As we kick off 2026, there’s plenty of momentum at Alcoa Wheels. While the market is shifting, our focus remains on delivering innovation, unmatched product performance, and support that helps our customers stay productive and profitable—even through change.
Navigating a Changing Market
According to our new Managing Director in Australia, Shannon Girard, the transport and logistics landscape in 2026 is shaping up to be unlike recent years
“2026 is expected to be a softer market than 2025, although the rate of decline is not expected to be as steep as that experienced in 2025. Customers continue to face challenges in improving productivity amid structurally higher operating costs and ongoing inflationary pressure“
What this means for our partners and fleets is clear: costs continue to rise, and finding ways to do more with less is more important than ever. Alcoa is committed to helping customers rise to that challenge—by delivering products that genuinely improve efficiency and uptime.
Introducing the New 10-285 American Fitment Wheel
One of the highlights in our product roadmap for the year is the launch of the new 10-285 American fitment wheel. This addition builds on the success of one of our most relied-upon wheel families and brings meaningful enhancements that matter in the real world.
“We are releasing a new 10-285 American fitment wheel to bring further improvements to this important wheel family,” Shannon continues, “these enhancements will further improve the functionality and of course deliver world-class payload advantages that our customers expect from us.”
This isn’t just another wheel—it’s the result of listening to industry feedback and applying our world-class engineering to deliver:
- Enhanced Load Efficiency: Helping you carry more while complying with weight regulations.
- Optimised Durability: Built to withstand the daily demands of heavy-duty operations.
- Better Productivity: Supporting operational goals by reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
Supporting Fleets Through 2026 and Beyond
At Alcoa Wheels, we know that products are only part of the equation. In a softer market where every dollar counts, the right combination of support, service, and performance can make all the difference. That’s why we’re continuing to:
- Work closely with distributors across Australia to ensure stock availability and fast turnaround.
- Provide technical expertise to help fleets make informed decisions.
- Support maintenance and service teams with insights that minimise operational disruptions.
Looking Forward
2026 may bring tighter conditions, but it’s also a year of opportunity.
Smarter, stronger products like the new 10-285 American fitment wheel, and a laser focus on helping our customers maximise productivity.
Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s make 2026 a year of resilience, efficiency, and success