JFE and ThyssenKrupp Steel AG, the parent company of ThyssenKrupp Stahl, signed an extensive cooperation agreement in April 2002. Given the growth in the use of advanced high-strength steels for lighter, safer and fuel-efficient vehicles, ThyssenKrupp Stahl and JFE defined early vendor involvement as one of their most important areas of cooperation. ThyssenKrupp Stahl and JFE already have a wealth of knowledge in the area of innovative solutions for steel auto bodies. JEVISE now puts both companies in a position to offer technical services to car manufacturers ranging from conventional high-strength steel applications to the use of new steel products and advanced production technologies.

As part of the German-Japanese cooperation, ThyssenKrupp Stahl and JFE had previously defined joint specifications for their automotive products and concluded a mutual licensing agreement for the steel grades Nano from JFE and CP (complex-phase steel) from ThyssenKrupp Stahl. This allows each company to produce the material of the other partner under the motto "Only One". As a result, both products are available in Europe and Asia. In addition, the JFE West Japan Works in Kurashiki took a tailored blanks line into production last year which was supplied by a ThyssenKrupp Group company. The line is used to serve Japanese customers.

ThyssenKrupp Stahl and JFE intend to continue and intensify their cooperation in order to further expand their global network to supply high-grade steels to auto manufacturers.