Is the aluminum bodied 2015 Ford F-150 truck a sign of the future in auto building?

Is the aluminum bodied 2015 Ford F-150 truck a sign of the future in auto building?

I hope not… Never mind the higher costs,… Price out an aluminum hoof versus a steel version for example… If you ever have to fix a dented or damaged body panel, it's more likely you'll have to replace them since aluminum does not deform and reform like sheet metal or frame metal does and is far less workable in doing repairs.

The bodyshops I managed fixed a number of large panel trucks with aluminum box bodies/frames and in most cases, we wound up replacing panels or frames. A steel panel or frame section can be heated up and/or reformed, worked, stretched, bent, pounded, etc. Back into fairly close shape to original or design specs… Aluminum panels or frames are near impossible to reform with good results due to the high heat required to get them to a near molten state for working and being less malleable. Steel metal has a molecular memory which you can use to heat up and reform back into shape… Aluminum has far less so… Once it deforms, it stays in the deformed shape without a lot of effort and higher heat. Even low weight, HSS materials used in modern cars… High Strength Steel… Are more difficult to repair due to their composition.

Galvanic corrosion is another concern where two dissimilar metals make contact.especially in areas with road salt applied or near ocean coasts… Although the 2015 F150 uses glues and rivets in their aluminum assembly… They still attach to other parts which are steel and must retain proper insulation or methods to prevent corrosion in the long term.

Ford is already fighting a class action lawsuit on aluminum hoods rusting due to galvanic corrosion.

"A class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court in New Jersey claims that Ford used aluminum hoods but failed to properly insulate them from "old iron-based connecting and supporting parts," despite knowing that "would give rise to galvanic coupling" and corrision.[1]

It goes on to say that the automaker went on to conceal this inevitable problem from buyers, drastically reducing the long-term value of their vehicles."

http://www.fordproblems.com/trends/hood-rust/

The need to reduce vehicle weight to improve fuel economy or improve braking performance/longevity and other factors will likely lead to greater use of aluminum in car or truck bodies/frames and many companies have used them for years in various body parts but whether the higher repair and insurance costs will dissuade people from buying them is another matter.we'll see. Call an insurance agent before you buy and get quotes on insuring an aluminum Ford or steel body Chevy/Dodge, etc… Call a Ford dealer and get prices on body parts… Hood, fender, door, box, etc… To see what repair costs will be in case of accidents. Many people pay for damages out of pocket in many minor accident cases to avoid making a claim… Making repairs on aluminum body parts may make that a much costlier option.