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Alcan forecasts jump in aluminum demand for autos |
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| USA: October 11, 2001 | ||
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Aluminum's use in automobile production should climb 50 percent by 2010 as engineers continue developing lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles, Canadian aluminum producer Alcan Inc said this week.
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Alcan president and chief executive officer Travis Engen told metals executives and reporters gathered in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Aluminum Association's annual meeting, Alcan sees growing consumption of aluminum from its top consuming U.S. sector. Engen said in a presentation Alcan sees aluminum surpassing plastic as the third most-used material in light vehicles in this model year. "Aluminum's use in automobiles worldwide has gone from 45 kilos (101 lbs) in the 1970s to more than 100 kilos (225 lbs) today. We forecast this figure will top 150 kilos (337 lbs) per vehicle by 2010," Engen said. The challenge for the aluminum industry is to develop capabilities to track auto makers' growing needs for aluminum, while earning big enough returns to reinvest in developing market applications. "Aluminum brings significant value to growth in its use in automobile markets. It represents the best solution for developing lighter, stronger, more fuel-efficient vehicles," said Engen. The auto sector is under pressure to reduce environmentally-harmful emissions and improve gas mileage, which is seen raising demand for the lightweight metal. Experts predict the U.S. auto industry will consume about 4.8 billion pounds of aluminum in 2001.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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