Steel Industry CEO Discusses The Impact Of The Canadian Steel Industry On The North American Automotive Market

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week members from the Automobile Journalist Association of Canada (AJAC) and Sean Donnelly, president and CEO of ArcelorMittal Dofasco and chairman of the CEO group for the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), met to discuss the impact of the Canadian steel industry on the North American automotive market.  The discussion took place during AJAC's annual TestFest, held on Oct. 25 – 26 at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.

In a discussion led by David Taylor, automotive journalist, member of AJAC and the Canadian Car and Truck of the Year Management Committee, Donnelly talked about the challenges facing the steel and automotive industry, how well-positioned steel is to overcome those challenges and what the future holds for both industries.

"The combination of weight reduction and safety improvements have led to a revolution of the steels available today," said Donnelly. "The latest grades are higher-strength and provide increased formability and durability. This leads to the best performance for the automaker and the highest value to the consumer."

When asked about the future for steel and the auto industries, Donnelly reinforced advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) is being used in a number of new applications and the results show improved vehicle performance in fuel efficiency, durability, quality and affordability.

AJAC's TestFest is an annual event bringing more than 80 journalists from throughout Canada to test drive vehicle contenders as part of the Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards, which are presented each year at the Canadian International Auto Show.

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) is an association of professional journalists, writers and photographers whose focus is the automobile and the automotive industry. The majority of our journalists test-drive, and report on, new vehicles on an on-going basis in various media across the country.

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 19 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 120 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.

SMDI increases and defends the use of steel by developing innovative materials, applications and value-added solutions for customers in the automotive, construction and packaging markets. SMDI automotive investors include: AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal and Nucor Corporation. For more information on SMDI, visit www.autosteel.org or follow @SMDISteel on Twitter.

SOURCE Steel Market Development Institute

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