Abstract
CAE-tools for durability and strength analysis of car body structures have improved during the past years. In the product development process of the BMW SAV these new methods were used to optimize the body in white structure. This new CA-development process was supported by method development projects in order to improve and adopt the new methods to the requirement of the existing BMW development process. Through the use of CAE-methods for strength and durability analysis during the complete design process the number of hardware test could be reduced to a single final test for product release.