A fierce competition between structural materials such as steels, aluminium alloys, magnesium alloys and polymers takes place in the transportation area. Design concepts for light-weight structures require tailored materials, which generally combine high strength and low weight. Advanced high strength steels (AHSS) exhibit exceptional properties that can lead to a drastic reduction in the weight of structures and, consequently, significant energy savings and emission reduction. However, due to their high strength, many new manufacturing issues are emerging and failure phenomena during service must be carefully evaluated in order to avoid catastrophic events. To use the full potential of these steels, accurate tools for the prediction of deformation during the forming process and a proper failure characterisation is required. In this proposal constitutive models based on deformation mechanisms will be developed, implemented into the framework of finite elements, verified and validated. This will be done by means of a multidisciplinary approach involving metal physics, advanced mechanical characterisation, process monitoring and technological tests. To achieve the goal, experimental procedures have to be optimised in order to feed constitutive equations with the necessary parameters. Special emphasis will be put on the micromechanics of deformation twinning, which is one of the dominant mechanisms in TWIP (twinning induced plasticity) steels and magnesium. Novel numerical tools will be developed making it possible to perform numerical predictions of forming processes and in-service performance. Together with experienced scientists in Korea microstructure-property relations will be established for newly developed steel materials. The proposed methodology itself, however, can be applied to metallic materials in general. A continuation of the cooperation is hence possible once the future research focus of the researcher should be in a different class of materials.