The Ford Explorer Sport Trac features an SMC cargo area with integrated liner and side panels which might have been a steel assembly. Then in 1999, it appeared with an SMC hood, decklid, and spoiler. Costs and Cycles. But there is a difference that must be pointed out, which is that the steel dies are capable of making a far greater number of parts in a given period of time.
High volumes are where steel shines brightly.
Where It's At. The forthcoming Chevy Avalanche cross-over vehicle is fitted with composite midgate and tailgate inners. In some cases, composites are being used for new applications, such as on the Explorer Sport Trac, a new type of vehicle. Which means that the SMC parts must be handled differently in the assembly plant, which is something that needs to be done upfront if processing problems are to be avoided. The ACA is certainly interested in promoting the former rather than the latter.