Novelis to supply sustainable, lightweight aluminium body sheet to Nissan for all-new Qashqai SUV

Novelis, the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, has announced today, May 28, that it will supply sustainable, lightweight aluminium body sheet to Nissan for the all-new Qashqai SUV and create a closed-loop recycling system in Europe.

Novelis aluminium body sheet will be used in the hoods and doors of Qashqai to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency. Through Novelis’ global Customer Solution Center network, engineers have proved to automakers that the use of aluminium doors and hoods is a cost-effective way to reduce weight.

By using aluminium, the all-new Nissan Qashqai has achieved 21 kg of the total 60kg of body-in-white weight savings compared to the previous model. This demonstrates the growing trend of using aluminium in smaller vehicle segments and high-volume production models.

"We are delighted to provide Nissan with sustainable aluminium body sheet solutions as they continue to design lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles with reduced life-cycle emissions," said Michael Hahne, VP Automotive, Novelis Europe. "Novelis is uniquely positioned to meet the increasing demand for automotive aluminium given its unmatched global footprint and ability to develop innovative, sustainable solutions. We look forward to working with Nissan as they continue to adopt more aluminium and increase their recycling capabilities."

Novelis and Nissan are also striving to achieve a more sustainable manufacturing process by establishing a closed-loop recycling system. Novelis will deliver aluminium material from its plant in Nachterstedt, Germany, to Nissan's car plant in Sunderland UK. From the latter, the manufacturing scrap will be collected and returned to Novelis’ recycling centres in Europe to be cast and rolled again for Nissan. This process will create a circular supply chain, helping both companies achieve their sustainable goals.