Expect more order delays!! Fire at major aluminum supplier

[Frogdog1]

A fire at a New York aluminum plant whose biggest customer is Ford will disrupt the entire U.S. automotive industry for months, The Wall Street Journal reports. The fire occurred last month at a facility owned by Atlanta-based Novelis, which supplies about 40% of the aluminum used by the U.S. auto industry. The plant is crucial to production of Ford's flagship F-150, and the Journal, citing anonymous sources, writes that, "the setback is severe enough that Ford will likely flag potential implications to investors" later this month.

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[GTRking1000]

A fire at a New York aluminum plant whose biggest customer is Ford will disrupt the entire U.S. automotive industry for months, The Wall Street Journal reports. The fire occurred last month at a facility owned by Atlanta-based Novelis, which supplies about 40% of the aluminum used by the U.S. auto industry. The plant is crucial to production of Ford's flagship F-150, and the Journal, citing anonymous sources, writes that, "the setback is severe enough that Ford will likely flag potential implications to investors" later this month.

Indeed recently got in contact with someone with some inside info, they told me this will cause some delays since the Coyote 5.0 V8 will be short on suppliers of being made. So yeah expect the delay on a lot of orders with anyone that optioned for the 5.0. (Including myself). This is a waiting game for real. Oh well atleast they told me there's no short on suppliers on other stuff that used to have a shortage years ago that I optioned for which includes the nite pony package and the performance package.
I'm going to see this all the way through.

 

[robvas]

Indeed recently got in contact with someone with some inside info, they told me this will cause some delays since the Coyote 5.0 V8 will be short on suppliers of being made. So yeah expect the delay on a lot of orders with anyone that optioned for the 5.0. (Including myself). This is a waiting game for real. Oh well atleast they told me there's no short on suppliers on other stuff that used to have a shortage years ago that I optioned for which includes the nite pony package and the performance package.
I'm going to see this all the way through.

That plant makes sheet metal (which is made into body panels for the F150), not engine blocks. Supposed to affect 20-50,000 trucks according to the analysts.

 

[GTRking1000]

That plant makes sheet metal (which is made into body panels for the F150), not engine blocks. Supposed to affect 20-50,000 trucks according to the analysts.

Indeed but the person that told me it also affected the mustang's production works at the Flat Rock Powerplant. It's not just the F150 they use the aluminum for in that Powerplant, it's many other Ford models as well that also use aluminum parts like the coyote v8 5.0 for instances. The Flat Rock Powerplant recently got a temporary shutdown not too long ago.

 

[robvas]

Indeed but the person that told me it also affected the mustang's production works at the Flat Rock Powerplant. It's not just the F150 they use the aluminum for in that Powerplant, it's many other Ford models as well that also use aluminum parts like the coyote v8 5.0 for instances. The Flat Rock Powerplant recently got a temporary shutdown not too long ago.

The engine doesn't come from there though. The hood and trunk could be made from the sheet metal from that plant.

There are 5 trucks/SUV that are not going to be produced because of this. They aren't re-opening until 2026

 

[GTRking1000]

The engine doesn't come from there though. The hood and trunk could be made from the sheet metal from that plant.

There are 5 trucks/SUV that are not going to be produced because of this. They aren't re-opening until 2026

This is coming from the person who works at the Flat Rock Powerplant themselves that told me the info, not from my words to be honest, they know more than most of us since they work there but it is what it is whether the info is true or not this is coming straight from the source of the powerplant themselves .
Also it does make sense why several others here notice that their scheduled build date keeps on getting pushed back.

 

[Frogdog1]

The hood and front fenders of a Mustang are made of aluminum sheet.

 

[roket]

from what i've seen online, here is what vehicles will be affected by this: F-150 Lightning, Expedition, Navigator. that is all that has been confirmed so far, and current information says it looks like the Lightning halt may only be for a week, and the Expedition and Navigator only this and next week. some speculate that F-150 and Super Duty production may be slowed, but there's no solid evidence of this.

it looks like the fire damaged the aluminum plant where they do the rolling into sheets, which is all that factory does, so no engines should be affected by this. engines are not made from aluminum sheets. expected re-opening is Q1 2026. Toyota, General Motors, Stellantis, and other major manufacturers are also going to be impacted by this.

according to supplychaindive.com,"Novelis’ production ... accounts for 36% of the global market for aluminum to the auto industry..."

 

[Frogdog1]

Good time for them to raise prices. Maybe.

 

[Old School1]

from what i've seen online, here is what vehicles will be affected by this: F-150 Lightning, Expedition, Navigator. that is all that has been confirmed so far, and current information says it looks like the Lightning halt may only be for a week, and the Expedition and Navigator only this and next week. some speculate that F-150 and Super Duty production may be slowed, but there's no solid evidence of this.

it looks like the fire damaged the aluminum plant where they do the rolling into sheets, which is all that factory does, so no engines should be affected by this. engines are not made from aluminum sheets. expected re-opening is Q1 2026. Toyota, General Motors, Stellantis, and other major manufacturers are also going to be impacted by this.

according to supplychaindive.com,"Novelis’ production ... accounts for 36% of the global market for aluminum to the auto industry..."

Tesla, Rivian, Ford and FCA are all being impacted by this fire with mill operational in late 1st qtr 26'.
As a supplier, the OEM's are aware that domestic aluminum producers are at capacity so they are now relying on Asian and European suppliers that carry 50% or greater tariffs.

 

[Dragster]

The hood and front fenders of a Mustang are made of aluminum sheet.

I can’t seem to find the detailed spec sheet that listed it, but I believe the S650 has steel fenders and not aluminum like the S550.

EDIT: The Ford document is here. The fenders are indeed steel.

 

[Frogdog1]

I can’t seem to find the detailed spec sheet that listed it, but I believe the S650 has steel fenders and not aluminum like the S550.

EDIT: The Ford document is here. The fenders are indeed steel.

And the hood is aluminum so we're both right and wrong.

 

[robvas]

Did they ever figure out how to make the aluminum hoods stop corroding?

 

[Old School1]

Did they ever figure out how to make the aluminum hoods stop corroding?

One would think so with the number and years of building aluminum F150's

 

[Frogdog1]

Aluminum does corrode but apparently it isn't painted correctly.

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