But there's another, even more important reason: The upstart thinks it can gain a strategic advantage by using in-house metallurgists to develop the lightweight, high-strength alloys it needs to satisfy higher fuel economyandsafety standards.
Long-term, they know that government regulations, including tougher rules on fuel economyandsafety, plus new technologies, will drive up development costs and make it harder to sustain the fat profit margins pickups are known for.