White House

 

What To Expect During Biden's State Of The Union Address — “President Joe Biden is expected to use his State of the Union address this week as a victory lap for the landmark climate law he and Democrats enacted last year, while taking credit for economic improvements. The address to Congress at the Capitol on Tuesday is traditionally the president’s main yearly chance to boast about accomplishments and set the policy agenda before Congress and the American people. … Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said Biden should be a ‘relentless salesman’ for his record. ‘This is a president that actually delivered on infrastructure, right? We’re building roads and bridges and taking lead out of water pipes across the country. We are reducing the cost of prescription drugs,’ she said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’ ‘And that’s going to continue, by the way, through this year. Americans are going to start being able to claim those tax credits for their electric vehicles, for their appliances in their homes. So all of that is positive.’” [E&E News, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Bloomberg | South Korea Wants EV Tweaks To U.S. Climate Law — “South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin gave Secretary of State Antony Blinken a reminder that Seoul still has concerns about the Biden administration’s landmark climate and energy bill. Speaking alongside Blinken in Washington on Friday, Park pledged to work more closely with the U.S. and Japan on a range of issues including halting North Korean cryptocurrency theft. He added, however, that he hoped to see the concerns of South Korean conglomerates taken into consideration as the U.S. implements the Inflation Reduction Act, which has frustrated South Korean companies and officials. ‘We will also work together to ensure that the Inflation Reduction Act is implemented in ways that address Korean companies’ concerns, and benefit both our businesses and industries,’ Park said. That legislation, which favors the American auto industry, has frustrated companies and governments across Asia and Europe, who see it cutting them out of a major market. President Joe Biden on Friday scoffed at ‘the idea that I’m getting criticized because we are having so much progress.’ ‘As I point out to our friends in the E.U.: Don’t get angry, we’re going to be the beginning of the supply chain, because that’s the only guarantee you’ll have access,’ he said at a Democratic National Committee event in Philadelphia. ‘I’ll be damned as long as I’m president, we’re going to be the end of the supply chain again.’” [E&E News, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

 

Federal Agencies

 

Department of Defense (DOD)

 

Us Dept. Of Defense Inches Closer To Tactical Electric Vehicles — “While everyone has been freaking out over the switch to electric stoves, the US Department of Defense has been quietly pulling an electric switcheroo of its own. The sprawling agency has been slowly introducing electric vehicles into its non-tactical fleet, and it is getting ready to jump into tactical vehicles, too. Electric Vehicles For The Defense Dept. Although the Defense Department has been slow to take up fleet electrification, it has helped to lay the groundwork for a rapid turnover, partly by pushing the envelope on vehicle-to-grid technology. Back in 2013, for example, the Defense Department put out word that it would lease 500 electric vehicles for its permanent bases in the US, for a cutting edge EV-to-grid initiative in partnership with the Energy Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the smart grid company Akuacom (a branch of Honeywell since 2010), along with the cloud services provider Kisensum, which was acquired by ChargePoint in 2018. Los Angeles Air Force Base was among the participants. Its fleet of 42 electric vehicles aimed to demonstrate that aggregations of EV batteries could participate in a grid frequency regulation market, an area that also overlaps with the up-and-coming virtual power plant field.” [CleanTechnica, 2/4/23 (=)]

 

Department of the Treasury (USDT)

 

Treasury Department Broadens Eligible EVs For Tax Credit — “More electric vehicles will qualify for the tax credits that were included in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act under new guidance the Treasury Department issued Friday. The new law allows buyers to claim a $7,500 price cap on a vehicle but sets a price cap of $55,000 for sedans and $80,000 for sport utility vehicles. The Treasury Department, which is writing the regulations for the tax credits, initially used vehicle definitions set in EPA’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. But the CAFE standards aren’t easily accessible, and EPA has a second set of definitions for cars and SUVS on its popular fueleconomy.gov website. The consumer-facing website classifies more vehicles as SUVs than the CAFE standards, and Treasury said in a news release it’ll use the broader definitions. ‘This change will allow crossover vehicles that share similar features to be treated consistently,’ Treasury said in a news release. Some automakers, including Tesla and General Motors, had complained to the White House about the earlier, narrower definitions, Reuters reported. Those earlier rules would have excluded vehicles like the Cadillac Lyriq and some versions of the Tesla Model Y.” [E&E News, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

Treasury Aligns With Automakers On SUV Classification For EV Tax Credit. — “Treasury announced Friday it will use the same vehicle classification standard as fueleconomy.gov to determine the price cap for vehicles eligible for the Inflation Reduction Act’s EV tax credit. The move comes after weeks of campaigning by automakers who argued that the standard Treasury was using — which classified several popular vehicles as cars, subject to the $55,000 price cap, rather than SUVs subject to the $80,000 price cap —was confusing for consumers and could cause them to lose out on the tax credit. Details: Under the change, the standard would rely on EPA’s fuel economy labeling standard, rather than the EPA CAFE standard. The previous classification of some small SUVs as cars would make some vehicles ineligible for the tax credit since they cost more than $55,000. Tesla’s Model Y and the Ford Mustang Mach-E were among the vehicles caught in the classification limbo.” [Politico, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

More EVs To Qualify For Tax Credit Following Treasury Changes — “More electric vehicles will qualify for a $7,500 tax credit under changes revealed Friday by the federal government, a move that follows pressure from auto industry lobbyists to better define the eligibility requirements. The Treasury Department said Friday it was modifying how it classifies vehicles subject to certain price caps set under the Inflation Reduction Act, which made revisions to the subsidy rules. The move effectively expands the population of eligible vehicles. As a result, more electric crossovers and SUVs previously not covered by the credit will qualify, the department said.” [The Wall Street Journal, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

AP | Renault, Nissan Boards Agree To Equalize Mutual Stakes — “The boards of Renault and Nissan gave their approval Monday to equalize the stake each automaker holds in the other, bringing a better balance in the French-Japanese alliance. Under the decision, both companies will own 15% in the other. Up to now, Renault Group of France owned 43.4% of Nissan Motor Co., while the Japanese automaker owned 15% of Renault. … Nissan intends to invest up to 15% in Ampere, Renault’s electric vehicle and software entity in Europe. Mitsubishi Motors also will consider investing in Ampere. The automakers will collaborate in various markets around the world, including Latin America, Europe and India, they said. The moves come at a time when the extremely competitive auto industry is undergoing a major shift toward electric vehicles and other environmentally friendly models.” [The Detroit News, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

