New Nissan hurts Japanese aluminum producers

The electric version of the Nissan Note went on sale in Japan in early November and immediately became the top-selling car this month. The system combines the advantages of an electric drive with an internal combustion engine, being connected to the wheels, serves as an energy generator and cars can travel long distances without refueling. "We need to look for chances to survive," said one Japanese aluminum producer. "The electric motor reduces the need for metal."

For aluminum manufacturers, this is bad news - the car doesn't need any drivetrain components. According to the Japanese automotive industry, an average of 80 kg of aluminum is used in cars, mainly in the transmission of engine and power. Manufacturers fear that they will soon lose this part of the market. In Japan, a hybrid that combines electric motors and internal combustion is much more popular than in Europe. In November, the second place on the list of sales was three Toyota models also with a hybrid drive.

Aluminum producers fear that the success of combining two motors, electric and internal combustion, means that electric vehicles may spread faster than previously thought, which will reduce the demand for power transmission systems. The consolation, however, is that automakers are still looking to shed excess weight on vehicles that still have many steel elements that can be reduced in weight through the use of aluminum.