ArcelorMittal supports circular truck design with low-CO₂ steels

The shift towards low-carbon mobility is increasingly shaping how commercial vehicles are designed and manufactured. Daimler Truck’s reECONIC project, developed together with FAUN and a network of 30+ partners, explores how circular economy principles can be applied to heavy-duty trucks using materials with high recycled content and reduced embedded emissions.

Within this initiative, ArcelorMittal supplies XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel for key structural components, including S500MC chassis rails and S355MC body parts. The project demonstrates that low-emission steels are already available at industrial scale and can be integrated into existing manufacturing processes.

“ArcelorMittal supplied XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel for key structural components of the reECONIC concept vehicle,” said Paul Brettnacher, CMO Automotive at ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products. “We are proud that our dedicated high circular-content offer supports Daimler Truck’s environmental ambitions and contribute to more sustainable mobility.”

Circularity as a design principle

The reECONIC concept aims to maximise the use of recycled and sustainable materials without compromising performance, durability or safety. According to a TÜV-certified study, up to 80% of key materials – including steel, aluminium, glass and plastics – could be of circular origin based on current components and projections.

The project underlines that decarbonisation in transport is not only about electrification, but also about material efficiency, recycling and design.

Steel’s role in low-CO₂ mobility

Steel remains a key enabler of circular vehicle design. Its ability to be recycled repeatedly without loss of properties makes it central to established industrial recycling loops. For heavy-duty vehicles, this combination of strength, durability and recyclability is particularly relevant.

ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steels are based on high scrap input and renewable electricity, enabling significant CO₂ reductions compared to conventional production routes.

A key production site is the company’s electric arc furnace facility in Sestao, Spain, which produces flat steel using scrap and renewable energy, demonstrating that low-CO₂ steelmaking is already feasible at scale.

Integration into real-world applications

In the reECONIC truck, S500MC XCarb® steel is used for chassis rails, while S355MC is applied in body components, including parts of the waste container structure. These applications show that recycled and low-emission steels can meet demanding requirements for safety-critical components and remain compatible with standard forming and stamping processes.

The project also highlights the importance of collaboration across the value chain in bringing circular materials into series-ready applications.

From concept to scalable solution

A key takeaway from reECONIC is that circular and lower-CO₂ vehicle concepts do not necessarily require entirely new production systems. Instead, advanced materials can be integrated into existing industrial frameworks.

Through initiatives such as its S-in motion® programme, ArcelorMittal supports manufacturers with engineering solutions to optimise vehicle structures, reduce weight and improve sustainability across applications including chassis, cabins and battery housings.

Source and Photo: ArcelorMittal