Aluminum Wheel Styling at the Component Supplier Level

The objective of this paper is to describe the advantages that have been gained by moving the aluminum wheel styling responsibilities from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to the Automotive Wheel Supplier (AWS). Integrating aluminum wheel styling into the manufacturing development process allows each AWS to tailor make wheel styles utilizing the specific manufacturing process that they use. The advantages of this more comprehensive development cycle benefit both the OEM and the AWS by supplying shortened development cycles, increase manufacturability, and reduced wheel mass. Wheels developed under this process also closely conform to the styling theme and image of the cars they were designed for.