The usage of advanced materials to cut vehicle weight has been rapidly increasing nowadays. Many automakers have started using materials such as aluminium, carbon fibre and carbon fibre reinforced plastics on their new models.

Nissan has recently announced that they will initiate a new plan which will radically reduce vehicle weight over the next few years.

The Japanese auto firm's plan will involve the usage of high strength steel in up to twenty five percent for all new vehicles. The usage of high strength steel in the automotive industry is nothing new and it has been proven that it could save unnecessary weight.

But the usage of high strength has been very limited. This is due to it being very difficult to mould into complex shapes. And many automakers have chosen other materials in order to reduce vehicle weight.

Nissan has developed a new 1.2 GPa ultra high strength steel which retains all the structural benefits of ordinary high strength steel but it offers a higher degree of formability and greater elongation. This will allow it to be used for parts which have complex shapes.

Additionally, the company also mentioned that their current production lines are able to be modified to use the new high strength steel without any additional major upgrades. The company will start using the new material in 2017 and this will reduce vehicle weight by fifteen percent.