U.S. Says More Tesla, Ford, GM EVs Eligible For Tax Credits — “The U.S. Treasury Department said Friday it will make more Tesla (TSLA.O), Ford Motor (F.N), General Motors (GM.N) and Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) electric vehicles eligible for up to $7,500 tax credits after it revised its vehicle classification definitions. The reversal by Treasury is a win for Tesla, GM, Ford and other automakers which had pressed the Biden administration to change the vehicle definitions. Under the $430 billion climate bill approved in August, SUVs can be priced at up to $80,000 to qualify for EV tax credits, while cars, sedans and wagons can only be priced at up to $55,000.” [Reuters, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

Treasury Tweaks Vehicle Classification Rules, Easing EV Tax Credit’s Use — “The Treasury Department is updating its criteria for classifying electric vehicles (EV) or other clean vehicles as sport utility vehicles (SUV), sedans, or other vehicle types, addressing confusion about its prior criteria in a way that will allow more vehicles to qualify for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The move is significant because non-sedan vehicles are subject to a higher price cutoff when determining their eligibility for the incentives. In addition, Treasury’s Feb. 3 notice is also garnering praise from automakers and other EV proponents who say it removes a barrier to deploying EVs vehicles more widely, by settling on clear definitions that both the industry and consumers can use. ‘This change will allow crossover vehicles that share similar features to be treated consistently,’ Treasury says in a Feb. 3 press statement announcing the move. ‘It will also align vehicle classifications under the clean vehicle credit with the classification displayed on the vehicle label and on the consumer-facing website,’ the department says.” [Inside EPA, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

Automakers Get More Leeway On EV Tax Credits — “More EVs will be eligible for purchase subsidies under a revised Treasury Department approach to implementing the climate law, Ben writes. Driving the news: Officials are broadening what’s considered a crossover SUV to align with EPA’s public-facing labeling standards. Why it matters: It’s a big deal because under the law, SUVs up to $80,000 are eligible for up to $7,500 in credits, while the limit for cars is $55,000. Zoom in: Vehicles now qualifying for the higher cap include the Cadillac Lyriq, and more versions of Ford’s Mach-E and Tesla’s Model Y.” [Axios, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Treasury Department Expands Definition Of SUVs Eligible For Electric Vehicle Tax Credit — “The department has updated the classification standards used to determine eligibility, expanding the definition of an SUV. The $7,500 tax credit applies to SUVs costing up to $80,000, but there is no such benefit for passenger cars more expensive than $55,000. The update, retroactive to Jan. 1, will use the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) fuel economy standards. ‘To make it easier for consumers to know which vehicles qualify under the applicable MSRP cap, Treasury is updating the vehicle classification standard to use the consumer-facing EPA Fuel Economy Labeling standard, rather than the EPA CAFE [Corporate Average Fuel Economy] standard,’ the department said in a statement Friday. ‘This change will allow crossover vehicles that share similar features to be treated consistently.’” [The Hill, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

AP | Treasury Makes More Electric SUVs Eligible For Tax Credits — “The Treasury Department said Friday it is making more electric vehicles — including SUVs made by Tesla, Ford and General Motors — eligible for tax credits of up to $7,500 under new vehicle classification definitions. The revised standards for EV tax credits follow lobbying by automakers that had pressed the Biden administration to change vehicle definitions to allow higher-priced vehicles to qualify for a maximum tax credit. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk met with top aides to President Biden last week to discuss the EV industry and the broader goals of electrification.” [Los Angeles Times, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

More Crossover SUVs To Qualify For EV Tax Credits In US Reversal — “The Biden administration will allow more crossover SUVs to qualify for the newly-revamped electric vehicle tax credit following lobbying by automakers such as General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV. The change announced Friday by the Treasury Department effectively expands the number of buyers who can take advantage of a lucrative $7,500 consumer tax credit by broadening the definition of how a sport-utility vehicle is defined. The tweak matters because under Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, SUVs costing up to $80,000 can receive the tax credits, while passenger-car buyers get nothing if the vehicle costs more than $55,000.” [Bloomberg Law, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

Treasury Now Classifies Tesla Model Y As An SUV — “When is an SUV not an SUV? When the US Treasury Department says it isn’t. The distinction is important because the maximum sale price for an SUV to qualify for the new federal EV tax incentives is $80,000, but only $55,000 if a vehicle is classified as a passenger car or wagon. We know many of you will find this hard to believe, but the same federal agency can define the same car differently for different purposes. That’s a shocker, huh? But the Treasury Department has the final say when it comes to specifying which car qualifies for the federal EV tax incentives and in this case, it said on January 8 that both the Tesla Model Y and Cadillac Lyriq were passenger cars/wagons, meaning buyers would not be eligible for any tax credit because they both cost too much money. Certain models of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 were also excluded from the latest tax incentives.” [CleanTechnica, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

New Vehicle Classification In The US: More EVs Qualify For Tax Break — “The U.S. Treasury Department has revised its vehicle classification definitions, making even more electric cars eligible for the 7,500 dollar tax credit there. Moreover, the revision is applied retroactively, meaning all vehicles purchased since the beginning of the year can qualify.” [Electrive, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

 

Manufacturers, Fleets, & OEMs

 

BMW Group

 

Carmaker BMW To Invest Around $870 Million In Mexico In EV Push — “German automaker BMW (BMWG.DE) will invest 800 million euros ($866 million) in the central Mexican state of San Luis Potosi to produce high-voltage batteries and fully electric ‘Neue Klasse’ models, the carmaker said Friday. The expansion, set to add around 1,000 new jobs at its operations in the Mexican state, is BMW’s latest push into electric vehicles (EVs) as it looks to convert more than half of its sales into all-electric cars by 2030, it said. More than half of the funds to be invested in Mexico - 500 million euros - are earmarked for the battery assembly center on the carmaker’s existing plant grounds, BMW said, and some 500 additional employees will work there. Another 500 jobs will be created in other areas, it said. The remaining 300 million euros will go to adapting and extending the body shop and building a new assembly line to install the battery packs, plant head Harald Gottsche told Reuters.” [Reuters, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

