Methods for joining two blanks

A method for joining a first blank and a second blank, the method comprising:

• selecting a first portion of the first blank to be joined to the second blank, and selecting a second portion of the second blank to be joined to the first portion,
• wherein the first blank and the second blank comprise a steel substrate with a coating comprising a layer of aluminum or an aluminum alloy,
• welding the first portion to the second portion with a laser beam and an arc welding torch, wherein
• the arc welding torch comprises a filler wire electrode, and
• the filler wire electrode is made of a stainless steel alloy comprising iron, and also comprises, in weight percentages, 0%-0.3% of carbon, 0%-1.3% of silicon, 0.5%-7% of manganese, 5%-22% of chromium, 6%-20% of nickel, 0%-0.4% of molybdenum, and 0%-0.7% of niobium, and
• displacing both the laser beam and the arc welding torch in a welding direction, the first portion and the second portion of the blanks in a weld zone being melted during the welding,
• wherein in the welding direction, the arc welding torch is positioned in front of the laser beam.