A vehicle body structure includes a roof structure and a lateral side structure, wherein the roof structure includes a roof panel fastened to an underlying roof reinforcement frame, wherein the lateral side structure includes a side panel fastened to an underlying side support structure, wherein a lateral side of the roof panel is fastened to the roof reinforcement frame by means of a hemming joint that is formed by folding a lateral side of the roof panel around an edge of the roof reinforcement frame, and wherein a folded side edge of the roof panel is fastened to the side panel by means of an elongated laser brazing joint.