Renault Group integrates ArcelorMittal’s low-carbon UsiborÂ^® 1500 in its new-generation BEVs

Renault Group and ArcelorMittal are taking a new step in their partnership for sustainable mobility. Indeed, serial deliveries of ArcelorMittal Usibor^® 1500 XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steel started in September 2025 for five hot-stamped structural parts used on Renault 5 E-Tech, Alpine A290 and Renault 4 E-Tech. This steel grade is produced via scrap-based EAF production route with 75% scrap content and 100% renewable electricity for the steel making. This results in almost 70% CO₂ reduction compared with conventional blast furnace production routes, thus contributing to the reduction of the carbon footprint of the vehicle.

For several years, Renault Group has been using Usibor^®1500 on structural parts of the body structure, thanks to its outstanding mechanical properties (1500MPa ultimate tensile strength) providing excellent protection to the passenger safety cell, combined with a lightweight potential of -40% mass savings versus steel for cold-stamping used on complex structural parts. The innovation of this steel grade comes from the association of its specific chemistry and the hot-stamping process. In this manufacturing process, the steel blanks are heated at 900°C and the material is then stamped under the press while remaining very formable at this high temperature. When the stamping tool is closed, the final geometry is reached and cooling channels inside the tool ensure a rapid quenching of the material. The microstructure of Usibor^® 1500 thus changes to become martensitic (steel hardening) which provides the required very high mechanical characteristics.

As a contribution to their decarbonisation roadmap, Renault Group has, together with ArcelorMittal, launched the validation process for several steel grades, using a decarbonised production route (known as XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced in ArcelorMittal portfolio).

Now already validated by Renault Group, the new XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced version of Usibor^® 1500 maintains the same outstanding lightweighting and passenger protection properties, while offering a significantly reduced CO_₂ footprint. In Douai (France), the material is hot stamped into five structural parts, which will equip the following models:

• Renault 5 E-Tech and Alpine A290 (assembled in Renault Ampère Douai)
• Renault 4 E-Tech (assembled in Renault Ampère Maubeuge)

With this milestone, Renault Group joins our customer base using ArcelorMittal’s XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steel to lead decarbonisation and turn targets into results.

The almost 70% CO_₂ reduction provided by this steel solution is achieved with an electric arc furnace powered with 100% renewable electricity and 75% scrap content guaranteed. This ensures both a high recycled content and a significant CO_₂ footprint reduction. ArcelorMittal successfully developed Usibor^® 1500 steel grade on this production route to enlarge its technical product offer above standard grades and allowing automotive customers such as Renault Group to implement their decarbonisation strategy and gradually reach their targets.  

The decision to use Usibor^® 1500 XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced was first envisioned in the Renault Emblème concept car, unveiled in early 2025. This joint innovation project with ArcelorMittal highlighted how advanced steel solutions could combine safety, lightweight performance, and decarbonization. One of the solutions developed in Emblème project has now become a reality, as several parts using decarbonised materials enter serial production. At Renault Group concept cars create the  vision of tomorrow while enabling solutions for today.

Both ArcelorMittal and Renault are driven by shared values of innovation and sustainability.

• Combines ultra-high strength for passenger safety with lightweighting benefits.
• Manufactured using XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced substrate, made in electric arc furnaces with high scrap content and renewable electricity.
• Delivers significant reductions in CO_^₂ footprint compared to traditional BF-BOF routes.

• Hot stamping is an innovative forming process where steel is heated, pressed into complex shapes, and rapidly cooled. This gives the material very high strength, allowing automakers to design lighter parts while maintaining maximum passenger protection in the event of a crash.
• Renault Group was an early adopter of this hot stamping technology
• With the switch to Usibor^® 1500 XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced, Renault now combines safety and lightweighting with a much lower CO_₂ footprint.