Aluminum and the Ford F Series Trucks

The Ford F-150 is the best selling truck in the United States, and the most important for the company that started the industry. It is fitting that they would be the first to innovate on their line of cars, but it is surprising they would do so publicly and with their flagship car.

The 2015 Ford F-150′s first truck came off the assembly line last week with an aluminum body. here are the advantages, disadvantages and pending questions on the move by Ford.

The advantages of an aluminum body:

• It lighter than previous F-150s by hundreds of pounds.
• It offers better gas mileage.
• Aluminum is a proven technology.
• Aluminum is just as tough as steel.

The disadvantages of an aluminum truck:

• The F-series brand is based around being tough.
• Less than 10% of repair shops are certified to work with aluminum.
• Insurance will probably be more expensive.

Further questions that time will answer:

• How will buyers use the truck?
• How well will it sell?
• Will it be more costly to repair?

The team building the Ford F-150 has had to do a major overhaul to accommodate the massive change. The team of engineers and factory workers that have been building the F-150 since 2009 have to change everything from their work practices to the tools they use in their factories to build the new trucks. Even the car dealers and auto mechanics have to be trained on the changes.

The F series has long been the best selling truck in the industry but other companies are gaining market share. Often it is anyone but the incumbent that innovates to gain market share so it is encouraging to see that Ford is so willing to make changes.

The new process to building these trucks includes changes to how the trucks are put together. Now, the trucks will be attached with a combination of welding and adhesives.