Facts About Car Bodies

The body is the most significant structural component of the automobile. Auto bodies are often made from sheet steel because of its flexibility, availability and low cost. Steel and iron comprise 65 percent of the average vehicle.

Other elements are added to a car body to:

• Minimize wrinkling and tearing during manufacturing
• Increase toughness
• Increase resistance to brittle deformation

The body consists of several complex steel sections that have been stamped into a shape for your car. There are many unique body styles for different brands of cars.

The purpose of the car body is to:

• Enclose the vehicle for passenger comfort and safety
• Create minimal resistance as it cuts through the air
• Act as a solid mount for other elements in the car

Each year, more than 10 million vehicles are disposed of in the U.S. Although cars are extremely complex, they are one of the most recycled products today. In the European Union, a mandatory recycling and take-back program is in effect, forcing producers to be responsible for vehicle disposal.

According to the Motor and Equipment Manufactures Association, over 76 percent of each scrap automobile is recycled. Almost all the iron and steel of a car is recovered when recycled or reused, as well as lead, aluminum and copper.

Despite what many consumers believe, scrap cars are of high value and extremely useful when recycled. The Steel Recycling Institute reported that in 1999, there was enough recycled steel from scrap cars to produce 13 million new cars.