An Ongoing Aluminum Shortage Continues to Disrupt Ford F-150 Production: TDS
Ford F-150s are currently being assembled at the Dearborn Truck Plant located in Michigan.
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Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, abbreviated as TDS.
The Downshift serves as your go-to source for all the automotive industry headlines worth reading each morning here at The Drive. The great thing is, you can enjoy your coffee while reading without getting ink on your fingers. Let’s dive into what’s happening globally, shall we?
🛻 Ford continues to face an aluminum shortage that has hindered F-150 production since late last year, affecting the availability of the pickup. The company now expects to spend $2 billion on materials for 2026—double its previous estimate—due to rising metal prices. [Wall Street Journal]
💶 Audi’s CFO, Jürgen Rittersberger, mentioned in a recent earnings call that the company is "still assessing a potential impact" of a tariff hike on European auto exports imposed by the Trump administration. He noted that it would likely pose a significant challenge to their performance. The luxury manufacturer is already planning to reduce its workforce by 7,500 positions by 2029. [Automotive News]
🍁 Geely, Chery, and BYD seem to be preparing for launches in the Canadian market, with Geely recently introducing two SUVs from its sub-brand Jaecoo in Toronto, potentially for testing or showcase. [Automotive News]
⬇️ From February to April, Volvo experienced a 10% decrease in car sales in 2026 compared to 2025. [Reuters]
🛑 Brembo has commenced full production of a brake-by-wire system for an unnamed automaker's model line, as suppliers are not always allowed to disclose their clients. [Automotive News]
🏌️ Volkswagen is set to showcase a Golf R with advanced aerodynamics, developed in collaboration with Max Kruse Racing, at next year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring to commemorate 25 years of the R brand, which started in 2002 with the Mk 4 Golf R32. [Volkswagen]
🐂 Red Bull has started series production of its 50 hypercars designed by Adrian Newey, the RB17, with each vehicle priced at nearly $6.8 million. [Autocar]
🔋 BMW has just produced its 2 millionth battery electric vehicle, an i5 M60, at its facility in Dingolfing, Germany. [BMW]
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An Ongoing Aluminum Shortage Continues to Disrupt Ford F-150 Production: TDS
Aluminum has been in limited availability for automakers for over six months, significantly affecting the production of Ford's full-size pickup.