Aluminum from Novelis Lightens Cadillac CT6

Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, announced its aluminum is used in the new 2016 Cadillac CT6 body. The new mixed material vehicle construction featured in the Cadillac CT6 represents a first of its kind for General Motors (GM) in North America and China.

In North America, Novelis’ plant in Kingston, ON will supply GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant in Detroit, Michigan. Novelis’ plant in Changzhou, China will supply GM’s Shanghai plant, which will produce the CT6 manufactured locally in China.

The Cadillac CT6 features a body made of 62 percent aluminum. Through the use of aluminum and advanced joining techniques, Cadillac has achieved significant weight savings, making the full-size Cadillac CT6 luxury sedan comparable in weight to the smaller midsize Cadillac CTS sedan. When compared to a similar size vehicle using predominantly high-strength steel, the CT6 is approximately 220 pounds lighter.

“Novelis has been supplying automotive aluminum solutions for premium and performance vehicles for more than 40 years, and the Cadillac CT6 is one of the most advanced body structures we’ve ever worked on,” said Pierre Labat, Vice President, Global Automotive, Novelis. “We are proud to be the lead global supplier of aluminum to this new and innovative vehicle program on two continents.”

In both North America and Asia, Novelis aluminum is featured throughout the vehicle body, including the passenger and rear compartments, roof structure, outer body panels and door and deck lid structures. The CT6 features one of the most advanced mixed use automotive body structures in the industry, including all-aluminum exterior body panels and rear-drive architecture.

GM’s advanced joining methods are used to fabricate the CT6 vehicle structure, including GM’s proprietary aluminum spot welding technology to reduce weight and increase strength and efficiencies. Laser welding, flow drill fasteners and self-piercing rivets are also used, along with nearly 600 feet of advanced structural adhesives. In bending, the Cadillac CT6 has a 10% stiffer body than competitors.

Novelis automotive aluminum sheet is used in 180 vehicle models currently in production by major OEMs around the globe. Since 2011, Novelis has invested globally to triple its automotive sheet capacity. Novelis expects continued growth in the use of lightweight, mixed material solutions for automotive applications, including double-digit growth in the global use of automotive aluminum by the end of the decade.

About Novelis

Novelis Inc. is the global leader in aluminum rolled products and the world’s largest recycler of aluminum. The company operates in 11 countries, has approximately 12,000 employees and reported $10 billion in revenue for its 2016 fiscal year. Novelis supplies premium aluminum sheet and foil products to transportation, packaging, construction, industrial and consumer electronics markets throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, an industry leader in aluminum and copper and metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai, India. For more information, visit novelis.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/NovelisInc and Twitter at twitter.com/Novelis.