Auto Aluminum Hits an All Time High

A new survey of Automakers finds auto aluminium usage has hit an all-time high and is expected to aggressively accelerate.

The survey of North American vehicle manufacturers conducted by Ducker Worldwide found that the use of aluminium over other materials in new car and light truck construction is accelerating, as manufacturers seek to safely and cost-effectively lower the weight of their vehicles. The survey estimates automakers will increase their use of aluminium from 327 pounds in 2009 to 550 pounds in 2025.

"Downweighting will be at the core of whatever other technology, design and powertrain changes are coming" says Randall Scheps, Chairman of the Aluminum Association’s Aluminum Transportation Group and Marketing Director at Alcoa. "Using aluminium will extend the efficiencies of other technologies, while enabling secondary cost-savings from downsized powertrains without sacrificing performance."