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Facts Don't Change - Greater Auto Aluminum Use Can Save Fuel and Reduce Emissions

27 May 1999

Facts Don't Change - Greater Auto Aluminum Use Can Save Fuel and Reduce Emissions

            The Aluminum Industry Response to Recent Steel Claims

    WASHINGTON, May 26 -- "The Aluminum Association is surprised
at the combative and counter-productive charges leveled by the steel industry
regarding the benefits of choosing high-strength, lightweight aluminum over
steel for automotive applications.  In terms of automotive aluminum's
environmental advantages, the record is clear and easily verifiable," said J.
Stephen Larkin, President of The Aluminum Association.
    Contrary to what the steel industry is claiming, it is documented that one
pound of aluminum, replacing two pounds of steel to lightweight a vehicle, can
save 20 pounds of CO2 over the lifetime of that vehicle. This is based on a
report by the International Primary Aluminum Institute, which used peer-
reviewed data compiled in accordance with ISO  standards.
    No matter how complicated the steel industry tries to make the materials
comparison, it will not change the simple physics behind the improved fuel
efficiency achieved from substituting aluminum for heavier materials in
automobiles.  Setting aside steel industry jargon about  "temporally
distributed production scenarios" and "product oriented" versus "fleet
analysis," the simple, incontrovertible fact is that aluminum can make
vehicles lighter, which can be used to increase fuel efficiency, decreasing
emissions of CO2, the chief greenhouse gas.
    Overall, facts about automotive materials and recent trends speak for
themselves and perhaps explain the steel industry's motives for publicly
attacking a respected competitor in such a reckless manner.  Consider the
following facts:

    * The auto industry is the aluminum industry's fastest growing customer.
    * Just since 1991, the use of automotive aluminum has doubled and is
      expected to double again by 2005.
    * In terms of vehicle safety, pound for pound aluminum absorbs nearly
      twice as much crash energy as steel.
    * Unlike steel, aluminum does not rust.
    * Vehicle lightweighting through the use of aluminum can improve fuel
      economy, thus resulting in lower overall greenhouse gas emissions.
    * In 1999, recycled aluminum made-up over 60 percent of total aluminum
      used in vehicles and these positive trends are expected to continue in
      the future.
    * Nearly 90 percent of automotive aluminum currently is recovered and
      recycled.
    * The most recent peer-review from the National Research Council of the
      Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) states that
      "aluminum continues to be the leading candidate material for the Goal 3
      (80 mpg) vehicles." PNGV is a partnership between the federal government
      and DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM.

    Larkin concluded, "The aluminum industry understands that our customers in
the auto industry will continue to develop vehicles with an appropriate mix of
a variety of materials, as they see fit. As automakers strive to provide the
public with even safer and more environmentally advanced vehicles for the
future, aluminum clearly will continue to be a growing part of that mix. With
that in mind, The Aluminum Association is working in a collaborative manner,
along with the steel and other industries, to provide automakers with the most
up-to-date information so that they can best design their next generation of
vehicles. It is somewhat surprising then, that the steel industry would use
the news media to question the wisdom of their automotive clients on this
issue."

    The Aluminum Association, based in Washington, DC, represents U.S.
producers of primary and secondary aluminum, as well as semi-fabricated
products.  Member companies operate approximately 200 plants in 35 states.