Toyota is considering the use of aluminium in the US to meet emissions regulations

The chief executive of Toyota in North America, Jim Lentz, has revealed that the Japanese carmaker is considering the use of lightweight materials to meet emissions standards. For this reason, aluminium is the main material with which the company wants to build its next vehicles. A move that could be affected by President Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on steel and aluminium in the US.

At an event on the expansion of Toyota’s research and development centre in York, Lentz stated that aluminium is the most interesting material for developing the brand’s next models. “We have to weigh different ways of improving fuel economy. Therefore, we are looking for new ways to use lightweight materials in our next products, such as aluminium,” the CEO said.

Toyota’s vice president, Robert Young, also stated that using aluminium in some parts of the vehicle would be very beneficial for the company. Young, who is in charge of purchasing and supplier engineering, made it clear that using aluminium on the exterior body panels would be fairly straightforward, but the biggest challenge for the Japanese brand will be incorporating this material into the components of its next platform.

However, increasing the use of aluminium in its next models could become a difficult task for Toyota. President Trump recently instructed the US Department of Commerce to investigate the effects of dumping (selling a product below its normal price) on the country’s steel and aluminium.

Last month, after the US president threatened to impose sanctions on companies that move their manufacturing out of the country, Toyota committed to investing $1.3 billion in its Kentucky plant. We will see whether the company’s next goal of increasing aluminium vehicle production is finally carried out under Trump’s administration.