Development Trend and Outlook of Automotive Lightweight Design

doi:10.3981/j.issn.2097-0781.2025.02.006

Science and Technology Foresight ›› 2025, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (2): 73-83.DOI: 10.3981/j.issn.2097-0781.2025.02.006

• Review and Commentary • Previous Articles Next Articles

Development Trend and Outlook of Automotive Lightweight Design

JIA Yanmin¹^,^†(), LIU Bo², CHEN Xin³, ZHANG Ning⁴

1. China Automotive Lightweight Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102607, China
2. School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
3. College of Automotive Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
4. China Society of Automotive Engineers, Beijing 102607, China

Received:2024-12-11 Revised:2025-02-26 Online:2025-06-20 Published:2025-06-26
Contact: †

中国汽车轻量化结构设计发展趋势与展望

贾彦敏¹^,^†(), 刘波², 陈鑫³, 张宁⁴

1.国汽（北京）汽车轻量化技术研究院有限公司，北京 102607
2.北京科技大学机械工程学院，北京 100083
3.吉林大学汽车工程学院，长春 130025
4.中国汽车工程学会，北京 102607

通讯作者: †
作者简介:贾彦敏，国汽（北京）汽车轻量化技术研究院有限公司发展研究部副部长。主要从事汽车轻量化与环保材料评价体系相关研究工作。电子信箱：jym@sae-china.org。

Abstract

Abstract:

Lightweight design represents one of the core technical competencies in automotive engineering, playing an important role in enhancing the international competitiveness of China’s automobile industry. Under the trend of automobile electrification, network connection, intelligence and sharing, the form and performance requirements of automobile products have undergone transformative changes. This paper comprehensively describes the new characteristics of highly integrated, modular, and bionic structural design in the field of lightweight structural design in the world. It profoundly analyzes the influence of the progress of new architecture, new materials and new technology, and artificial intelligence technology on the technical innovation of lightweight structural design of automotive products. Based on the study of the status quo, problems, and deficiencies of lightweight structural design in China, it is pointed out that multi-material structural design, integrated design, monolithic design, and artificial intelligence design have become the important development directions of lightweight structural design in China in the future, and the development suggestions are put forward.

Key words: lightweight design, design optimization, integrated design, monolithic design, artificial intelligence design, multi-material design

摘要：

轻量化是汽车技术体系中重要的关键核心技术之一，对于提升中国汽车产业的国际竞争力具有重要的支撑作用，尤其在汽车电动化、网联化、智能化的趋势下，汽车产品的形态和性能要求正在发生巨大变化。文章聚焦世界汽车轻量化结构设计领域出现的高度集成化、模块化和仿生结构设计发展新趋势和新特点，深刻分析了汽车产品新架构、新材料技术、人工智能技术的进步对汽车产品轻量化结构设计技术革新的影响。结合对中国轻量化结构设计现状、问题和不足的梳理研究，指出多材料结构设计、集成化设计、一体化设计和人工智能设计是中国汽车轻量化结构设计未来的重要发展方向，并提出了中国汽车轻量化结构设计的发展建议。

关键词: 轻量化, 设计优化, 集成化设计, 一体化设计, 人工智能设计, 多材料设计

JIA Yanmin, LIU Bo, CHEN Xin, ZHANG Ning. Development Trend and Outlook of Automotive Lightweight Design[J]. Science and Technology Foresight, 2025, 4(2): 73-83.

贾彦敏, 刘波, 陈鑫, 张宁. 中国汽车轻量化结构设计发展趋势与展望[J]. 前瞻科技, 2025, 4(2): 73-83.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1 CTC development history of Changan Automobile (Source: Report of the 16th International Automotive Lightweight Congress & Exhibition)

Fig. 2 Fuxi base (Source: China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited)

Fig. 3 Comparison between traditional automotive production process and out-of-box production process

Fig. 4 Traditional torsion beam constructioncompared with the AXELA SEB suspension (Source: Mazda Tech)

Fig. 5 A skateboard chassis released by Rivian (Source: Rivian website)

Fig. 6 Lightweight skateboard chassis patented technology

Fig. 7 Additive manufacturing exhaust pipe of Mustang automobile (Source: SHINING 3D)

Fig. 8 Volkswagen concept wheel with AI-derived design (Source: Volkswagen)

