Explore the Value Proposition of Aluminum in Commerical Vehicles

Lightweighting with aluminum in commercial vehicles provides a host of benefits to owners and operators including:

• Increased cargo capacity – up to 3,300 pounds
• Reduced fuel consumption and emissions
• Lower maintenance costs
• Improved durability
• Higher resale

Learn more

Aluminum Offers A Simple Solution

Automakers are increasingly turning to automotive aluminum in their efforts to produce lighter, fuel efficient vehicles without compromising performance or safety. Consider:

• Vehicles made lighter with aluminum, including hybrids and clean diesels, require less engine power and fuel, making them more affordable without the loss of performance capabilities
  
• Plug-in electrics also benefit from upgrading traditional steel to an advanced aluminum body structure, saving up to $3,000 per vehicle as stored energy requirements would be cut by about 10 percent
  
• Aluminum absorbs – pound for pound – two times the energy in a crash compared to steel
  
• Automotive aluminum is infinitely recyclable and uses only 5 percent of the original energy required to put it back into a reusable form
• Lighter cars accelerate faster and stop shorter

Learn more

Aluminum Use Continues to Rise

Aluminum represents 7.8 percent of vehicle curb weight internationally in today’s family cars, trucks and minivans. This increased use is due to the many cost and fuel economy benefits that lightweight aluminum offers. Additionally, use of aluminum applications in commercial vehicles steadily continues to rise with more than 65 percent of the tractor-trailer market adopting aluminum wheels today compared to 60 years ago. Overall, the amount of aluminum in vehicles is not only increasing, but also spreading across market segments and application types.

Learn more

The Environmental Advantage

Across the globe the transportation sector is racing to revolutionize passenger and commercial vehicles with an eye towards improved performance. Whether it be faster acceleration or better cargo capacity, the challenge is to achieve these goals while reducing every vehicle's "footprint" on the earth. Aluminum offers a simple solution. Lightweighting with aluminum allows vehicles to have increased fuel efficiency and produce fewer tailpipe emissions linked to climate change because they require less power to get around making them the ultimate green vehicle.

Learn more