BMW Investing Nearly $1B In Mexican Production Site To Prep For Its Neue Klasse EVs — “BMW is accelerating its electric vehicle production plans, announcing an € 800 million (about $864 million) investment to prepare its San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico for the incoming wave of next-generation Neue Klasse EVs. After announcing a $1.7 billion investment in October to expand its Spartanburg production site in the US, BMW plans to boost its North American EV capacity further. As Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG explained: We are systematically gearing our production network towards electromobility. In Mexico, we are investing 800 million euros in our plant and creating around 1,000 new jobs. Five hundred million euros will be set aside for a new 85,000 m2 assembly center for high-voltage electric vehicle batteries.” [Electrek, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

BMW To Start Building EVs In Mexico — “Starting in 2027, BMW is looking to build electric models of the ‘Neue Klasse’ (New Class) at its Plant in San Luis Potosí, as well as set up a local high-voltage battery assembly there. The carmaker announced that it will invest 800 million euros in the production site and create some 1,000 new jobs there.” [Electrive, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

BP PLC

 

BP’s CEO Plays Down Renewables Push As Returns Lag — “BP PLC BP -0.14%decrease; red down pointing triangle Chief Executive Bernard Looney plans to dial back elements of the oil giant’s high-profile push into renewable energy, according to people familiar with recent discussions. Mr. Looney has said he is disappointed in the returns from some of the oil giant’s renewable investments and plans to pursue a narrower green-energy strategy, the people said. He has told some people close to the company that BP needs to do more to convince shareholders of its strategy to maximize profits in areas where it has a competitive advantage, including its legacy oil-and-gas operations. … Mr. Looney has said in some of the recent discussions that the company will continue its push into renewable energy, but with a finer-tuned focus to avoid spreading resources too thinly or relying too heavily on renewables in its broader strategy. He has suggested that areas of continued emphasis will include developing climate-friendly hydrogen, biogas and electric-vehicle partnerships and charging networks, the people said. He and other BP executives have suggested that the company could play down future investment in areas including solar energy and offshore wind, according to some of the people. … Mr. Looney went on to say that oil and gas remain core to BP and will help fund its ‘transition growth engines’ like electric-vehicle charging and bioenergy. ‘Transition does not equal lower returns,’ he said on the podcast.” [The Wall Street Journal, 2/1/23 (=)]

 

Big This Week: BP, Biden, Power Study — “🛢️ BP will report full-year and Q4 earnings tomorrow amid questions about the future of its low-carbon investments, Ben writes. What we’re watching: How BP responds to a Wall Street Journal report that it will ‘dial back elements’ of its big renewables push. 💬 President Biden will deliver his State of the Union speech on Capitol Hill Tuesday night. Why it matters: I’m not sure these annual speeches really matter! That said, it’s likely a preview of how Biden will frame his energy and climate agenda as his 2024 re-election campaign looms. What we’re watching: Whether Biden offers new policy announcements. 🧳 Top French and German economic officials will meet with the Biden administration this week amid tensions over climate-related subsidies in the climate law, per the FT and Politico. What we’re watching: They’ll ask the U.S. to ‘lay off making ‘aggressive’ overtures’ for European companies to make investments in the U.S., the FT reports. ⚡ The International Energy Agency on Wednesday will release analysis on global power markets and forecasts through 2025 on supply, demand, and CO2 emissions.” [Axios, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Ford Motor Co.

 

Ford CEO Says Next-Gen EV Pickup, New Electric Platform Is ‘Deep In Development’ — “On Ford’s earnings call Thursday, CEO Jim Farley mentioned the automaker’s next generation of electric vehicles, including a full-size pickup EV, is well underway. Ford’s new EVs will ride on an updated electric architecture built for the modern era. Despite delivering a disappointing fourth-quarter and full-year 2022 earnings report yesterday, Ford is looking forward to a ‘pivotal year’ in 2023 as it executes its Ford+ plan. Electric vehicles were a bright spot for Ford last year, selling 61,575 models in 2022 (+126% YOY), making it the second largest EV maker in the US, behind only Tesla. The F-150 Lightning is sold out, the E-Transit cargo van is the best-selling electric van, and the Mustang Mach-E was one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the US last year overall. However, as Farley alluded to on the company’s Q4 earnings call, a lot was left on the table. Around $2 billion could have been avoided due to production costs and ongoing supply chain issues. As Ford transforms its business for the modern electric era, there will be parts moving slower than they should, which can incrementally add up.” [Electrek, 2/3/23 (+)]

 

Geely

 

US: Volvo Plug-In Car Sales In January 2023 Improved By 24% — “Volvo Cars USA reports that its car sales in the United States increased in January by eight percent year-over-year to 7,693. More importantly, plug-in electric car sales grow noticeably faster, which increases the share of rechargeable cars out of the total volume. In January, the company sold 2,370 plugs-ins, which is 24 percent more than a year ago and 30.8 percent of the total volume. It’s noteworthy that Volvo’s all-electric car sales increased by 80 percent year-over-year to 771 - that’s one-tenth out of the total for the third consecutive month. Plug-in hybrids were up too, but only by 8 percent year-over-year.” [Inside EVs, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

Hyundai Motor Co.

 

Hyundai Motor Group Celebrates 1 Million Plug-In Car Sales — “Hyundai Motor Group, which includes three car brands - Hyundai, Kia and Genesis - recently reached a milestone of one million plug-in electric cars sold cumulatively (globally). According to Yonhap News Agency, the group reached 1.02 million at the end of December 2022, which is more than a decade since the first model, the Hyundai BlueOn. was introduced in July 2011 in South Korea. At the time, it was a very basic all-electric car with a 16.4 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery and a range of less than 100 miles. But the South Korean company quickly progressed, developing new products (the most significant were the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV with a 64 kWh battery) and most recently, the all-new E-GMP platform for the next-generation of electric cars. According to the article, the cumulative sales of EVs (BEVs and PHEVs as we understand) as of the end of 2022, amounted to: Hyundai Motor (Hyundai and Genesis): 601,448 Kia: 420,836 Hyundai Motor Group: 1,022,284” [Inside EVs, 2/4/23 (=)]

 

