Advancements in electric cars, autonomous driving, car connectivity, and AI were on full display. Nissan and BMW unveiled plans to use Microsoft’s personal assistant technology, Cortana, with their cars. Honda became the first major manufacturer to develop an electric concept car specifically designed for ride-sharing. And as for self-driving cars – Nissan announced it would bring autonomous driving support to its Leaf electric car, Hyundai introduced one that would be affordable enough for the masses, and Audi announced a partnership with Nvidia to bring self-driving cars to market by 2020.

With all of the focus on electric cars and autonomous driving, it is easy to forget the basic building blocks that are needed to make these cars a reality. As Toyota Research Institute CEO Gill Pratt noted at CES, “Historically humans have zero tolerance of death by machine,” and for further adoption by the public, safety must be reinforced in autonomous vehicles. Increased safety in cars often goes hand-in-hand with heavier materials that can withstand more pressure. However, the push for more fuel efficient electric cars is pushing the industry to build with more lightweight components.

Car manufacturers are working to find the right balance between strength, weight, and price. The EPA has estimated that reducing a vehicle’s weight by 45kg (100lbs) will improve fuel efficiency by 1%, and while more lightweight materials do exist in aluminum and magnesium, they are often too cost-prohibitive for general use.

POSCO Body Concept Electric Vehicle

POSCO’s PBC-EV is both safe and lightweight

On this front, POSCO has been working to develop solutions for car manufacturers. The PBC-EV, or POSCO Body Concept Electric Vehicle, is one product of that research as POSCO sought to create a lighter car with the same strength and safety that is expected in today’s modern car market. POSCO focused on two main points when developing this lightweight car body. The first was the application of a combination of POSCO’s most advanced steels including TRIP, PosMCT950E, and PosMCT980B. Secondly, POSCO optimized existing construction methods and worked to introduce new techniques in order to both lighten and strengthen the body of the automobile. With its PBC-EV, POSCO was able to reduce weight by 26% while still maintaining the highest levels of body strength.

Magnesium technology

POSCO materials were used in the design of Renault’s EOLAB concept car

Many in the auto industry are setting their sights on magnesium as the future of car manufacturing. Magnesium can be easily molded and it is both lightweight and strong. Due to its high price, car makers have not fully embraced the move to magnesium yet, but POSCO is already preparing for this probability. Last month, POSCO’s World Premium Materials (WPM) – Magnesium Business Division organized a seminar with industry experts and automotive engineering students to discuss the future of magnesium in car manufacturing. Experts in magnesium, molding, bonding, and surface treatment were invited to speak about the application of magnesium technology in automobiles and students gave presentations on their own experience developing race cars.

Even though cars have been around since the late 19^th century, new ideas continue to force the industry to adapt and change. And whether it is optimizing existing manufacturing processes or working to utilize technologies for the future, POSCO remains committed to finding innovations in the auto industry.

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In April, POSCO held ‘Tech Day’ events at the headquarters of global car manufacturers in Detroit. The events introduced POSCO’s superb global network, steel technology, and value chain. I personally visited the scenes, which was a great opportunity to witness POSCO’s competence in promoting its cutting-edge technologies and positive reactions from the clients. As one of ‘Hello, POSCO’ global storytellers, I would like to share the enthusiasm I could feel from Tech Day.

Visiting global carmakers to demonstrate POSCO’s cutting-edge technologies

From 2009 to 2012, POSCO held Tech Day events in Japan and Europe, visiting major players in car manufacturing industry. We presented our high-quality products and efficient line of production to Toyota, Honda, Renault, Nissan, Suzuki, Fiat, Mitsubishi, and Mazda.

For this year, POSCO, POSCO SS, POSCO Chemtech, POSCO AST and five automobile parts partners from Korea joined Tech Day events at development facilities of GM, Ford, and Chrysler in Detroit. POSCO displayed high functional steel, ultra high strength steel, hot press forming steel, PosM Steel, EVI & PBC-EV, Magnesium, technical services and automotive parts.

POSCO was able to deliver comprehensive presentations, introducing the world’s leading steel company’s value chain for manufacturing automotive parts. From the basic research undertaken by POSTECH to joint venture with POSCO Family affiliates, our firm partnership of manufacturing high-quality car parts was explained to the global carmakers with visual materials, parts samples and an electric vehicle body concept model.

POSCO Tech Day receives highly positive responses

I heard that POSCO had expected about 900 visitors for the three-day tour but in the end, we greeted more than 1,800 people who shared their positive reviews on our products and vigorous commitment. Notably, the guests’ interests were focused on the ‘third-generation AHSS development,’ designed for lightweight vehicles. They also praised POSCO’s unique concept models of high-intensity steel products such as GI 1500MART and 340ES.

Personally, I think the zenith of POSCO’s Tech Day events held in this year was the announcement, jointly made by POSCO, GM, and Chrysler. The three companies have agreed to hold regular engineer exchange programs to develop high-tech automotive parts. I believe the decision will be paid back with a series of great successes, putting POSCO to the next level of perfection as a leading global steel manufacturer.

Overall, I reckon the main goal of the exhibition, to display POSCO’s newly developed automotive technologies and the ways to reduce the cost for customers, was perfectly accomplished. Also, I would like to thank POSCO’s on-site staff who worked really hard for creating the commendable result. I wish to get back to ‘Hello, POSCO’ soon with more great news about POSCO’s global operations in near future.