Alcoa (NYSE: AA) has expanded its collection of aluminum wheels for medium-duty commercial vehicles by adding products designed for the Sprinter, Ford Transit and GM 3500/4500. Each will be available for order in North America on March 15.
Unveiled at The Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, this expansion showcases Alcoa’s commitment to the medium-duty market. Each wheel in Alcoa’s M-Series collection provides the same benefits that Alcoa’s forged aluminum wheels provide to heavy duty (Class 7 & 8) customers, but are customized to fit medium-duty Class 2 through 6 applications.
“As the leader in forged aluminum solutions, we have a longstanding history providing valuable medium duty wheels to the marketplace,” said Tim Myers, President, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products. “Our M-Series medium-duty wheels offer significant advantages to fleets and business owners and we plan to continue prioritizing this industry as we innovate.”
Each forged aluminum wheel in its M-Series collection reduces maintenance costs, including the elimination of refurbishment and repainting required by steel wheels, while maintaining the clean, bright look that fleets appreciate and drivers love. The single-piece forged aluminum construction provides a running wheel that offers a smooth ride, extends tire life and lowers operational costs. At nearly half the weight of a steel wheel, all Alcoa M-Series Wheels improve fuel economy, reduce carbon emissions and are infinitely recyclable.
Alcoa’s M-Series wheels with medium duty applications are designed to improve straight trucks (strip, cutaway, conventional and cab-overs), commercial vans, bucket trucks and heavy duty pickups in a variety of industries, such as towing, beverage, emergency, delivery, food processing, shuttle service, RV, retail/wholesale, utility, refuse and countless other industries.
Alcoa launched its first medium-duty forged aluminum wheel for the Sprinter nearly 10 years ago. The Sprinter 3500, a 16.5” x 5.5” dually wheel, weighs just 17 lbs. and offers ease of maintenance and lighter weight benefits to fleets. As the demand for Sprinter and Transit vans and other medium-duty commercial vehicles increases and vehicles get heavier with many up-fitting options, fleet managers and small business owners are seeking innovative ways to reduce weight and lower operating and maintenance costs.
New Sprinter 2500 Wheel
Alcoa designed the 16.5” x 6” wheel specifically for the Sprinter 2500. Weighing just 21 lbs., the wheel provides the same performance benefits of every Alcoa forged aluminum wheel, including the Sprinter 3500—weight savings, fuel economy, freight efficiency and ease of maintenance.
New Ford Transit Wheel
Alcoa’s first lightweight solutions for the Ford Transit are now available for full size vans. Two new Ford Transit wheels—the Transit 16.5” x 6.5” single and 16.5” x 6” dual wheel configurations are now each available. The single configuration wheel weighs 21 lbs., while the dual configuration wheel comes in at 18 lbs.
Each Ford Transit wheel is the lightest in its class and offers the same weight savings, ease-of-upkeep, reduced maintenance and increased fuel economy benefits as every Alcoa forged aluminum wheel.
New GM 3500/4500 Wheel
Demand is growing for GM’s 3500/4500 chassis. Today’s announcement includes the introduction of a 16.5” x 6” Alcoa forged aluminum wheel for the dual chassis used in these vehicles. This medium-duty wheel weighs just 19 lbs. and provides all of the same benefits of light weight, strength, durability and ease of maintenance as all of Alcoa aluminum wheels in its comprehensive portfolio.
All Alcoa aluminum wheels resist corrosion to reduce wheel maintenance costs and maintain the clean, bright look that fleets and business owners deserve. At nearly half the weight of a steel wheel, all Alcoa M-Series® wheels improve fuel economy, reduce carbon emissions and are infinitely recyclable.