* Strength and Durability: Metal, particularly steel, offers excellent strength-to-weight ratio. It can withstand significant impacts from collisions, protecting occupants. This is crucial for safety.
* Safety: Beyond impact resistance, metal's rigidity helps maintain the structural integrity of the vehicle during a crash, preventing the passenger compartment from collapsing. This is a critical aspect of passive safety systems.
* Cost-Effectiveness: While other materials like carbon fiber offer superior strength and lighter weight, they are significantly more expensive to produce at scale. Steel remains a relatively inexpensive and readily available material, making it the most economical choice for mass-produced vehicles.
While there's a growing trend towards incorporating other materials like aluminum and carbon fiber in high-end or specialized vehicles, steel remains the dominant material due to its balance of strength, safety, and cost.
