While facing the same automobile weight challenge as other automakers, DaimlerChrysler is looking to address the overall weight gain in its vehicles.

According to Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler’s board member in charge of group research and development, vehicle weight has grown between one-half of 1 percent and 1 percent per year. And said that DCX wants to stop the trend, which will also help to reduce fuel consumption. DCX has begun to use more ultrahigh-performance steels and aluminum. While the new C-Class weighs the same as the outgoing model, due to new technolgies, electronics, etc, the body shell is about 18 pounds lighter.

Weber also said that while Chrysler and Mercedes will continue to increase component sharing, there will not be platform sharing.

## Source: AutoWeek ##

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