Released on March 19, 2009

According to a study recently commissioned by the Aluminum Association Inc., Arlington, Va., the use of automotive aluminum in North America is at an all-time high, averaging 8.6% of vehicle curb weight in vehicles made in the 2009 calendar year.

The Aluminum Association, which is dedicated to communicating the benefits of aluminum, commissioned Ducker Worldwide, Troy, Mich., to perform the study. It found that the aluminum content of 8.6% of curb weight was up from 2% in 1970 and 5.1% in 1990. Ducker projected aluminum content to be nearly 11% of curb weight by 2020.

The study showed that the amount of aluminum content for light vehicles was 7.8% of the average worldwide light vehicle curb weight (3,185 lbs.) in 2009 and that content growth is predicted to continue at a rate of 4-5 lbs. per vehicle, per year and approach 300 lbs. per vehicle worldwide in 2020.

“The data demonstrates that automakers in North America and around the globe continue to recognize the value of automotive aluminum,” said Buddy Stemple, chairman of the Aluminum Association's Auto & Light Truck Group. “As automakers seek to innovate and differentiate themselves with more fuel efficient cars and trucks with a reduced carbon footprint, the time to use advanced materials like aluminum is now, and this study shows that automakers agree.”