FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kristin Tyll
248-824-8200
ktyll@stratacomm.net

Lightweighting Part of the Solution to Commercial Vehicle Fuel Economy Concerns, Aluminum Association Tells National Academy of Sciences

Ann Arbor, Mich., June 19, 2009 (News Release) – Today, the Aluminum Association presented on the fuel economy, environmental and cost-savings benefits of using high-strength, low-weight materials in commercial vehicle applications to the National Academy of Sciences. Randall Scheps, Chairman of the Aluminum Association’s Auto & Light Truck Group and Marketing Director, Ground Transportation, Alcoa Inc., was among the first to speak this morning to the committee on the Assessment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicles.

“Greater use of aluminum opens an opportunity for the trucking industry to increase fuel efficiency while at the same time increasing payload capacity, decreasing operating costs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing many other advantages for these vehicles,” said Scheps. “Success experienced in the automotive industry in achieving improved fuel economy through lightweighting can be applied to the commercial vehicle sector.”

Please click here to view his presentation.

For more information on the advantages of aluminum for transportation applications or the latest industry research, visit www.autoaluminum.org. To arrange an interview on any of these issues, as well as the transportation aluminum industry, please contact Kristin Tyll at ktyll@stratacomm.net.

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The Aluminum Association's Auto & Light Truck Group (ALTG) communicates the benefits of automotive aluminum to help accelerate its penetration through research programs and related outreach activities. Its mission is to serve member companies and act as a central resource for the automotive industry on aluminum issues. Member companies include: Alcoa Inc., Novelis Inc., Alcan Inc, Aluminum Precision Products Inc., Kaiser Aluminum Corporation and Sapa Group.