TOKYO -- Automakers looking to make their vehicles lighter and more fuel efficient in the face of stricter environmental regulations are increasingly ditching steel in favor of aluminum and carbon fiber.
Ford Motor has adopted aluminum instead of the traditional steel for the body of its flagship F-150 pickup truck, the company's top-selling vehicle. The change makes the truck more than 300kg lighter, boosting its gas mileage. Sales of the aluminum F-150 have been strong.
