Russell Barnett, a Ford dealer in Tennessee, is ready for aluminum.
Ford is using the metal almost exclusively in the body of the 2015 version of its best-selling F-150 pickup, which will arrive at dealerships next month. Barnett already is answering customers’ questions about the truck, and he has updated his repair shop not only for the F-150 but in anticipation that other Ford vehicles eventually will make the switch from steel.
But just in case, he ordered some extra steel-bodied 2014 pickups.
Ford is doubling down on aluminum, which is lighter and more expensive than steel but just as tough. The new truck is the company’s response to customers’ requests for a more fuel-efficient and nimbler pickup. Ford hopes the advantages outweigh customer doubts about the durability of aluminum or potential repair costs for the pricier metal.
