CRU: Will carmakers switch back from aluminum to steel?

This news item was first published by CRU. To learn about CRU’s global commodities research and analysis services, visit www.crugroup.com. 

Recent supply constraints, price increases, shifts in electric vehicle (EV) and emissions policy, and continued innovation in steel have revived the question of whether automakers might move some applications back from aluminum to steel. We expect some switching, but this change is nuanced, multiple factors must be considered, strategies will differ, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.