AUDI and AMAG's collaboration succeed in developing aluminium wheels with substantial recycled content

Almost every car today comes with light alloy wheels made of aluminium, which, with a weight of over 40 kilograms, account for a significant proportion of aluminium used in vehicles, with a newly developed aluminium recycling casting alloy called AlSi7. For the first time, REC can meet a car wheel's high safety and aesthetic requirements in a CO2-optimised way.

In comparison to primary metal solutions, aluminium recycling saves up to 95 per cent of energy. With intensive collaboration from AUDI, AMAG has developed the new AMAG AlSi7.REC alloy with over 70% recycled content according to ISO 14021:2016. The new alloy was then cast into wheels by the Ronal Group.

The AlSi7.REC alloy has a new chemical composition that allows for a substantial increase in recycling content, enabling the use of scrap previously unsuitable for this type of component. The high recycling content is associated with a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. This alloy, therefore, also falls under the new product family of CO2-optimised AMAG alloys AMAG AL4®ever. It is found in the aluminium wheel, which is available as an Audi Original Accessory for the Audi Q4 e-tron and Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron electric vehicles.

Gerald Mayer, the CEO of AMAG Austria Metall AG, said, "We are proud that AMAG, in close cooperation with AUDI, was able to develop the first recycling-friendly alloy as a basis for safety-relevant components such as wheels and wheel assemblies. Sustainability is an elementary component of our corporate self-image. AMAG's materials competence, coupled with its world-leading expertise in aluminium recycling, made it possible to develop a great product ready for the series manufacturing. We thank our customer and partner Audi for the excellent cooperation in this project and the series implementation in desirable new aluminium wheels."