The Toyota RAV4 helped define the crossover SUV segment when it first came to the U.S. 22 years ago. Today, it is the best-selling non-pickup-truck in America. Novelis announced this week that it is supplying this best-selling vehicle with aluminum for its hood, fenders and lift gate from our facility in Oswego, New York.Our heat treatable alloys are an excellent fit for the RAV4, offering high strength and good formability ideal for down-gauging skin components like hoods, fenders and roofs.North American consumer preference for crossover SUVs and trucks continues to grow. In fact, in 2018, crossovers, pickups and SUVs accounted for about 70 percent of sales compared to 30 percent for cars. 10 years ago, the mix was closer to half-and-half. The fifth-generation RAV4 remains a top choice in the segment because of its functional interior, desirable options and smooth ride — on highways and off-road alike.

In part because weight savings from aluminum can offset the addition of new features, the 2019 RAV4 is Toyota’s most technologically advanced model to date. It sports Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a suite that includes automatic emergency braking, pre-collision systems, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control and lane departure alert with steering assist.

Toyota says, “The 2019 RAV4 is, in essence, disrupting the segment it created. It is bringing more sport and more utility back while enhancing the agile handling, everyday comfort and exemplary fuel efficiency that made RAV4 the segment leader it is now.”

We now supply aluminum solutions for the two best-selling vehicles in the United States – the Ford F-Series pickup and the 2019 Toyota RAV4, in addition to more than 225 other vehicle models across the world. As consumer preference for crossover SUVs and trucks grows, our customers are turning to Novelis aluminum for innovative, sustainable solutions that enable the next generation of vehicles.