Although titanium has attractive properties that can improve the perfo
rmance and economy of automobiles, at its current cost, it cannot comp
ete with steel in most applications for which it is suited. It is read
ily apparent that titanium cannot be considered a viable mass-market a
utomotive materials alternative as long as it is produced with the Kro
ll process. A look at existing and new technologies (as well as some t
hat have been found lacking) in terms of applicability toward high-vol
ume, low-cost titanium production for automotive applications indicate
s other options.