH STEELS IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY

摘要

Many increased-strength steels (ISS) that are used in the global auto industry have not been introduced in Russia, in part because demand there has been limited in terms of quantity and quality. In turn, exports have been depressed by fierce competition and rigorous quality standards. However, recent analysis indicates that this segment of the market is becoming more attractive. Globally, the trend in the auto industry is to make greater use of ISS, which offer the following advantages: lighter vehicles (25 percent reduction in body mass for the ULSAB-AVC design* thanks to the use of ISS); greater fuel efficiency (1 percent reduction in chassis mass reduces fuel consumption by 0.5 percent); greater safety (74 percent increase in body rigidity of the Opel Vectra if 52 percent of the panels are of ISS). According to specialist estimates, the mean use of ISS in the manufacture of auto bodies increased by more than 30 percent between 1990 and 2000. In absolute terms, this corresponds to an annual increase in demand of several million tons. Comparable growth rates are predicted until 2010-2012, which creates the opportunity for new manufacturers to enter the market.