During the past decade, the average amount of aluminum in passenger cars has doubled. Based on the latest designs, this trend will continue in the coming years.

Ask the typical American about automobile history and you're likely to hear the name "Henry Ford." Pose the same question to a Brit, however, and get ready for an answer of "Morgan Motor Co. (MMC)."

Steel has been, is now, and will continue to be the predominant material for vehicle structures and body parts, such as doors, hoods, liftgates and fenders. But, other materials, such as aluminum, magnesium, plastics and composites, are becoming increasingly important.

Bulky batteries are the heart and soul of electric vehicles. But, their weight creates numerous challenges that demand lightweight materials.

ZARAGOZA, Spain—Engineers at the Technological Institute of Aragon here are coordinating a new European Union initiative to develop lightweight components for electric vehicles.

Self-pierce riveting (SPR) is a cold joining process for fastening two or more sheets of material by driving a rivet through the top sheets and upsetting it, under the influence of a die, into the bottom sheet without breaking through it.

When the latest-generation C-Class series of automobiles was being developed in 2014, Mercedes-Benz designers placed a great emphasis on weight reduction to reduce fuel consumption.