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strength (crash, misuse), ergonomics, handling, acoustics, crash kinematics and energy absorption. Other basic conditions:interfaces with adjacent ponents, installation, joining techniques, price. 3 Materials ma terial light weighting can be achieved by using either stronger or lighter material. When stiffness or natural frequency are Important sizing criteria, low density materials with a high modulus of elasticity by quired. Nonexotic materials must be selected which are readily recyclable, low in price and display good requirements are set by the manufacturing and joining processes. Steel, aluminum, magnesium and a variety of plastics are the materials of choice for steering systems. Low specific gravity, high corrosion resistance, low fabricating costs, high energy absorption and good recycle ability make aluminum a favored light weighting material. Owing to its high energy content, up to 90% of the aluminum used in auto construction can be recycled (intelligent design / no mixing with other materials). The favorable energy balance of aluminum puts it at a great advantage over many other environmental terms aluminum scores highly. The large amounts of primary energy required to make raw aluminum are offset over the lifetime of the vehicle. Composites could also bee a very attractive proposition on account of their extreme stiffness, low weight and energy absorption capabilities. At present, howler, price is a problem, as are joining and quality assurance. 4 Reducing ponent weight A focused strategy to reduce ponent weight requires a lightweight approach to design (force distribution, stresses), material (material selection), specifications (modified, realistic specifications) Key factors in lightweight design include [1]: force flows, material properties, ambient conditions 174。1 Introduction The key task for the automobile industry and its suppliers in future lies in speedily developing and implementing ecologically sound and economically justifiable mobility systems. Light metals such as aluminum and magn