Hyundai Motor Plug-In Car Sales Exceeded 24,000 In December 2022 — “Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai and Genesis brands) reports that its global vehicle sales in December amounted to 347,340 units, which is 4 percent more than a year ago. In 2022, the company sold 3,944,579 vehicles (up 1.4 percent year-over-year), which is a positive outcome in a very challenging time. The growth in the plug-in car segment is much faster. In December, the combined wholesale shipments (closely related to production) of Hyundai and Genesis plug-in cars amounted to *24,457 (up 31 percent year-over-year). It’s a near-record result (the third consecutive result above 24,000). Plug-in share reached 7 percent of the company’s total wholesale volume. *Retail sales in South Korea plus wholesale sales (manufacturer level) outside South Korea, unaudited and on a preliminary basis. **The Hyundai sales report includes sales numbers from the plants in South Korea, Europe (Kona Electric and Tucson PHEV), Indonesia (Ioniq 5), and plants in China and India (both small numbers). More importantly, all-electric car sales reached the fourth consecutive monthly record of 21,772, which is 43 percent more than a year ago and 6.3 percent of the total volume.” [Inside EVs, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

US: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Sales In January 2023 Increased 56% — “Hyundai Motor America reports the best January ever in the United States. Last month, the company sold 52,001 units, which is nearly 9 percent more than a year ago. Meanwhile, the company’s all-electric car sales are growing rapidly. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 noted a 57 percent increase year-over-year to 1,548 (3 percent of the total volume), while the Hyundai Kona Electric sales improved by 334 percent (but the manufacturer does not reveal the exact number - BEV and ICE versions are counted together: 5,826). It will be very interesting to see what will really happen with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 sales in 2023, but we are cautiously optimistic as the volume currently is stable at roughly 1,500 per month.” [Inside EVs, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

US: Kia Ev6 Sales Remain Above 1,000 In January 2023 — “Kia America reports 51,983 car sales in the United States in January, which is 22 percent more than a year ago and the best-ever January. However, while the total volume is relatively strong, the all-electric Kia EV6 noted only 1,110 units sold last month (after 1,107 in December and 641 in November). That’s 2.1 percent of Kia’s sales. This is a slowdown compared to what we have seen in the beginning, when the model was launched in February 2022, and for several months noted 2-3 thousand units per month.” [Inside EVs, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance

 

Nissan, Renault Alliance Shake-Up To Give Each Company More Independence — “Nissan Motor Co. NSANY -0.83%decrease; red down pointing triangle and Renault SA RNO -0.27%decrease; red down pointing triangle unveiled on Monday a long-planned restructuring of their two-decade-old alliance—a decoupling that falls short of a full divorce but gives each car company more autonomy after years of tensions. The restructuring, under which Renault will reduce its 43% stake in its Japanese partner to 15%, reflects a changing landscape in which alliances to build millions more gasoline-powered cars are no longer so valuable. Instead, new types of partnerships in batteries, electric-vehicle technology and software have grown in importance. The deals include an investment by Nissan in Renault’s electric-vehicle and software business, which the French auto maker is seeking to take public this year. They also are considering joint projects in Europe, India and Latin America. On Monday, the companies said they aimed to reach definitive agreements by the end of March and close the deal this year. The partnership dates to 1999, when Renault took a stake of more than a third in Nissan, which was struggling. Rising executive Carlos Ghosn was dispatched by Renault to lead Nissan’s revival and ultimately headed both auto makers at the same time, smoothing out differences with his forceful personality.” [The Wall Street Journal, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Nissan To Buy Up To 15% Stake In Renault EV Unit Under Reshaped Alliance — “Nissan (7201.T) and Renault (RENA.PA) on Monday unveiled details of their redesigned alliance, with the Japanese car maker committing to buy a stake of up to 15% in Renault’s electric vehicles unit Ampere. The agreement, which also includes the previously announced reduction of Renault’s stake in Nissan to make the two more equal partners, aims to make the alliance freer and more balanced for the next 15 years, Renault’s CEO Luca de Meo said. The lopsided relationship between the two car makers, which was deeply strained by the 2018 arrest of its architect and former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, amid financial scandal, had long been a source of friction among Nissan executives. While Renault bailed out Nissan two decades ago, it is the smaller automaker by sales. ‘I consider that what we have agreed is a much better set-up than what we have had in the last past few years,’ de Meo told a presentation of the new-look alliance in London.” [Reuters, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Factbox: Renault, Nissan Detail Joint Projects To Revive Alliance — “EUROPE The companies are exploring the following initiatives: Renault Group and Mitsubishi Motors would leverage the assets of the Renault Captur and Clio to develop 2 new vehicles with the next-gen ASX and Colt based on the CMF-B platform. Renault Group would launch FlexEVan on the LCV market, as its first Software-Defined Vehicle from 2026 and share it with Nissan in Europe. For their line-ups beyond 2026, Nissan and Renault Group would also explore possible collaborations on the next generation of C-segment Electric Vehicles. To ensure benchmark charging time, Nissan and Renault Group would continue sharing technologies on their European cars, including potential usage of common 800-volt architecture. These initiatives would build on existing commitments including plans for the future Nissan compact Electric Vehicle (B-segment), based on CMF-BEV platform, to be produced at Renault Group’s ElectriCity facility in France from 2026. … Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure: Renault Group and Nissan are considering jointly deploying charging infrastructure in Europe at both Renault Group and Nissan dealerships. Circular Economy: Renault Group and Nissan plan to select common battery recycling partners for their end-of-life batteries and production scraps.” [Reuters, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Renault, Nissan Boards Agree To Equalize Mutual Stakes — “The boards of Renault and Nissan gave their approval Monday to equalize the stake each automaker holds in the other, bringing a better balance in the French-Japanese alliance. Under the decision, both companies will own 15% in the other. Up to now, Renault Group of France owned 43.4% of Nissan Motor Co., while the Japanese automaker owned 15% of Renault. The uneven shareholdings had been viewed at times as a source of conflict in the alliance, which also includes the smaller Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. ‘We have been waiting a long time for this moment,’ Renault board Chairman Jean Dominique Senard said at a news conference Monday in London. Nissan intends to invest up to 15% in Ampere, Renault’s electric vehicle and software entity in Europe. Mitsubishi Motors also will consider investing in Ampere. The automakers will collaborate in various markets around the world, including Latin America, Europe and India, they said.” [Associated Press, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Renault, Nissan And Mitsubishi Strengthen Worldwide Cooperation On EVs — “The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance unveiled more details about their partnership and new direction for the next 15 years. Plans include joint activities in Latin America, India and Europe – with talk of a joint 800-volt architecture in the latter case.” [Electrive, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Nissan To Launch EV With Solid-State Batteries In Five Years — “Nissan says it’s in a ‘class-leading position’ to make the first batch of liquid-free, lower-cost solid-state batteries in 2025, with a brand new electric vehicle powered by said batteries slated for production in 2028. The timeline comes from the company’s senior vice president for research and development in Europe, David Moss, who spoke with UK-based publication Autocar about the Japanese brand’s advancements in solid-state technology. Nissan initially announced its involvement in the development of solid-state batteries for EVs back in 2021, when it said it will build a pilot facility where prototype cells would be made. One year later, prototype development was underway at the Nissan Research Center in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.” [Inside EVs, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Stellantis

 

Jeep Kicks Off Production Of Avenger — “Jeep has begun with the series production of its new Avenger SUV at its Stellantis plant in Tychy in Poland. According to the carmaker, the Avenger is just the beginning of a portfolio of all-electric SUVs for the European market, as Jeep is looking to become the world leader in zero-emission SUVs.” [Electrive, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Inc.

