Automakers are making more use of aluminum for new car and light truck construction as they seek to lower the weight for their vehicles and meet the stricter fuel economy standards announced over the summer.    A new survey of North American automakers conducted by Ducker Worldwide finds aluminum is already the leading material in engine and wheel markets and is gaining fast in market share of hoods, trunks and doors.

Randall Scheps of Alcoa is chair of the Aluminum Association’s Transportation Group.  He says Pennsylvania is poised to benefit with Alcoa’s facilities in the Pittsburgh area and aluminum rolling mills around the state.

Schepps says aluminum is about 40% lighter than steel, so the shift leads to lighter vehicles. He says you have the potential to take about 400 pounds out of the typical car by the year 2025.

Schepps says it does not compromise safety, because   aluminum absorbs two times as much crash energy per pound than steel.  He adds the safety of a vehicle is really determined by good design and has less to do with the material itself. He adds the industry is continually coming up with new alloys to meet very specific needs.

Schepps says they see a large increase in demand coming from the auto business over the next 10-15 years.  He says they’ve been anticipating it and they’re ready to take it on. He believes there’s a great potential for plant expansions and the skilled jobs that come along with that.

Schepps says about 30% of all the hoods are already aluminum.  He says Ford, GM and Honda are at the leading edge of adding aluminum to their vehicles.