Kobe Steel, Ltd. announced that Toyota Motor Corporation will use its low-CO2 blast furnace steel, Kobenable Steel, in mass-produced vehicles, marking a major milestone in the commercialization of green steel.
The adopted grade, Kobenable Premier, achieves 100pct CO2 reduction in steel production under the mass balance method, certified by Japan’s Green Transformation Steel (GX Steel) guidelines. This allows Toyota to integrate low-carbon steel into its manufacturing without compromising performance.
Produced at Kobe Steel’s Kakogawa Works and Kobe Wire Rod & Bar Plant, Kobenable Steel delivers the same high quality as conventional grades, making it suitable for demanding applications such as high-tensile and specialty steels. CO2 cuts of 20-40pct are achieved through the use of hot briquetted iron (HBI) from the Midrex direct reduction process, which supplies around 80pct of global gas-based DRI.
Toyota previously used Kobenable Steel in its hydrogen engine Corolla (2022) and carbon-neutral GR86 (2023). Following successful trials, the automaker is now scaling its use across mass-produced components, advancing both companies’ decarbonization goals.
Kobe Steel, Japan’s third-largest steelmaker, operates integrated steelworks in Kakogawa and Kobe, with diversified businesses in steel, aluminum, copper, and titanium.
