Detroit, Michigan – Ford has released the 2021 Mustang Mach-E, and while its body is made of mostly steel, body shops will see quite the variety of materials when it comes to the new vehicle’s closures. In fact, according to a presentation by Ford vehicle hardware modules integration chief engineer Mark Mikolaiczik, 29 percent of the Mustang Mach-E closure materials involve substances other than steel.
Both the hood and fenders are 6000-series aluminum except for a small component sandwiched between the hood outer and inner.
The rear liftgate features a thermoplastic outer and a fiber-reinforced plastic inner.
The Mustang’s doors feature high-strength steel outers over mild-steel inners with boron impact beams between the two parts.
During a presentation in May, Mikolaiczik pointed out the extensive use of boron in the Mach-E. The light, strong steel can be found in the hinge pillar, rocker panel and vehicle crossmembers.
The body uses what Ford divided into five different classes of steel and an extruded aluminum bumper beam. Ford says that using the multiple steel parts allowed manufacturers to use traditional welding techniques but still accommodate the bolt-on battery tray and optimize the energy path.
“From a structural development standpoint, I think you’ll be impressed,” said Mikolaiczik.
By using materials other than steel, Ford was able to cut costs while still producing a high-quality vehicle.
