Common Steel Grades Used in Automotive Industry

Introduction

The automotive industry relies heavily on different types of automotive steel sheet to balance strength, formability, cost, and durability. Selecting the right steel grade is crucial for car body steel, chassis components, and safety-critical parts. Below is an overview of commonly used steel categories and grades in modern vehicle manufacturing.

Low Carbon Steels – SPCC, DC01

• Application:
  Widely used for car body steel in exterior panels, hoods, fenders, and doors, thanks to excellent surface finish and formability. It is also common in sheet metal for auto body repair, making it a versatile option for both OEM production and aftermarket repair.
• Properties: Tensile strength typically 270–410 MPa, with high ductility and excellent surface finish suitable for coating or painting.
• Standards: SPCC (JIS G3141), ASTM A1008, EN DC01.
• SPCC Cold Rolled Steel Plate Supply Capabilities: Regularly available in coil and sheet form with multiple finishes for automotive panel production.

Hot-Dip Galvanized & Galvannealed Steels – GI, GA, SPGC

• Application:
  Used as car body steel in doors, roofs, and structural components where corrosion resistance is essential.
• Properties: Corrosion-resistant coating (GI – zinc, GA – galvannealed), excellent surface quality, tensile strengths ranging 270–600 MPa depending on base steel.
• Standards: ASTM A653, JIS G3302, EN 10346.
• Galvanized Automotive Steel Plate Supply Capabilities: Stocked in a range of coating weights (Z100–Z275) and finishes for car body manufacturing.

High-Strength Low-Alloy Steels (HSLA Steel) – QSTE420TM, HR440B

• Application:
  Used for underbody parts, suspension components, and reinforcement beams where weight reduction is important.
• Properties: Higher strength than mild steels (yield strength 350–550 MPa), good toughness, weldability, and formability.
• Standards: High strength low alloy HSLA steel grades often conform to ASTM A1011/A1018 or EN standards.
• Supply Capabilities: Supplied in hot rolled or cold rolled condition, with customizable thickness and width for OEM stamping requirements.

Advanced High-Strength Steels– DP600, DP780, TRIP Steel

• Application:
  DP600 steel and other dual-phase grades are widely used in bumpers, crash zones, and safety reinforcements. They enable automakers to meet crashworthiness requirements while reducing vehicle mass.
• Properties: Dual Phase (DP) steels such as DP600 and DP780 offer tensile strengths of 600–800 MPa with good elongation. TRIP steels provide high energy absorption and excellent formability.
• Standards:
  Typical AHSS grades include DP600 steel, DP800, and DP1000, which align with both ASTM and EN standards.
• High Strength Automotive Steel Plate Supply Capabilities:
  Available in coils and sheets, suitable for complex stamping operations with consistent mechanical properties.

Cold Rolled Steel – CR2, CR3, SPCD

• Application: Automotive doors, hoods, fenders, and precision parts requiring dimensional accuracy and superior surface quality.
• Properties: Excellent formability and surface finish; tensile strength typically 270–410 MPa depending on grade.
• Standards: JIS G3141 (SPCD, SPCE), EN 10130 (CR2, CR3), ASTM A1008.
• Supply Capabilities: Delivered in sheet and coil with strict thickness tolerances and smooth finishes for visible automotive panels.

Stainless Steels

• Application:
  Used in exhaust systems, fuel tanks, and decorative trims where corrosion and heat resistance are required.
• Properties:
  Corrosion resistance, high-temperature strength, and durability.
• Standards:
  Typical grades include 409, 430, and 304 stainless steels.
• Capabilities:
  Available in coils and sheets with surface finishes tailored for automotive interior and exterior parts.

How to Choose the Right Steel Grade for Automotive Applications

When selecting automotive steel sheet, decision-makers must balance cost, performance, and compliance:

• Cost-sensitive applications → SPCC steel or galvanized grades are preferred.
• Lightweight with strength → HSLA steel or DP600 steel offer an optimal balance.
• Corrosion durability → Galvanized, galvanealed, or stainless steels are suitable.
• Repair and aftermarket needs → sheet metal for auto body repair (commonly SPCC metal) is widely used.

By matching the steel grade to its intended application, both automakers and suppliers can optimize performance, compliance, and overall lifecycle cost.

Navigating these trade-offs can be complex. If you’re unsure which grade is most cost-effective for your specific project, our technical experts can help.
→ [Get a Free Material Selection Consultation]

Summary Table

Conclusion

Selecting the right automotive steel is a critical decision that impacts performance, cost, and safety. While this guide provides a foundation, every project is unique.
For a personalized recommendation and to ensure your material meets exact specifications, submit your requirements to our engineering team for a free analysis.
Or, browse our inventory of in-stock automotive steel grades to see immediate availability.