Steel or Aluminum for body panels?

[brianman]

Unless the prototypes we sat in were made from nonproduction materials

I think it's safe to say the Unless makes it difficult to tell anything this early.

 

[brianman]

Their very first Model 3 was probably a clay model, but that doesn't mean production Model 3's will be made out of clay.

Watch Adobe from Saturday Night Live on NBC.com

 

[ElectroFroggy]

Came across this article today. About 3/4 of way down. Telsa Model 3 rep confirmed Model 3 will be over 50% steel. Tesla's Battery Pack Costs Are Cheaper Than You Think -- The Motley Fool

 

[graphix25]

I am not trying to be rude, I am just asking this question...

Why does anyone care what the panels are made of?

It's not like I'm going to forge my own replacement body panels if someone dents my car, but I only have an aluminum foundry, so steel would ruine it for me or something.

Aluminum is cooler, more exotic material then steal and weights less. It's a premium material for a premium car. I would emotionally be more complete as a human with body panels made in Aluminum and less likely to rust out after 10 years of usage. It is a superior material to steal for these reasons.

"The properties of aluminium include: low density and therefore low weight, high strength, superior malleability, easy machining, excellent corrosion resistance and good thermal and electrical conductivity are amongst aluminium's most important properties. Aluminium is also very easy to recycle."