SAE Expert Insights: Critical Materials in Light Duty Vehicle Manufacturing
The U.S. automotive industry relies on a range of critical materials to manufacture safe, efficient, and affordable vehicles. Having reliable and economically viable sources for these materials is essential to maintaining the industry’s global competitiveness. Excessive reliance on economic-rival governments exposes the industry to significant risk of supply chain disruptions and price volatility. The United States Automotive Materials Partnership (USAMP) suggests that, going forward, the four core tenants below guide our country’s strategy toward critical materials.
•Sufficient Materials Availability: Ensure that 90% of materials needed can be readily sourced domestically or from reliable trading partners.
•Reduced Price Volatility: Reduce risks related to price volatility. Develop new materials, identify substitute/alternative materials and technologies, and explore the availability of an established supply chain.
•Resilient Materials Supply Chain: Procure automotive critical materials and non-critical alternatives from domestic sources and friendly trade partners; ensure these critical materials are scalable, recyclable, and affordable. Develop the technology to recycle and upcycle imported critical materials, which expands domestic sources and supports a circular economy.
•Safe Automotive Critical Materials: Ensure materials in use are not harmful to the health and safety of workers or the environment, establishing the U.S. industry’s role as good stewards of workers and the environment and minimizing the likelihood that CMs will be subject to legislative/regulatory bans or require offshore production.
presented by Dr. Paul Krajewski (NAE) from GM