On November 4th in Shanghai, a lively exchange of ideas about "how to build the future vehicle body" took place at Benteler's Asia-Pacific Innovation and Technology Seminar. As one of Benteler's key innovation partners, VAMA and GONVVAMA attended with core technical solutions. Their third-generation hot-formed steel and Yujian™ multi-part integration solution offered fresh perspectives on "how to achieve synergy between safety, lightweight design, and efficient manufacturing for future vehicle bodies."

Every leap forward in vehicle body manufacturing relies on fundamental breakthroughs in materials. Today, hot-formed steel represented by Usibor® and Ductibor® has become an ideal material. It boasts ultra-high strength, lightweight potential, and excellent forming precision, helping enhance body safety, reduce weight effectively to extend driving range, and give designers greater freedom.

With the accelerating electrification and growing demand for flexible body production, Ductibor® 1500 – the latest achievement in hot-formed steel technology and a third-generation aluminum-silicon coated hot-formed steel – has made further breakthroughs in balancing strength and toughness. It not only strengthens safety but also allows designers to create smooth body shapes more flexibly, unifying safety, aesthetics, and lightweight goals.

Building on continuous material advancements, the Yujian™ multi-part integration solution, guided by the innovative concept of "simplifying complexity and integrating parts," sparked in-depth discussions on "how to balance process reliability and design flexibility in high integration." Guests exchanged views on the integrated path of materials, joining technologies, design, and manufacturing.

Benteler's Global CEO Ralf Goettel and core management team participated in the seminar, along with Pedro Raiser (Chief Marketing Officer of VAMA), Michael Yang (Director of Sales & CTS at VAMA), Yannick Yin (Chief Technology Officer of GONVVAMA), and Paul Vivet (Chief Marketing Officer of GONVVAMA). Both sides focused on the possibility of incorporating the third-generation hot-formed steel Ductibor® 1500 into Benteler's next-generation vehicle body platform. They also made preliminary plans for subsequent steps such as material R&D, mass production certification, and joint design and development of components.

This meeting not only witnessed past cooperation but also expressed expectations for deeper collaboration in the future.

"Truly sustainable innovation comes from a deep understanding of end-user needs and open collaboration across the industrial chain," Benteler stated at the seminar. Guided by this shared value, VAMA and GONVVAMA have always been market-oriented, turning trends into practical solutions. Together, they are accelerating the adoption of safer, more efficient, and greener automobiles worldwide.