The demand for automotive aluminum is expected to more than double by 2025 due to growth in Asia, Reuters reported Oct. 4, citing Pierre Labat, vice president of global automotive at Novelis Inc.

Automotive vehicle manufacturers are switching to aluminum combined with carbon fiber and plastics as a replacement for high-strength steel to produce lighter body panels for electric vehicles that meet tighter environmental standards.

Labat said the aluminum producer expects demand to grow 1.5 million tonnes of aluminum in 2018 to 3.5 million tonnes per year in 2025.

Out of the estimated global automotive body sheet demand this year, Asia accounted for about 150,000 tonnes, or about 10%. The region is expected to match European demand by 2025, the report added.

The Novelis executive said that despite the increased use of aluminum in automotive vehicle bodies, it would not completely replace steel. "I think we are convinced that the world at least in the next 10 years will be multi-material architecture with aluminum tripling its size."