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•    Title:  The 46th Tokyo Motor Show: Implementation of Aluminum Body Panels Still Faces Challenges

•    Author:  Tai Nakada

•    Author Company:  Nalk Corporation

•    Volume:  Vol. 77, No. 6

•    Year:  2019

•    No. Pages:  2.5

•    Description:  The 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019 was held in Tokyo, Japan, in October 2019. Discussions at the show revealed that, while aluminum body panels are considered to be the key to lightweight vehicles, Japanese automotive manufacturers stated that there are several factors — such as issues with cost, formability, and difficulties with multi-material joining — that continue to hinder the implementation of aluminum body panels, particularly for smaller economy vehicles. This article highlights some of these discussions and considers the trends impacting the demand for aluminum in Japan.

•    Companies Mentioned:  Subaru, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda, NHK Spring, Akebono Brake Industry, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, UACJ, Kobe Steel, Kobe Steel

Product Code: THEW5SZ013