Automotive and Transportation

 

The automotive industry is working intensively on the producibility lighter vehicles to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions significantly.

The switch of classic materials, like steel or aluminum, to new lightweight materials, such as fibre-reinforced plastic, is the target of many manufacturers, see BMW Group or Audi AG. Researched and developed components are supporting structures like the body, the exterior such as roof, side panels, hood; components of the vehicle interior for example lightweight seats or valves, up to moving components, like the drive shaft, engine parts, the chassis or rims.

The inspiration and ideas for research projects at the AZL often come from the automotive and transportation sector, medium-sized suppliers and neighboring specialist institutes, such as the Institute for Automotive Engineering. The AZL offers its partners the opportunity to carry out research projects whose focus concentrates on lightweight production technology along the entire process chain.