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A serious aluminum provider for Ford Motor Co. stated it would droop operations for a number of months after a hearth erupted at its facility in September.
Novelis, a key provider of automotive-grade aluminum for Ford and utilized in autos just like the F-150 pickup truck, instructed FOX Enterprise that its plant in Oswego, New York, will not be again in operation till the primary quarter of fiscal 2026.
A Novelis spokesperson stated the corporate activated its international community of vegetation and is partnering with business friends to supply materials to attempt to mitigate the hole in provide.
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“We are urgently taking steps to minimize the impact of the recent fire at our Oswego facility on our customers,” the spokesperson stated. “At the same time, we are working around the clock to restore the Oswego facility’s hot mill.”
Nevertheless, business specialists warn that automakers are nonetheless more likely to face disruptions, given Novelis’ vital position as a significant aluminum provider for Ford and different automakers.
Novelis is a key provider of automotive-grade aluminum for Ford and utilized in autos just like the F-150 pickup truck. (Ford)
The hearth began round 10 a.m. on Sept. 16, and solely impacted one space of the plant, based on the spokesperson. Nonetheless, it would stay offline for a number of months, impacting the manufacturing of aluminum sheet utilized by U.S. automakers, together with Ford. The plant provides roughly 40% of the aluminum sheet utilized by the business, based on stories.
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Ford instructed FOX Enterprise that it has been working intently with Novelis, one in all a number of of its aluminum suppliers, to deal with the state of affairs.
“A full team is dedicated to addressing the situation and exploring all possible alternatives to minimize any potential disruptions,” the automaker stated.
The Novelis plant in Oswego, New York, that skilled a hearth on Sept. 16, 2025. (Novelis)
Ford declined to touch upon how its manufacturing could be impacted.
Brian Moody, govt editor at Autotrader, instructed FOX Enterprise that the hearth will nonetheless have a direct influence on Ford’s F-150 manufacturing, in addition to different automakers together with Toyota, which depends on the plant for the RAV4. Volkswagen and Hyundai additionally use supplies from the New York facility, although Ford stays the plant’s main aluminum purchaser, based on Moody.
Ford stated it has been working intently with Novelis, one in all a number of of its aluminum suppliers, to deal with the state of affairs. (Ford)
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Toyota instructed FOX Enterprise that it doesn’t anticipate any vital disruptions, saying its “needs can be filled through alternate suppliers.”
As of Tuesday, Volkswagen has not recognized a right away influence. FOX Enterprise reached out to Hyundai for remark.
“They will certainly be finding other suppliers within the next few days, but Ford sells nearly three-quarters of a million F-series trucks each year, so that’s a lot of aluminum,” Moody stated.
Moody stated that aluminum isn’t simply used by the way with the F-series however is a key element within the automobile’s engineering and efficiency technique.
The hearth began round 10 a.m. on Sept. 16, and solely impacted one space of the plant. ( Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/image alliance through Getty Pictures) / Getty Pictures)
Aluminum helps scale back weight for the F-series vans, serving to ship higher efficiency and gasoline effectivity, Moody stated. The F-150’s physique panels, together with the doorways, hood, roof and tailgate, depend on the fabric.
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Moody additionally famous that electrical autos is also affected to a point by this disruption, since aluminum makes up 20% to 30% of the general automobile building.
Ticker Safety Final Change Change % F FORD MOTOR CO. 11.79 -0.13
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In flip, Moody stated this pause might additionally trigger different suppliers and automakers to deprioritize electic autos in favor of extra worthwhile fashions, at the very least briefly.
