Use of 70% galvanised steel in cars could be made mandatory

As per a new proposal under the corrosion prevention rule for motor vehicles, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways could make the use of 70% galvanised steel for car body panels mandatory.

The proposal is pertaining to cars under Rs. 10 lakh, that are built in India and is based on a study conducted by IIT Mumbai in 2015 about how corrosion affects durability and safety of cars in India. 

Reports suggest that the ministry has directed the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) to study the proposal and prepare a report.

Galvanisation is the process of applying a protective zinc coating on iron or steel to prevent corrosion. According to a media report, cars built for the domestic market have 30% galvanised steel but in the same models built for export markets the percentage rises to 70%, whereas the global average is 50%.

Source: Economic Times