 

Jury Rules For Elon Musk And Tesla In Investor Lawsuit Over Tweets — “A jury decided Friday that Elon Musk was not liable for losses suffered by investors after he posted messages on Twitter saying he had secured the funding to take Tesla private in 2018. Investors had sued Mr. Musk, Tesla and the company’s board, arguing that his statements about his embryonic plan to take the electric car company private had devastating financial consequences for them. But in a federal civil trial in San Francisco over the last three weeks, lawyers for Tesla and Mr. Musk, the automaker’s chief executive, have argued that he was such a successful businessman that he could have easily obtained financing to take Tesla private. Two posts on Twitter by Mr. Musk were at the heart of the case. On Aug. 7, 2018, he wrote on Twitter: ‘Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.’ He then wrote: ‘Investor support is confirmed. Only reason why this is not certain is that it’s contingent on a shareholder vote.’ Tesla’s share price jumped after those posts and then tumbled after the proposal fell apart in less than three weeks. The federal judge in the case, Edward M. Chen, had already ruled that ‘funding secured’ and Mr. Musk’s second statement were untrue, and that Mr. Musk was reckless when posting them.” [The New York Times, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

Elon Musk Likely To 'Double Down' On Tweets After Court Victory — “Elon Musk may become even more emboldened in his Twitter use after a jury cleared the billionaire Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) chief executive over his missive that he had ‘funding secured’ to take his electric car company private. A San Francisco jury took just two hours to unanimously find the world’s second-richest person not liable for having allegedly tweeted fraudulently in August 2018 about a possible Tesla buyout. Musk is likely to ‘double down’ on his communication tactics after the verdict, said Minor Myers, a professor of corporate law at the University of Connecticut. ‘This is only going to embolden him to act as he sees fit,’ Myers said. Musk ultimately abandoned his effort to take Tesla private, but told jurors early in the three-week trial that he had believed what he wrote in tweets. Karen Woody, an associate professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law, said she thought the case was ‘rock-solid’ against Musk and she was shocked at the verdict.” [Reuters, 2/4/23 (=)]

 

For Elon Musk, Two Cases About His Tweets, And Two Victories — “Twice Elon Musk has faced a jury over remarks he has made on Twitter. And twice a jury has vindicated him. The latest victory came Friday when a federal jury ruled in his favor in a securities-fraud lawsuit in which investors alleged they felt misled into losing money after his 2018 tweets claimed to have ‘funding secured’ to take Tesla Inc. TSLA 0.91%increase; green up pointing triangle private. Shares rose on the news, then fell in the days after as it became clear he didn’t have such a deal for the car maker finalized. Mr. Musk’s willingness to bet on himself and his convictions have been rewarded, furthering his reputation as a maverick willing to fight rather than bow to pressure. His use of Twitter during the past decade has helped make him one of the world’s richest people, brandishing his personal reputation and the brands of his car company, rocket maker SpaceX and other startups. But his shoot-from-the-hip tweets have also drawn him into controversy.” [The Wall Street Journal, 2/4/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Jury Clears Musk In $12b 'Take Private' Tweet Trial — “A California federal jury cleared Tesla and CEO Elon Musk of securities fraud after just hours of deliberation Friday in a trial over his 2018 tweets that he had ‘funding secured’ to take the company private, rejecting investors’ claims they’re owed $12 billion for losses they incurred from the false tweets. The verdict rejecting securities fraud claims against the Tesla CEO and the automaker came the same day attorneys for the investors and Tesla delivered closing arguments in the three-week trial. Last year, U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen, who is overseeing the case, found that although Tesla had entered into discussions with representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund about providing funds to take Tesla private, the evidence showed that no concrete financing was in place at the time of Elon Musk’s tweets.” [Law360, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

Tesla's Elon Musk Found Not Liable In Trial Over 2018 'Funding Secured' Tweets — “A U.S. jury on Friday found Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk and his company were not liable for misleading investors when Musk tweeted in 2018 that he had ‘funding secured’ to take the electric car company private. Plaintiffs had claimed billions in damages and the decision also had been seen as important for Musk himself, who often takes to Twitter to air his views. The jury came back with a unanimous verdict roughly two hours after beginning deliberations. Musk was not present in court when the verdict was read but soon tweeted that he was ‘deeply appreciative’ of the jury’s decision. ‘Thank goodness, the wisdom of the people has prevailed,’ he said.” [Reuters, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

