A method is provided of producing a component part for a motor vehicle. That method includes the steps of molding a first portion of an integral body from a chrome-platable material and molding a second portion of the integral body from a molded-in-color, non-platable material. This is followed by the applying of a chrome plate layer to the chrome-platable material. A component part or exterior grille made without masking and painting steps is also disclosed.

A member (10) for providing sealing, baffling, and/or reinforcement to a cavity member (30) comprising: (a) a carrier (12) with an insertion end (13) and a base end (11) having: (i) a base (16) at the base end (11) adapted for engaging with a wall (36) of the cavity member (30); (ii) a fastener (20) adapted for passing through an opening of the cavity member (32) and retaining the member (10) to the cavity member (30); (iii) a center portion (18) extending from the insertion end (13) to the base end (11); and (b) activatable material (26) disposed on the carrier (12).

A plurality of metallic bulkheads fixed at predetermined intervals inside a side sill includes a partition wall portion partitioning an inner space of the side sill and a bonding flange portion formed to surround an outer periphery of the partition wall portion and bonded to an inner surface of the side sill and has an I-shaped cross-section. The partition wall portion of one bulkhead fixed to an upper curved portion is disposed to be substantially parallel to a radial direction passing through a curved center of the upper curved portion such that the partition wall portion is propped to prevent the upper curved portion from being crushed when a collision load in a front and rear direction is input to a pillar portion of the side sill to prevent the collapse deformation of the pillar portion.

A strengthening member for an automotive vehicle comprises a twelve-cornered cross section including sides and corners creating eight internal angles and four external angles. Each internal angle and each external angle is greater than 90°. At least a portion of the strengthening member tapers along its length.

A joint for a motor vehicle body comprises a first structural member fabricated from aluminum attached to a second structural member fabricated from steel. The second structural member has an adjoining portion that is in substantially juxtaposed abutting relation with the first structural member when the second structural member is attached to the first structural member. The second structural member has a ramp portion terminating in a bare exposed edge on the second structural member and upon which the bare exposed edge is disposed. The bare exposed edge is displaced from the first structural member to form a gap between the first structural member and the bare exposed edge to prevent corrosion of the bare exposed edge without the use of adhesives and sealants.

A different material joining structure has: a first panel made of a first metal material; a second panel made of a second metal material that has a higher conductivity than that of the first panel, is different from the first metal material, and at least a part of which faces the first panel; and a rivet for joining the first panel and the second panel, wherein the rivet is made of the first material, and includes a head portion that is embedded in the second panel in a non-penetrating manner and a bottom portion that abuts on the first panel, and wherein a nugget portion as a joint portion is disposed between the first panel and the bottom portion, the nugget portion being formed by resistance welding the rivet to the first portion with the rivet disposed between the first panel and the second panel.

A different material joining structure has: a first panel made of a first metal material; a second panel made of a second metal material that has a higher conductivity than that of the first panel, is different from the first metal material, and at least a part of which faces the first panel; and a rivet for joining the first panel and the second panel, wherein the rivet is made of the first material, and includes a head portion that is embedded in the second panel in a non-penetrating manner and a bottom portion that abuts on the first panel, and wherein a nugget portion as a joint portion is disposed between the first panel and the bottom portion, the nugget portion being formed by resistance welding the rivet to the first portion with the rivet disposed between the first panel and the second panel.

[Object] There is provided a long structural member made of metal, which has a substantially gutter-shaped cross section and is excellent in load transfer properties when an impact load is applied.

[Solution] A structural member made of metal, formed so as to extend long in a predetermined direction, and having a gutter bottom, two ridges continuing to both ends in a width direction of the gutter bottom, and two vertical walls continuing to the two ridges, includes an outward continuous flange continuously formed at least along the gutter bottom, the ridges, and the vertical walls at an end in the predetermined direction, in which a width of the gutter bottom is reduced as a distance from the end having the outward continuous flange becomes larger.

A molded automotive textile nonwoven and its associated method of manufacturing includes flat staple fibers exhibiting a width to thickness ratio of 2 to 10 and a denier in the range of 2 to 30. The molded automotive textile non-woven is a three-dimensional (3D) structure that includes one or a plurality of protrusions or recesses which fits to the metallic vehicle floor pan of the vehicle.

A vehicle body structure includes: a first frame that is formed of a first material and has a closed cross section; and a second frame that is formed of a second material and has a closed cross section. The first frame and the second frame are aligned with each other in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The second frame has higher tensile strength and is lighter than the first frame. In a front cross-sectional view of the vehicle, a second center associated with the second frame is located on an outer side in a vehicle width direction from a first center associated with the first frame with respect to vehicle center.