If we look globally at developments in the automotive industry, we can see that the weight of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Europe has risen constantly in recent years from approx. 1,268 kg in the year 2000 to 1,360 kg in 2010 and approx. 1,420 kg in 2020. The trend toward more hybrid and electric vehicles is likely to intensify this development, because an electric vehicle weighs on average 300 kg more than a vehicle with a conventional engine due to the weight of the battery alone.

The automotive industry is focusing on weight reduction. Thinner and higher-strength steels or aluminium are increasingly being used, and more and more designs use mixed materials. In this application context, new fasteners must ensure that joints are reliable.