Fig. 9 Lightweight technology roadmap

References 20

[1]	中国汽车工程学会. 节能与新能源汽车技术路线图2.0[M]. 北京: 机械工业出版社, 2020.
	China Society of Automotive Engineers. Energy saving and new energy vehicle technology roadmap 2.0[M]. Beijing: China Machine Press, 2020. (in Chinese)
[2]	中国汽车工程学会. 中国汽车轻量化发展-战略与路径[M]. 北京: 北京理工大学出版社, 2015.
	China Society of Automotive Engineers. Development of China’s automotive lightweighting: Strategy and pathway[M]. Beijing: Beijing Institute of Technology Press, 2015. (in Chinese)
[3]	伯恩德·克莱恩. 轻量化设计计算基础与构件结构[M]. 2版. 北京: 机械工业出版社, 2016.
	Klein B. Lightweight design: Calculation fundamentals and component structures[M]. 2nd ed. Beijing: China Machine Press, 2016. (in Chinese)
[4]	Affordable Lightweight Automobiles Alliance. A vision on the future of automotive lightweight[R/OL]. [2025-02-19]. http://lightweight-alliance.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/alliance_vision-document.pdf.
[5]	董洁, 龙玲, 殷国富. 增材制造技术在汽车行业的应用研究[J]. 机械, 2019, 46(2): 41-45, 67.
	Dong J, Long L, Yin G F. Application of additive manufacturing technology in automotive industry[J]. Machinery, 2019, 46(2): 41-45, 67. (in Chinese)
[6]	杜传忠. 人工智能全面赋能新型工业化[N]. 中国社会科学报, 2024-3-21(A04).
	Du C Z. Artificial intelligence empowers new-type industrialization in an all-round way[N]. China Social Sciences Newspaper, 2024-03-21(A04). (in Chinese)
[7]	王勇. 人工智能技术在汽车轻量化设计中的应用. [2023-11-29]. https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1db4y1N73N/?vd_source=236cbd8a486d6521289912b556754b0e.
	Wang Y. Application of artificial intelligence technology in automotive lightweight design[2023-11-29]. https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1db4y1N73N/?vd_source=236cbd8a486d6521289912b556754b0e. (in Chinese)
[8]	贺宏伟, 余海燕, 高泽, 等. 基于机器学习的汽车吸能结构耐撞性智能预测方法[J]. 同济大学学报(自然科学版), 2024, 52(增刊1): 29-38.
	He H W, Yu H Y, Gao Z, et al. Machine learning-based intelligent prediction method for crashworthiness of automotive energy-absorbing structures[J]. Journal of Tongji University (Natural Science Edition), 2024, 52(Suppl 1): 29-38. (in Chinese)
[9]	Akande T O, Alabi O O, Rizwan A, et al. AI-assisted design of lightweight and strong 3D-printed wheels for electric vehicles[J]. PLoS One, 2024, 19(12), doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308004.
[10]	Kohar C P, Connolly 1, D S, Liusko T, et al. Using artificial intelligence to aid vehicle lightweighting in crashworthiness with Aluminum[C]// Proceedings of the MATEC Web of Conferences. Pairs: EDP Sciences, 2020, doi: 10.1051/matecconf/20203261006.
[11]	Al-Assadi M, El Kadi H, Deiab I M. Predicting the fatigue life of different composite materials using artificial neural networks[J]. Applied Composite Materials, 2010, 17(1): 1-14.
[12]	中国汽车工程学会. 2023年节能与新能源汽车轻量化技术路线图年度评估报告[R]. 北京: 中国汽车工程学会, 2023.
	China Society of Automotive Engineers. Annual assessment report on the technology roadmap for lightweighting of energy-saving and new energy vehicles in 2023[R]. Beijing: China Society of Automotive Engineers, 2023. (in Chinese)
[13]	徐峰祥. 梯度薄壁结构设计方法及其在车身设计中的应用[D]. 长沙: 湖南大学, 2015.
	Xu F X. Design method of gradient thin-walled structure and its application in car body design[D]. Changsha: Hunan University, 2015. (in Chinese)
[14]	王甲畏. 基于神经网络算法的汽车前纵梁碰撞性能优化设计[J]. 价值工程, 2024, 43(5): 97-99.
	Wang J W. Optimization design of front longitudinal beam crash performance for automobile based on neural network algorithm[J]. Value Engineering, 2024, 43(5): 97-99. (in Chinese)
[15]	Oh S, Jung Y, Kim S, et al. Deep generative design: Integration of topology optimization and generative models[J]. Journal of Mechanical Design, 2019, 141(11), doi: 10.1115/1.4044229.
[16]	Li H, Lu M Y, Jia Y F. A study on the application of genetic algorithms to vehicle lightweight design[J]. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology (New Series), 2025, 12(4): 441-444.
[17]	Wang L X. Fuzzy logic and expert systems for engineering applications. In Fuzzy Logic for Engineering Applications[M]. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1992.
[18]	Zhu J H, Zhou H, Wang C, et al. A review of topology optimization for additive manufacturing: Status and challenges[J]. Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, 2021, 34(1): 91-110.
[19]	Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). Lightweighting strategy for Germany’s industrial sector[R/OL]. [2025-02-19]. http://www.bmwi.de.
[20]	普宏江. 美国新一代汽车合作计划[J]. 全球科技经济瞭望, 1998, 13(9): 29-30.
	Pu H J. American new generation automobile cooperation program[J]. Global Science, Technology and Economy Outlook, 1998, 13(9): 29-30. (in Chinese)

Development Trend and Outlook of Automotive Lightweight Design

中国汽车轻量化结构设计发展趋势与展望

RichHTML

PDF

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

Figures/Tables 9

References 20

Related Articles 1

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Access Statistics

Links

Contact Us

WeChat