Mercedes-Benz announced that it will likely use aluminum and new advanced joining processes to shed weight in the next generation of its C-Class vehicles. The incorporation of aluminum components would make the vehicle lighter than the model, which will contribute to improved performance and fuel economy. The announcement came during a recent Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminar, at which Jason Hoff, CEO of Mercedes-Benz’s U.S. division, hinted that the new model with aluminum components may be available by 2020.
Although Hoff did not go into detail about the new model, he noted that among the new joining technologies to be used would be the welding of steel to aluminum — a difficult joining technique due to the different melting temperatures of the materials and the risk of corrosion. Currently, only Honda and General Motors are welding steel to aluminum, both utilizing different technologies for the purpose. It was also reported that increased use of laser welding, riveting, and bonding could also be implemented.
Mercedes-Benz recently invested $1.3-billion at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama, factory to implement a number of new lightweight technologies with innovative joining processes, including the launch of the C-Class in 2014. The current C-Class weighs between 3,417 and 4,057 pounds, depending on options.