Mulally Sees Ford Using Aluminum Bodies Throughout Lineup
By Keith Naughton - Jan 13, 2014
Lightweight aluminum has become “the material of choice” at Ford Motor Co. (F) and the automaker will eventually use it across its entire model lineup, Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally said.
“Over time, you’ll see more and more aluminum across our product line,” Mulally said today in an interview at the Detroit auto show. “It makes the most sense on the bigger vehicles because of the value you generate.”
Ford today introduced an aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup at the event that’s as much as 700 pounds (318 kilograms) lighter, making it the most fuel efficient it’s ever been, Mulally said. Ford will expand its use of aluminum, which is more costly than steel, throughout its lineup, starting with larger models that can realize the biggest weight savings, he said.
“The real value initially is on the larger vehicles because you can take more weight out,” Mulally told reporters at the F-150 introduction. “Over time, it absolutely will move across our product line. It will be the material of choice.”
Aluminum, while light, adds costs to vehicles, which is why it has mostly been found on high-price luxury cars. Engine blocks have been made of aluminum for years to reduce weight, and some mass-market models use it for specific body panels, such as Ford’s Explorer sport-utility vehicle, which has an aluminum hood and tailgate. Ford is talking about expanding the metal’s use in vehicles beyond the F-150.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-13/ford-to-outfit-model-line-with-aluminum-bodies-mulally-says.html