Aluminum Applications in Passenger Vehicles to See Small Peak in 2019, SMM Predicts

Published: Jun 23, 2017 12:11

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Despite lighter car trend, SMM’s survey of nearly 20 carmakers, including BMW, Audi, SAIC Motor, found aluminum applications are not extensive in passenger vehicles, due mainly to high costs.

SHANGHAI, Jun. 23 (SMM) –Despite lighter car trend, SMM’s survey of nearly 20 carmakers, including BMW, Audi, SAIC Motor, found aluminum applications are not extensive in passenger vehicles, due mainly to high costs.

Most of those surveyed still prefer high-strength steel over aluminum.

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Aluminum structural parts are already widely used in cars. To reduce vehicle weight, aluminum will be applied mainly in covering parts in the future. Aluminum covering parts are expensive at present, so they are used mainly in high-end Sino-foreign brand cars, i.e. Audi, Land Rover.

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However, aluminum use in passenger vehicles will see a small peak by 2019 as China will require all light vehicles to adhere to tougher new "China VI" emission standards by 2020, SMM expects.

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automotive aluminum demand

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