AP | Tesla Hikes Price Of Model Y After US Alters Tax Credit Rule — “Tesla has raised prices on its Model Y in the U.S., apparently due to rising demand and changes in U.S. government rules that make more versions of the small SUV eligible for tax credits. The Austin, Texas, electric vehicle company bumped up the price of the Model Y Long Range version by about 2% to $54,990 and the Performance version by about 2.7% to $57,990, according to its website. The prices exclude shipping and an order fee. The moves, made Friday, come three weeks after Tesla cut prices nearly 20% on some versions of the Model Y, the company’s top-selling vehicle. The price cuts were made to boost sagging demand, and also to make more versions of the Model Y eligible for the $7,500 electric-vehicle tax credit in the Inflation Reduction Act. The full tax credits will be available at least into March. On Friday, The Treasury Department revised vehicle classification definitions to make more EVs – including SUVs made by Tesla, Ford and General Motors – eligible the full $7,500.” [The Detroit News, 2/4/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Raises Model Y Prices By $1,000 After U.S. Relaxes Tax Credit Terms — “Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) raised prices in the United States of its best-selling vehicle, the Model Y, by $1,000 after the government raised the ceiling on the price of crossover electric vehicles eligible for tax credits. Tesla increased the price of the Model Y Long Range to $54,990, and the Model Y Performance to $57,990, an increase of $1,000 each, according to current and previous prices posted on its website. It was the second increase in price for the Model Y Long Range over the past two weeks. The models remain 15% and 17% cheaper, respectively, than they were before Tesla slashed prices last month to stoke demand, before accounting for the $7,500 tax credit buyers now qualify to receive.” [Reuters, 2/4/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Raises Price Of Model Y, Ford Won't Do Same For Mustang Mach-E — “After making headlines for price cuts on its electric vehicles in January, Tesla reversed course and raised the price of its Model Y late Friday after the U.S. government relaxed regulations for electric vehicle tax credits. But Ford is not planning to raise the Mustang Mach-E price or change plans to offer a price break to recent buyers, Ford spokesman Marty Gunsberg confirmed to the Detroit Free Press on Saturday. Executives for the Dearborn automaker have said in recent days the company is committed to gaining market share and going head-to-head with the top-selling electric automaker. And that means a price war.” [Detroit Free Press, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Adjusts Pricing Again, Model Y Goes Up, Model 3 Goes Down — “Tesla has again adjusted its electric vehicle prices for the third time in a month. This time, Model Y prices went up while the Model 3 base price went down. It’s been an eventful few weeks for people tracking Tesla’s prices. As we previously reported, Tesla started the month by implementing drastic cuts across its entire EV lineup, with Model Y seeing the biggest cut of up to $13,000. However, a few weeks later, the automaker adjusted the prices up on the Model Y by $500. CEO Elon Musk indicated that more price increases may come as Tesla is adjusting to the demand the massive price cuts created.” [Electrek, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

Tesla’s $3.6 Billion Expansion Plans At Giga Nevada — “Operations at Tesla’s Sparks, Nevada, plant — its first gigafactory — are set to grow substantially in the coming years, with the company recently sharing plans to add two new factories. The Tesla factory has been a key producer of Tesla’s automotive batteries throughout the last several years, and soon it will also be a major producer of the Tesla Semi. Tesla has announced plans to spend as much as $3.6 billion in expansions at Gigafactory Nevada, as detailed by MarketWatch in recent weeks. The investments will go toward the company’s first ‘high-volume’ Semi factory and an updated 4680 battery cell factory, adding as many as 3,000 jobs to the location, according to the automaker. The expansion projects will add as much as 4 million square feet of new manufacturing facilities to Tesla’s current footprint of 5.4 million square feet. Currently, Tesla has about 11,000 employees at Giga Nevada. It’s not yet clear when the construction projects will begin, nor how long they’re expected to last. The battery cell factory will produce 100 GWh of battery cells per year, or ‘enough batteries for 2 million light-duty vehicles annually,’ according to Tesla. In 2022, Tesla said it delivered roughly 1.31 million vehicles and most analysts forecast Tesla to deliver around 1.92 million vehicles in 2023.” [CleanTechnica, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

Tesla’s Pickup Truck Is Coming Soon. Maybe. — “More than three years after Elon Musk stunned the auto industry with an electric pickup truck that looked more like a stealth fighter than a way to haul two-by-fours and drywall, Tesla said last week that it would begin building the vehicle by the end of 2023. The announcement has helped fuel a recovery in Tesla’s share price, but also revived a debate about whether the often-delayed pickup, called the Cybertruck, is a work of genius or evidence of Mr. Musk’s hubris. It would be very unlike Mr. Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, to build a pickup that looked anything like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado or Ram 1500 pickup — three of the best-selling vehicles in the United States. With its angular stainless steel body, the Cybertruck is an attempt to redefine the pickup in the same way that Tesla upended the conventional wisdom of the auto industry by proving that battery-powered vehicles could be practical and profitable.” [The New York Times, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Tesla Dominates January EV Deliveries In Australia — “Large numbers of Tesla Model 3 electric cars were delivered in January 2023 in Australia, making it the best-selling sedan in Australia and the third best-selling vehicle in the country behind the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux! January may be an anomaly, as 4600 Tesla Model 3s were held up at the ports due to logistical issues. Some of these are still being delivered. On the other hand, only 386 Model Ys were delivered in January. ‘Tesla placed 16th outright on the Australian new-car sales charts — up from 19th in 2021 — beating established marques such as Audi, Honda, Volvo and Renault,’ Drive writes.” [CleanTechnica, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

Toyota Motor Corp.

 

US: Subaru Sold Another 500 Solterra In January — “Subaru of America reports 44,373 vehicle sales in January, which is 0.5 percent more than a year ago and the best January ever, according to the company. For us, the most interesting thing is the sales result of the all-electric Subaru Solterra model (Toyota bZ4X cousin), which was introduced a few months ago. The Japanese manufacturer managed to sell 499 Subaru Solterra in January (1.1 percent of the total volume). That’s less than in December (825) but more than in November (94). The cumulative number is 1,418).” [Inside EVs, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

VinGroup JSC

 

Vinfast Delays First US Deliveries To Late February — “VinFast, the Vietnamese automotive company established in 2017, announced that the first batch of its US-bound VF 8 electric cars will get to customers starting late February 2023, after the vehicles will have their software updates. The story comes via Automotive News, which writes that the young car company has secured 55,000 orders globally for its EVs as of December last year, 12,000 of which are from the United States. ‘The cars have been updated with the latest software. We are planning to hand over the first VF8 vehicle models to customers in the second half of February,’ VinFast said in a statement quoted by Automotive News. The Vietnamese carmaker started shipping its initial batch of 999 VF 8 units in November 2022, with the goal of getting some of those cars to customers by the end of the year. However, this has now changed.” [Inside EVs, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Volkswagen Group

 

Electrify America Raises Its Charging Prices By Up To 25 Percent —  “Electrify America (EA), which is currently one of the largest DC fast-charger networks in the United States, announced it will raise its prices starting on March 6, both for subscribers and occasional users. In a note sent to customers, Electrify America said that the higher cost of electricity and rising operational costs made it update its pricing policy. Currently, one kilowatt-hour for non-subscribers costs $0.43, but from March it will be $0.48/kWh. That’s not a big change – only five cents per kWh – but when you’re driving across the country in an EV and charging at EA, it adds up. It’s an 11.6-percent increase for those who need solid numbers, which translates to a real-world cost increase of $5 for a 100 kWh top-up. However, for EA Pass+ members paying the $4 monthly fee for cheaper rates, the price hike is bigger percentage-wise, going from $0.31 to $0.36 per kWh, or 16% more than before.” [Inside EVs, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Electrify America Tells Customers It Will Raise EV Charging Prices Next Month — “US EV charging network Electrify America has announced an increase in prices beginning next month for all customers, including Pass+ members. The charging network broke down the price increases in an email to customers today. Electrify America currently operates one of the largest DC fast-charger networks in the United States, consisting of roughly 800 charging stations that contain about 3,500 individual EV chargers. In 2023 and beyond, the network is working to expand in the United States and Canada, growing to approximately 10,000 chargers across 1,800 different Electrify America stations. This expansion now includes over 1,000 EA fast chargers being implemented across 200 TravelCenters locations in the US, as well as new Mega-Watt backed storage stations to charge EVs while alleviating dependency on the grid.” [Electrek, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

