Foundational Fusion: Fossil‑free Framework for Functional Futurism

In a major stride toward greening the automotive industry, SSAB, the Swedish leader in low‑carbon steel, and Poland’s Polmotors, a Tier 1 specialist in crash management systems, have formalised a strategic partnership. Their aim: to co-develop structural components like bumpers and rally bars from fossil‑free steel. SSAB brings its HYBRIT and SSAB Zero technologies to the fore, while Polmotors applies nearly four decades of expertise to integrate these revolutionary materials into real-world automotive assemblies.

Material Milestone: Metallurgical Metamorphosis via HYBRIT

SSAB’s HYBRIT process, created in joint venture with iron‑ore producer LKAB and energy giant Vattenfall, pivots steel production away from coking coal toward hydrogen and renewable electricity. This shift slashes CO₂ emissions nearly entirely in the iron‑making stage. For Polmotors, this means access to materials once deemed futuristic: steels with mechanical properties identical to traditional grades but with near-zero carbon footprints. Such materials offer OEMs a head start in meeting strict sustainability mandates.

Collaborative Craftsmanship: Polmotors’ Production Precision

Under the guidance of CEO Maciej Graboś, Polmotors specialises in designing crash management systems that meet stringent safety and performance standards. Graboś notes that early adoption of fossil‑free steel will yield a competitive edge, providing OEMs with both ecological credentials and structural integrity. Their joint R&D will focus on adapting material grades to the rigours of collision safety and assembly processes, ensuring weldability, crash behaviour, and fatigue resistance align with premium vehicle specifications.

Proven Performance: Early Pilots Pave the Pathway

SSAB has already delivered pilot quantities of fossil‑free steel to customers like Volvo Group between 2021 and 2022, demonstrating its viability in heavy-duty trucks and construction machinery. These proof‑of‑concept deliveries confirm the material works with existing production methods, laser cutting, welding, forming, without compromising strength or manufacturability. Polmotors plans to leverage these pilot successes to fast-track the certification of automotive-grade components made from these steels.

Supply‑Chain Sustainability: Shaping the Steel Ecosystem

This alliance underscores the growing recognition that sustainable supply chains must begin at the material source. By integrating SSAB’s fossil-free steel into Tier 1 manufacturing, Polmotors and its future OEM clients can substantiate claims of carbon-conscious vehicles. Robert Lewandowski from SSAB emphasises that decarbonising steel requires layered collaboration: from mineral extraction to final assembly. Together, they aim to redefine steel’s role not just as a building material but as a sustainability enabler.

Market Momentum: OEM Demand Drives Decarbonisation

Automotive OEMs, especially in the premium and electric vehicle segments, are increasingly demanding low-carbon materials to meet their own net-zero targets. By securing access to fossil-free steel early, Polmotors positions itself to satisfy this next wave of eco-aware supply requirements. The partnership thus aligns with global trends in corporate sustainability, regulatory pressure, and consumer demand for greener vehicles.

Technical Trailblazing: Testing, Certification & Compliance

A critical next phase is rigorous testing: Polmotors and SSAB will conduct crash tests, fatigue cycles, and environmental ageing assessments to validate component safety and durability. Certification according to automotive industry standards, such as UN‐ECE crash regulations and OEM-specific homologation, is planned in late‑2025 or early‑2026. Meeting these benchmarks will confirm that fossil‑free steel is not just sustainable but also reliable and production-ready.

Future Framework: Forging a Fossil‑free Automotive Future

Looking ahead, the partnership plans to launch pilot deliveries of bumpers and crash systems by the end of the year. Upon verification, mass production could follow in 2026, scaling across Polmotors’ OEM partners. This initiative signals a systemic shift: embedding fossil‑free materials at the heart of automotive value chains. As other parts manufacturers join the eco‑steel movement, the ripple effect could redefine industrial materials for all sectors.

Key Takeaways:

• SSAB and Polmotors will co‑develop automotive bumpers and crash components using fossil‑free steel from SSAB’s HYBRIT and SSAB Zero programmes.

• HYBRIT replaces coking coal with hydrogen and renewable electricity, effectively eliminating CO₂ emissions from steelmaking.

• The partnership paves the way for OEMs to source low‑carbon structural parts, supporting global sustainability mandates while retaining safety performance.