FAW Hongqi Achieves Major Breakthrough in Magnesium Alloy Body Structure Connection Technology
July 29, 2026
FAW Hongqi Pioneers Advanced Magnesium Alloy Joining Technologies for Automotive Body Structures
China FAW Group (FAW Hongqi) has recently announced a significant technological breakthrough in the joining of magnesium alloy body structural components, successfully developing two innovative connection technologies that address long-standing industry challenges related to crack susceptibility and insufficient joint strength in magnesium alloy assemblies.
The research team has successfully overcome critical technical bottlenecks by introducing High Crack Resistance Self-Piercing Riveting (HCR-SPR) and Self-Piercing Friction Rivet Welding (F-SPR), laying a solid technical foundation for the large-scale application of magnesium alloy structural parts in mass-produced vehicle bodies.
Key Technology Highlights
| Technology | Key Innovation | Strength Improvement | Unique Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCR-SPR | Industry-first rivet die cavity redesign with quantitative process compensation and precision magnesium deformation control | 15%+ | Fully compatible with existing production lines; significantly reduced production line investment costs |
| F-SPR | Newly developed specialized rivet-welding pins with coupled rotational friction heat during the joining process | 25%+ | Zero crack formation; high-stability connection; significantly enhanced collaborative deformability of magnesium alloy |
Industry-First HCR-SPR: Redefining Riveting Standards
The HCR-SPR technology represents a fundamental departure from traditional riveting approaches. Through an entirely new rivet die cavity structure design, combined with quantitative process parameter compensation and precise control over magnesium material deformation, the technology achieves a connection strength increase of over 15%. Notably, this innovative solution is fully compatible with existing production line setups, enabling manufacturers to upgrade capabilities without significant capital expenditure on new equipment.
F-SPR: A Collaborative Innovation with Academia
Developed in partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the F-SPR technology introduces a newly designed specialized rivet-welding pin that integrates rotational friction heat directly into the joining process. This approach dramatically improves the collaborative deformability of magnesium alloys under load, resulting in zero-crack, high-stability connections with a strength improvement exceeding 25%—setting a new benchmark for magnesium alloy structural joining in the automotive sector.
Strategic Significance for the Automotive Industry
These technological breakthroughs address the core challenges that have historically limited the broader adoption of magnesium alloys in vehicle body structures:
- Crack mitigation: Both technologies effectively eliminate or substantially reduce crack formation—the primary failure mode in magnesium alloy dissimilar-material connections.
- Scalability: HCR-SPR's compatibility with existing production infrastructure makes immediate industrial deployment feasible.
- Performance leap: The combined strength improvements position magnesium alloys as a viable alternative to traditional steel and aluminum body components, enabling aggressive vehicle lightweighting targets.
- Cost efficiency: Reduced need for new production line investments lowers the barrier to entry for magnesium alloy adoption.
Looking Ahead
FAW Hongqi has confirmed its commitment to continued investment in lightweight core technology research and development. The successful deployment of HCR-SPR and F-SPR technologies is expected to serve as a benchmark for the entire automotive industry, accelerating the integration of magnesium alloy structural components into next-generation vehicle platforms and further strengthening Hongqi's technological competitiveness in the global automotive market.
Source: Hongqi New Vision (红旗新视界)