Electrify America Increases Prices — “The US charging network will charge five cents more starting on 6 March 2023. This concerns all customers, including Pass+ members, no matter if they charge per minute or per kilowatt hour.” [Electrive, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Misc. EV Startups

 

Faraday Future Shares Soar On Securing Funding To Start EV Production — “Shares of Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc (FFIE.O) soared about 28% in premarket trading on Monday after the company said it had raised enough funds to start production of its electric luxury car FF 91 Futurist in March. Delivery of the sports utility vehicle, originally slated to start in late 2022, will now begin before the end of April, the company said on Sunday. The development offered a spot of relief to investors who have seen the stock plummet 92% since listing in July 2021 as the loss-making startup grappled with a boardroom battle, governance issues and a dwindling cash balance that hurt its production plans. The company plans to hold an investor meeting on Feb. 28 to vote on a proposal for increasing its outstanding stock, which it said will allow for future financing to support deliveries. Major shareholder FF Top Holdings, which has an 8.4% stake in the firm, has agreed to support such a proposal at the shareholder meeting, it said.” [Reuters, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

 

Electric Vehicles

 

EV Sales & Transition

 

You Are Thinking That Your Next Car Might Be An EV, But … ? —  “A big portion of new car buyers are now buying fully electric cars. But more are buying non-electric cars. If you’ve been in the bigger, latter group, what’s keeping you from an EV as your next car? Here are some common responses: I would expect to have range anxiety. (Where will I refuel? How long does charging take?) They don’t make the EV model I want, and I want to stay with my favorite brand. There is no dealer or service near me — where do I get service? Are EVs as reliable as my Toyota? The winters are bitter cold where I live. How would an EV do here? EVs are more expensive than gas cars. I’ve never driven an electric car; how do I get a test drive? Are EVs safe? I will try to answer some of these questions and concerns. Note that I owned 3 Nissan LEAF models for a total of 5 years and I have driven my Tesla Model 3 for over 3 years, so much of my expertise and recommendations are based on this experience.” [CleanTechnica, 2/6/23 (+)]

 

EV Infrastructure

 

Can The Power Grid Handle A Wave Of New Electric Vehicles? — “A wave of electric cars, SUVs and pickups is headed toward America’s highways, driven by the auto industry’s aggressive rollout, the vehicles’ growing driving range, environmental regulations and government incentives. Experts believe EVs will make up a third or even half of all light vehicles sold annually in the U.S. by 2030, up from about 7% in 2022. If those predictions are correct, that leaves a big question: Will the power grid be capable of charging the batteries in those tens of millions of vehicles? Some grid operators already are struggling to keep up with demand in certain areas and at certain times—California power authorities, for example, asked residents to avoid charging electric cars in the evening during a heat wave last September to help avoid overloading the grid, while utility officials in other areas have warned at times of possible rolling blackouts to prevent system collapses.” [The Wall Street Journal, 2/5/23 (~)]

 

 

States & Local

 

Youngkin’s Move To Block EV Plant Stirs Controversy — “Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) announcement removing his state from consideration for a Ford electric vehicle (EV) battery plant over connections to China has triggered a controversy, with critics saying he is picking fights as a prelude to a possible 2024 White House run. … The governor cited the involvement of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL), a Chinese battery manufacturer that would have operated the facility as a joint venture with Ford. The planned joint venture would be operated by CATL but owned by Ford, which could have made the plant eligible for subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act. The broader political backdrop: Youngkin is seen as a rising GOP star who could be a dark-horse candidate for president in 2024 or a vice presidential candidate. He just won Virginia’s governorship in 2021 but is term-limited and cannot run for a second consecutive term in 2025. Democrats have blasted Youngkin’s announcement and accused him of putting his presidential hopes ahead of the state. ‘The governor chose to make a splash and on his own disrespect[ed] the people of Southside Virginia by not letting them know that he was going to turn down 2,500 jobs and a $5 billion investment in a region of the commonwealth that has been suffering,’ Virginia state House Minority Leader Don Scott (D) told The Hill in an interview. ‘We believe that he put his political and presidential aspirations before the people of Virginia who elected him.’” [The Hill, 2/2/23 (=)]

 

Gov. Glenn Youngkin Aims To Save Virginia From California-Style Energy Policies — “Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, is drawing a sharp contrast between his energy initiatives and those of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, saying he remains committed to withdrawing Virginia from a multistate climate pact and pulling away from California’s vehicle emission goals. Youngkin’s executive order calling on Virginia to ‘reevaluate’ its participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative details the increased costs faced by Virginia ratepayers under it. The Republican governor’s order notes that Dominion Energy, Virginia’s largest public utility, estimates the climate initiative could cost ratepayers between $1 billion and $1.2 billion over the next few years. ‘Democratic legislatures here in Virginia really have just ceded away our authority in the energy sphere to California and to northeastern states,’ Travis Voyles, Virginia’s acting secretary of natural and historic resources, told The Daily Signal in a phone interview.” [The Daily Signal, 1/30/23 (-)] 

 

 

International

 

Canada

 

Canada Funds More Than 2,000 Charging Stations In The Greater Toronto Area — “Canada announced additional funding for charging infrastructure – nearly 15 million Canadian dollars (10.4 million euros). This will be used to build more than 2,350 new charging stations, 2,100 of which will be installed in the Greater Toronto Area.” [Electrive, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

China

 

