An automated vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a storage area located rearward of a rearmost vehicle seat in a front-rear direction of the automated vehicle. An interior structure is located in the storage area. The interior structure defines a storage compartment for housing an electronic component of the automated vehicle. The interior structure includes a removable floor panel overlying the storage compartment and a wall panel extended upward from the floor panel in a height direction of the automated vehicle. The storage compartment includes a dedicated space for the electronic component, the dedicated space located forward of a forward edge portion of the floor panel in the front-rear direction and between the wall panel and the rearmost vehicle seat in the front-rear direction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a battery protection member capable of achieving both securement of a capability to allow a passenger to reside in a vehicle and protection of a battery at the same time. According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery protection member includes a hollow-shaped battery containing frame extending in a vehicle lateral direction of the vehicle. The battery containing frame includes a surface where a seat occupied by a driver is disposed on an outer surface side thereof. The battery containing frame is configured to contain the battery on an inner surface side thereof.

A vehicle an underbody structure includes a bumper, a subframe, and a frame. The frame interconnects the bumper and the subframe. The frame includes first and second symmetrical halves spaced at a distance. The frame is attached to the bumper at front segments of each of the halves, and to the subframe at rear segments of each of the halves. The halves are defined by a plurality of legs formed with the front and rear segments such that the first and second halves define load paths configured to transfer energy throughout the frame.

One variation may include using a plurality of node structures to assemble a uniframe.

A lightweight vehicle pan assembly and for attachment to a vehicle frame via welding includes at least one metal flange and a molded pan body. The at least one metal flange has a weld portion adapted for welded attachment to the vehicle frame and an interface portion extending from the weld portion. The molded pan body has a base wall and at least one side wall extending upward from the base wall. The interface portion of the at least one metal flange is embedded in the at least one side wall of the molded pan body. The interface portion includes at least two rows of apertures defined therein for increasing a bond strength between the at least one metal flange and the molded pan body.

A subframe structure includes: a pair of right and left vehicle body side frames disposed at side portions of a vehicle body; a pair of right and left longitudinal members extending along the pair of right and left vehicle body side frames at positions centrally spaced apart in a vehicle width direction for a predetermined distance from the vehicle body side frames; and a rear cross-member extending in the vehicle width direction between longitudinally rear portions of the pair of right and left longitudinal members. The rear cross-member has a first attachment portion, an extension portion, and a second attachment portion. The first attachment portion is attached to the longitudinal member, the extension portion extends from the first attachment portion in a laterally outward and upward direction, and the second attachment portion is attached to the vehicle body side frame at a laterally outer end portion of the extension portion.

A motor-vehicle floor panel structure comprises a front body sub-unit, a central floor sub-unit, and a rear body sub-unit. The central floor sub-unit comprises a front floor structure including a central longitudinal tunnel, a pair of lateral longitudinal beams, connected to the front floor structure and to the front body sub-unit and two intermediate longitudinal beams which connect the central floor sub-unit to the front body sub-unit and which extend at intermediate areas between the lateral longitudinal beams and the central tunnel. The intermediate longitudinal beams are connected to the upper surface of the front floor structure and have portions which extend in a cantilever fashion from the front edge of the front floor structure and which are connected to said front body sub-unit. Due to this feature the floor structure has a lower surface which is substantially close to a regular continuous surface, so as to reduce turbulences in the air flowing under the floor panel structure during travel of the motor-vehicle, with a resulting positive impact on fuel consumption.

A subframe structure includes: right and left vehicle body side frames; a vehicle body cross-member extending in the vehicle width direction between the vehicle body side frames; a load transmission member connecting a portion of each vehicle body side frame that extends longitudinally frontward from a bent portion of the vehicle body side frame and a portion that is located laterally centrally relative to the laterally outer end portions of the vehicle body cross-member; right and left longitudinal members extending along the vehicle body side frames; and a front cross-member extending in the vehicle width direction between the longitudinal members. The front cross-member has a first attachment portion attached to each longitudinal member, an extension portion extending in the vehicle width direction from the first attachment portion, and a second attachment portion attached to the load transmission member at a laterally outer end portion of the extension portion.

A base floor part made of plastic or composite material for a replacement floor for enlarging a rear cargo space of a motor vehicle, such as a compact car or an off-road vehicle, on which a wheelchair can be stored, is described. The base floor part may be connected to the vehicle body. The base floor part may include a preformed marking at which a front end portion can be separated to enable coupling with an extension floor part.

A range includes at least two different motor vehicles with a structural body having a central underbody part delimiting a lower part of a cab. The central underbody part of the first vehicle receives two seats. The central underbody part of the second vehicle receives four seats. Each central underbody part includes first interface elements allowing mounting thereon of components associated with the function of an internal combustion drive engine mounted on a rear structural part of the structural body which is firmly attached to the central underbody part. Each central underbody part also includes second interface elements allowing mounting thereon of components associated with the function of an electric drive motor to be mounted on the rear structural part. A rear edge of the central underbody part of each vehicle is equipped with a same interface element for connection to the rear structural part of the structural body.