Automotive Excellence Award Presented to General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Volt Team at 11th Annual Great Designs in Steel Seminar

DETROIT, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Automotive Applications Council of the Steel Market Development Institute today honored General Motors Co.'s (GM) Chevrolet Volt design and engineering team with its annual Automotive Excellence Award. The team was recognized during the 11th Annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) seminar in Livonia, Mich. for its efficient and effective use of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) in the development of the Volt's upper- and lower-body structures.

Steve McCallum, upper structure lead engineer, and Monte Taylor, lower structure lead engineer, received the award on behalf of GM. They presented the award-winning presentation titled "Chevrolet Volt Body-In-White Design Solution Including Energy Storage Package Considerations" at last year's seminar.

According to the presentation, the Volt's design implemented GM's latest strategies for steel selection and geometry. As a result, the design incorporates an increased use of AHSS, maximizing the vehicle's safety and reliability, as well as reducing its overall mass. The upper body structure experienced a significant mass reduction compared to earlier designs, while still meeting tough safety standards. The team's lower body design provides a high-performance, mass-efficient foundation for the overall vehicle. Delivering a significant mass reduction from the baseline design, the structure and battery pack tray achieve or exceed all performance requirements.  

"The Volt's design achieves segment-leading safety performance by using steel in more than 70 percent of its body structure," Ron Krupitzer, vice president, automotive market for SMDI, said. "As leading automakers like GM continue to implement mass reduction technologies using higher-strength steel grades, vehicles will continue to become lighter and more fuel efficient, while maintaining key safety and performance requirements. GM's use of advanced steel technologies on the ground-breaking Volt is an excellent example of how steel can transform the future of the auto industry."

The Automotive Excellence Award recognizes individuals or teams from automakers, suppliers or the academic community who embrace innovation and make significant contributions to the advancement of steel in the automotive marketplace. Award winners are chosen from presentations given at the previous year's GDIS seminar. Candidates are rated in several categories, including: implementation in production; overall contribution to the advancement of steel; challenges and benefits associated with cost, mass reduction and performance; replacement of competitive materials; and structural performance and efficiency.

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, grows and maintains the use of steel through strategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive, construction and container markets, as well as for new growth opportunities in emerging steel markets. For more news or information, visit www.autosteel.org.

SMDI investors include:

• AK Steel Corporation
• ArcelorMittal Dofasco
• ArcelorMittal USA LLC
• Nucor Corporation
• Severstal North America Inc.
• ThyssenKrupp Steel USA, LLC
• United States Steel Corporation

SOURCE Steel Market Development Institute