Steel company SSAB and automotive safety supplier Autoliv have initiated a collaboration to research and develop fossil-free steel components for automotive safety products, such as airbags and seatbelts

“We are looking forward to working with Autoliv and to start the process of research and development of innovative fossil-free steel components for their automotive safety products. We are initiating a number of pilot projects together with Autoliv with the aim to reduce climate impact and strengthen competitiveness,” says Martin Lindqvist, President and CEO of SSAB.

“As the first automotive safety supplier, we are committed to becoming carbon neutral in our own operations by 2030 and furthermore aim for net-zero emissions across our supply chain by 2040. This means reducing our carbon emissions through use of renewable electricity in our own and supplier operations, improving energy and materials efficiency and adopting low carbon logistics and low carbon materials. We are now turning our commitment into action and are well-positioned to continue supporting our customers and partners to reach their sustainability goals. Gradually switching to fossil-free steel in our products is an important step towards achieving our climate targets,” says Mikael Bratt, President and CEO of Autoliv.

In 2026, SSAB plans to supply the market with fossil-free steel at a commercial scale after a conversion of its Oxelosund blast furnaces into an electric arc furnace and by using iron made with the HYBRIT technology, which replaces coking coal traditionally needed for iron ore-based steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide-emissions in steel production. On August 18, SSAB showcased the first steel made of hydrogen reduced iron.

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