Average Material Consumption for a Domestic Car, 1977, 1990, and 2004
The average auto lost over 500 pounds from 1977 to 1990. Much of the weight reduction was due to the declining use of conventional steel and iron and the increasing use of aluminum and plastics. Conventional steel, however, remained the predominant component of cars in 2004 with a 40.1% share of total materials. As conventional steel use has been decreasing, use of high-strength steel has increased. Note that the American Metals Market discontinued their survey in 2005; thus the 2004 data are the latest available.
Material |
1977 |
1990 |
2004 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pounds |
Percentage |
Pounds |
Percentage |
Pounds |
Percentage |
|
Conventional steel (a) |
1,995.0 |
54.4% |
1,405.0 |
44.7% |
1,361.0 |
40.1% |
High-strength steel |
125.0 |
3.4% |
238.0 |
7.6% |
395.0 |
11.6% |
Stainless steel |
26.0 |
0.7% |
34.0 |
1.1% |
57.5 |
1.7% |
Other steels |
56.0 |
1.5% |
39.5 |
1.3% |
28.0 |
0.8% |
Iron |
540.0 |
14.7% |
454.0 |
14.5% |
308.0 |
9.1% |
Aluminum |
97.0 |
2.6% |
158.5 |
5.0% |
289.5 |
8.5% |
Rubber |
150.0 |
4.1% |
136.5 |
4.3% |
152.0 |
4.5% |
Plastics/composites |
168.0 |
4.6% |
229.0 |
7.3% |
257.5 |
7.6% |
Glass |
87.5 |
2.4% |
86.5 |
2.8% |
99.5 |
2.9% |
Copper |
38.5 |
1.1% |
48.5 |
1.5% |
51.5 |
1.5% |
Zinc die castings |
38.0 |
1.0% |
18.5 |
0.6% |
8.5 |
0.3% |
Powder metal parts |
15.5 |
0.4% |
24.0 |
0.8% |
41.5 |
1.2% |
Fluids & lubricants |
200.0 |
5.5% |
182.0 |
5.8% |
198.5 |
5.9% |
Magnesium parts |
128.0 |
3.5% |
3.0 |
0.1% |
10.0 |
0.3% |
Other materials |
1.0 |
0.0% |
83.5 |
2.7% |
133.0 |
3.9% |
Total |
3,665.5 |
100.0% |
3,140.5 |
100.0% |
3,391.0 |
100.0% |
(a) Includes cold-rolled and pre-coated steel.
Source: American Metal Market, New York, NY, 2004. (Additional resources: www.amm.com).
