Method for manufacturing panel assemblies for automobiles

Method for manufacturing a panel assembly comprised of outer and inner panels, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming the inner panel along at least one peripheral portion thereof with a plurality of raised portions raised in one direction;
• forming each of raised portions with at least one projection projecting in said one direction;
• placing the inner panel on the outer panel with the raised portions and the projections directed opposite to the outer panel and with a peripheral portion of the outer panel extending beyond the peripheral portion of the inner panel;
• folding the peripheral portion of the outer panel over the peripheral portion of the inner panel so that the peripheral portion of the outer panel is laid over the raised portions of the inner panel;
• applying anvils to the outer panel at portions corresponding to the raised portions;
• and
• applying welding electrodes to the peripheral portion of the outer panel at portions corresponding to the raised portions of the inner panel so as to depress the folded peripheral portion of the outer panel to the raised portion while simultaneously applying welding current in series through at least two of the welding electrodes for welding the folded peripheral portion of the outer panel to the raised portions of the inner panel.