China-EV Investigations — “The U.S. electric car market and its reliance on China is heading for a collision with Congress, Axios’ Jael Holzman writes. Why it matters: Lawmakers are setting their sights on the auto industry’s global supply relationships as bipartisan support emerges to deal with the dirtier sides of ‘clean energy.’ Driving the news: House Republicans and Senate Democrats launched probes in recent weeks into EV and battery manufacturers, their reliance on Chinese businesses, and potential risks to national security and efforts to prevent forced labor abroad. Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden asked eight carmakers for detailed information about their supply chains after a report alleged they had ‘several supply chain exposures’ to China’s Xinjiang region, where oppressed Muslim communities are believed to be forced to work at nearby factories. ‘This is one of the more significant inquiries that we’ve undertaken because it affects the well-being of workers and consumers in our country, [and] there are implications worldwide,’ Wyden told Axios last week. Republicans on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee also began reviewing potential China exposures in federal infrastructure grants to battery tech firms for U.S. projects.” [Axios, 2/6/23 (=)]

 

Europe

 

Consensus Is Needed For Europe’s Electrification Strategy — “According to market data platform Statista, the European passenger vehicle market will be worth US$413.5bn in 2023, with a CAGR of 2.26% through to 2027. With the UK and EU setting bans on the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) models in 2030 and 2035 respectively, AlixPartners forecasts huge market share gains for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). By 2035, it estimates that BEVs will constitute 83% of the European market, up from 8% in 2021. As a display of its confidence in BEV technology, Volkswagen announced that its product line will be exclusively electric for the European market by 2030. Despite this, industry reactions to the November 2022 publication of Euro 7 emissions standards indicate the market’s trajectory is far from assured. Ranging from criticisms of being unambitious to unachievable in the timeframe given, Euro 7 does not make the death of ICE a foregone conclusion.” [Automotive World, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

France

 

France Plugin EV Share Up YOY — Dacia Spring Takes Top Spot — “France’s auto market saw plugin electric vehicles (EVs) take 22.3% share of new sales in January, up from 17.6% year on year. Full electrics saw stronger growth than plugin hybrids. Overall auto volumes were 111,939 units, some 9% higher YoY, but still well below pre-2020 seasonal norms. January’s best selling full electric was the Dacia Spring. January’s 22.3% combined plugin share comprised 13.1% full electrics (BEVs), and 9.2% plugin hybrids (PHEVs). These compare with respective shares of 17.6%, 9.9%, and 7.7%, a year ago. In volume terms, BEVs grew YoY from 10,217 units to 14,626 — annual grow of over 43%.” [CleanTechnica, 2/4/23 (=)]

 

India

 

In India, BEVs Are Starting To Take Off — “Although most vehicular traffic in India is two- and three-wheeled, it is still exciting to see the numbers of four-wheeled personal vehicles going electric on India’s roads. India is an economic force to be reckoned with, even though the promise of Chindia in the ‘90s has not come to pass. Prime Minister Modi is on record as stating that the Indian economy will soon to be the third largest in the world behind US/China and ahead of Japan (announced in a speech to a student body, reported on Indian news outlet SBS). Auto Punditz has just released the 2022 figures and they are encouraging. ‘Highlights 2022 registered the highest-ever BEV sales of 48,262 units, with 229% volume growth over 2021 October 2022 was the best sales month with 5,113 units sold Tata Motors commands 86% of the Indian BEV market share, followed by MG with 9% Tata Nexon EV (29,149) is the best-selling product, followed by Tata Tigor EV (11,890) Availability of competitive BEV products and high conventional-fuel prices are the major BEV market drivers in 2022 insert web address here.’” [CleanTechnica, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

Indonesia

 

Like Musk, Nickel-Rich Indonesia Has High Electric Vehicle Ambitions — “Armed with the world’s largest reserves of nickel and a ban on the export of nickel ore, Indonesia is making itself indispensable for the electric vehicle industry, which uses the metal extensively. In just three years, Indonesia has signed more than a dozen deals worth more than $15 billion for battery and electric vehicle production in the country with manufacturers including Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), LG Group (003550.KS) and Foxconn (2317.T). Next up is the mammoth Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), the world’s most valuable automaker. President Joko Widodo has pulled out all the stops to convince CEO Elon Musk to manufacture electric vehicles or batteries in the sprawling Southeast Asian archipelago. ‘I’m very confident this industry will grow quickly, will grow very fast,’ the president, popularly known as Jokowi, said in an interview last week. Indonesia has a total of 21 million tonnes in proven reserves with nickel content, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That is nearly a quarter of the world’s reserves.” [Reuters, 2/5/23 (=)]

 

Mexico

 

Mexico In Talks With Top Carmakers To Make Electric Vehicles, Foreign Minister Says — “Mexico is gearing up to build several manufacturing hubs for electric vehicles across the country, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told Reuters, and is in talks with some of the world’s top carmakers. The shocks of the pandemic and two years of supply chain chaos are colliding with a once-in-a-century shift of the industry’s fundamental technology as combustion vehicles give way to electric ones. Ebrard said in an interview late on Thursday that Mexico was keen to capitalize on the global shift to electric vehicles. Mexico wants to ‘attract all that we can’, Ebrard said in an interview on Thursday, adding that the likes of BMW (BMWG.DE) and Audi , General Motors (GM.N), Fiat Chrysler (STLA.MI) and Tesla (TSLA.O) had all expressed interest in producing in the country. Ebrard said, ‘we’ll give them all the facilities we can’. His comments come as Tesla is said to be looking to build a plant in Mexico and BMW is investing 800 million euros ($866 million) in the central Mexican state of San Luis Potosi to produce high-voltage batteries and fully electric cars.” [Reuters, 2/3/23 (=)]

 

 

Research & Analysis

 

Do You Work In The Auto Industry? We Want To Hear From You. — “Growth in sales of electric vehicles has created thousands of jobs in auto manufacturing, batteries and other new fields, but not without turmoil. There is talk of layoffs at some suppliers and automakers even as other companies expand. I cover the auto industry for The New York Times, and I am planning to write about how the shift in technology is affecting jobs. If you work for an electric vehicle manufacturer or supplier, such as a battery maker, I’d like to know about how these changes affect you — whether you find the job invigorating or exhausting, and what the work environment is like. I also plan to write about how jobs involving combustion engine vehicles are changing. Some workers might consider electric vehicles a threat while others might see them as an opportunity to acquire new skills.” [The New York Times, 2/6/23 (+)]

 

 

 

Responses to this email are not monitored

 

For distribution-related questions, please contact Erin Auel (eauel@partnershipproject.org)

 

For any other questions or comments, please contact Mitch Dunn (mitch@beehivedc.com)