Ford Says F-150 Body is Now Cheaper and Easier to Repair

Ford Motor Co has made some changes and “told dealers on Sunday that the radical redesign of the upcoming F-150 pickup will be easier and cheaper to repair than the outgoing model, helping hold down insurance costs for buyers,” reports Reuters.

“Ford touted the savings for customers as a selling point, and the company pledged to help dealers defray expenses of up to $50,000 that some will need to pay for tools and equipment to certify their repair shops for the new truck.”

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“The new F-150’s body is 95 percent made of a military grade aluminum alloy used in Humvees and weighs up to 700 pounds less than the current truck. It was redesigned in a “modular” fashion that allows dealers and repair shops to save hours on fixes.”

“Among the most important changes is the front structure that holds the fender, Ford global marketing chief Jim Farley said. This piece is no longer welded, and can be taken off the truck, shaving six to seven hours from average repair time on that part.”

In metal price news for aluminum…

The day’s biggest mover was the cash price of primary aluminum which dropped by 0.9 percent on Friday, January 24 to close at $1,731 per metric ton on the LME. The aluminum 3-month price weakened by 0.8 percent on the LME, settling at $1,773 per metric ton. The cash price of primary Indian aluminum declined 0.4 percent.

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Chinese aluminum closed mixed last Friday. The cash price of Chinese aluminum fell to a 30-day low after shifting 0.7 percent. The price of Chinese aluminum scrap continues to hover for the fifth day in a row. The price of Chinese aluminum billet held steady. The price of Chinese aluminum bar remained essentially flat.