Magna delivered prototypes of its advanced carbon fiber subframes to Ford Motor Co., and plans to start mass production before the end of the year.
The subframe is mounted on the front of the Ford Fusion sedan and acts as a cradle for the engine and wheels. It weighs 34% less than the usual metal frame and replaces 45 steel parts with two molded parts and four metal parts. .
Magna and Ford began developing sub-frames in early 2017 to test the use of carbon fiber in vehicle structural components.
Andrew Swikowski, Magna's global lightweight composite product line director, said in a statement to Automotive News that neither Magna nor Ford knew whether the technology could be put into production.
At the end of last year, we provided customers with a series of components and they have already begun component testing. By the end of this year, we will know if the technology is ready for production,' said Swikowski.
In addition to the weight saving feature, the use of carbon fiber subframes can also reduce mold investment by 30% to 40%.
Because carbon fiber cannot absorb shocks and metals, the sub-frame is designed to lower the engine down to the vehicle in the event of a collision. Therefore, if the sub-frame can be put into production, the sub-frame will be used with high-strength steel.