Aluminum’s penetration into the North American market has increased thanks to the growth of electric powertrains and battery electric vehicle platforms, and multi-material vehicle construction, according to a recent survey conducted by DuckerFrontier.
The survey found that aluminum is on the rise due to its growing use in vehicle closure parts, body-in-white parts and chassis applications in traditional vehicles, and the growth of BEV platforms.
“As consumer pressures and environmental challenges increase — so too does the use of automotive aluminum,” said Ganesh Panneer, Chair of the Aluminum Transportation Group (ATG). “This demand is accelerating as low weight, high-strength aluminum is helping automakers adapt to new mobility trends, and we’re bullish on the growth potential of the metal in the fast-emerging electric vehicle segment.”
He adds that the automotive aluminum market has seen year-over-year growths over the past 50 years, with the expansion expected to continue.
As EVs become increasingly widely available, the use of aluminum to extend range and help offset battery weight and costs will mean consumers can enjoy models ranging from high-performance to regular vehicles and trucks. These are models that will be “fun to drive and better for the protection of the environment.”
Aluminum is used for a variety of automotive components, with doors representing the “single highest net growth application of aluminum content per vehicle.” Aluminum penetration in this area is expected to reach 30 per cent by 2026, while aluminum hood penetration is anticipated to reach 81 per cent. Liftgates/tailgates will reach 44 per cent. And on vehicle safety tech, its application to crash management systems is expected to jump 10 per cent from 2016-2022.
“The aluminum industry is keeping its foot on the pedal, developing solutions aimed squarely at addressing automakers most pressing needs to offset mass given added content and weight from new features, additional safety needs, and the move to electrification,” said Abey Abraham, Managing Director, DuckerFrontier. “Aluminum will record relentless year-over-year growth through 2030.”
Let’s not forget that the Trump administration plans to impose a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian aluminum being imported into the U.S. (more on that here). Americans are expected to feel the brunt of those tariffs, hurting both U.S. consumers and workers.
