Ford Aluminum Body
Industry News Notes
It is a massive jump forward in the automotive sector, building an all aluminum body for the upcoming 2015 F-150 in order to meet the demands for both stringent new regulations and the public’s insatiable appetite for fuel-efficient trucks. However, as technology progresses, so does the cost of ownership of these tech packed marvels. The issue under scrutiny is what will it cost to have such a fuel efficient body made out of aluminum. Ford says that only certified body shops will be able to repair the aluminum bodies in the event of a fender bender. They also say they have been working with their dealership network to get dealer repair shops up to speed with the changeover. They also add that 90-percent of its pickup truck owners are within two hours of a qualified repair shop. The cost of insurance is being questioned. With such specialized materials and skills needed to make repairs, the cost of insurance for the new F-150 is expected to rise. The Automotive News reports insuring the new F-150 could cost as much as 10-percent more than a conventional steel bodied truck, and after talking to experts we still don’t know what Ford will charge for the truck. So, are the technology and fuel savings going to be worth the extra cost? As Canada’s highest selling vehicle, it will be interesting to see what 2015 brings.