GM's All-New 2019 Chevy Silverado Takes Home Award From Steel Institute

Work for Torque News, follow on Twitter, Youtube and Facebook.

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado has earned an award for innovative use of specialty steels.

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado has earned an award from The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI). The group has named the Silverado the winner of its "Automotive Excellence Award" presented at its annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) Seminar.

The all-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado's body structure is composed of nearly 86 percent steel. However, what makes it special is the increased use of ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS), advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) and high strength low alloy (HSLA) materials. These are used throughout the vehicle, including in the Silverado's cab, bed, and frame. By using these advanced materials, Chevrolet was able to reduce the truck's mass by 450 pounds.

The award was presented by Dr. Jody N. Hall, vice president, automotive market at SMDI to Jeff Sulik, engineering group manager, and Joy Geeraerts, senior design release engineer, both of General Motors Company. They received the award for their GDIS presentation: "Advanced High-Strength Steel Technologies in the 2019 Chevy Silverado."

"Automotive Excellence Award winners use advanced high-strength steel in applications to provide the best value for OEMs and consumers while also improving vehicle performance and sustainability," said Jody Hall, vice president of the automotive market at SMDI. "With automakers shifting their vehicle mix to favor trucks, CUVs and SUVs, new steel grades are leading the way in innovation. The 2019 Silverado is a great example of the capability of these next generation steel grades."

2019 Chevy Silverado Quick Facts:
The new Chevy Silverado is significantly lighter than the outgoing truck, despite having greater space and cargo capacity. During the vehicle launch event, GM President Mark Reuss made mention of the Silverado's use of steel alluding to a hammer. He said that he wasn't sure how much work an aluminum hammer could do.

John Goreham is a senior reporter for TorqueNews.com. Please follow John on Twitter at @JohnGoreham and send tips for future news stories.