Novelis Aluminum, Atlanta, announces that it has been selected by Toyota Motor Corp. to supply premium aluminum automotive body sheet for the all-new 2019 Toyota RAV4, Toyota’s number-one-selling vehicle and the best-selling non-pickup truck in the country. With a new-and-improved design that includes Novelis aluminum in the hood, fenders, and lift gate, the fifth-generation model of the RAV4 is four percent lighter than previous models.
The new RAV4 offers consumers a robust design, additional safety technology, and off-road capabilities, resulting in an overall enhanced driving experience. By lightweighting the vehicle with aluminum, Toyota had even more flexibility to add new features, while also increasing the width and wheelbase. For example, lightweight aluminum helped offset 45 pounds of additional vehicle weight for a suite of safety features including a Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, and Lane Tracing Assist.
To meet Toyota’s stringent requirements for joining and performance, Novelis supplied Advanz 6HS – s600 and Advanz 6HS – e600. These are heat-treatable aluminum alloys specifically designed and optimized for high-strength requirements, offering a balance of formability and strength. In addition, a team of Novelis engineers and metallurgists developed a new thermomechanical manufacturing process at the company’s facility in Oswego, N.Y., where Novelis produces the alloy for Toyota.
