To meet environmental protection and energy-saving requirements, vehicle lightweighting has become an inevitable trend, identified as a key priority in the "Made in China 2025" initiative. The goal is to reduce total vehicle weight by 35% by 2030 compared to 2015 levels. This drive has accelerated the use of lightweight materials-such as high-strength steel, aluminum alloys, and magnesium alloys-in vehicle bodies and shock absorber components. It has also spurred the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, including internal high-pressure forming and hot stamping of ultra-high-strength steel, to ensure weight reduction while maintaining structural rigidity and strength. The need for lightweighting is particularly urgent for new energy vehicles.
Material selection should adhere to the following principles: the chosen material must first meet the performance requirements for automotive components; it should possess favorable processing characteristics; and it should offer good economic viability.