As Ford prepares to stake its future on an aluminum F-150, Toyota is looking to do the same for at least a single part on its best-selling vehicle.
Automotive News reports the automaker will begin stamping aluminum hoods for the Camry in 2018, introducing the metal to its customers in North America with the hood and liftgate of the Lexus RX 350 in 2015. The move is part of an overall plan "to use aluminum on future vehicles for hood, closures and parts for lightweighting," according to representative Jana Hartline, who adds the automaker will "increase usage of mix metals and resin materials to enhance lightweighting efforts."
The plan will be enacted through a joint venture between its trading company, Toyota Tsusho Corp., and Kobe Steel, with Toyota being one of the JV's first clients. The venture aims to produce 100,000 tons of aluminum sheet annually, and plans to build its operation near producer Wise Alloys of Muscle Shoals, Ala. to help tackle constraints resulting from the increased popularity — a result of tightening CAFE regulations — of the metal.
The post Toyota Camry To Have Aluminum Hoods By 2018 appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
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