System for assembling a vehicle body

A system for assembling a vehicle body comprising:

• a first assembly line having a plurality of first stations including at least one first welding station configured to assemble first structural components that define a body component of a vehicle body, the body component is formed of a steel or steel-based alloy;
• a second assembly line separate from the first assembly line for receiving the body component from the first assembly line, the second assembly line including a plurality of second stations including at least one second welding station, the second assembly line adapted to secure a roof component to the body component;
• the roof component being formed of one of a steel or steel-based alloy and an aluminum or aluminum-based alloy, the second assembly line being configured such that the roof component is one of welded to the body component in the second welding station when the roof component is formed of a steel or steel-based alloy and fastened to the body component in the second welding station when the roof component is formed of an aluminum or aluminum-based alloy wherein the second welding station includes a welding device and a fastening device capable of applying fasteners;
• and
• a third assembly line separate from the first and second assembly lines, the third assembly line being configured to set the roof component on a roof component jig and transfer the roof component jig together with the roof component mounted thereon to the second welding station of the second assembly line for attaching the roof component to the body component.

A method of assembling a vehicle body comprising:

• assembling a body component formed of steel or a steel-based alloy in a first assembly line;
• transferring the body component to a separate second assembly line for securing a roof component to the body component;
• positioning the roof component on a roof component jig;
• positioning the body component on a body component fixture;
• transferring the roof component jig having the roof component mounted thereon to a first welding station of the second assembly line;
• setting the roof component jig in position relative to the body component fixture in the welding station;
• one of installing a plurality of bolts between the body component and roof component in the welding station and tightening the plurality of bolts when the roof component is formed of aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy or welding the roof component to the body component when the roof component is formed of a steel or steel-based alloy;
• wherein the first welding station includes a welding device and a fastening device capable of applying fasteners;
• transferring the body component with the roof component mounted thereon to a second welding station of the second assembly line;
• and further tightening the plurality of bolts in the second welding station when the roof component is formed of aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy or finish welding the roof component to the body component when the roof component is formed of a steel or steel-based alloy.