BERLIN, May 31 (Reuters) – Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) will not participate in a discount battle in China “at any price”, Chief Operating Officer Ralf Brandstaetter said in an interview released on Wednesday.
The German carmaker is under growing pressure in its most important market from up-and-coming Chinese manufacturers who are more successful with electric cars than their Western rivals.
Continue reading “Volkswagen won’t join China discount battle “at any price” – COO”
JAKARTA, May 31 (Reuters) – A British consortium that includes mining giant Glencore (GLEN.L) will invest about $9 billion in Indonesia’s mining and electric vehicle (EV) battery sectors, a minister said on Wednesday, as the resource-rich country tries to lure a host of multinational firms.
Indonesia, which has the world’s biggest nickel reserves, is keen to develop downstream industries with the ultimate aim of producing batteries and vehicles for the world’s biggest electric car manufacturers.
WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Tuesday it is closing its investigation into 580,000 Tesla (TSLA.O) vehicles over the automaker’s decision to initially allow games to be played on the front center touchscreen.
Shortly after NHTSA opened its investigation into Tesla’s “Passenger Play” in December 2021, Tesla agreed to stop allowing video games to be played on vehicle screens while its cars are moving. NHTSA said Tuesday it was not seeking a recall of the vehicles but said its analysis of data provided by Tesla “produced significant concerns about driver distraction during the time that it was available.”
Continue reading “US agency closes investigation into Tesla game feature”
BANGKOK, May 30 (Reuters) – China’s Great Wall Motor Co Ltd (601633.SS) is finalising plans to invest up to $30 million to set up a new battery pack assembly plant in Thailand, where it will start making a compact electric car next year, according to a company official.
The Hebei-based company is also considering establishing a research and development centre in Thailand that could work on battery powered pickup trucks, Narong Sritalayon, managing director of Great Wall Motor Thailand said in an interview.
Continue reading “China’s Great Wall Motor plans EV battery assembly, research in Thailand”
WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) – The White House said on Tuesday that President Joe Biden is withdrawing the nomination of the acting head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to take the top job on a permanent basis.
The White House gave no reason for the move and declined to comment.
Continue reading “Biden withdraws nomination of official to head US auto safety agency”
BILLY-BERCLAU, France, May 30 (Reuters) – France will inaugurate on Tuesday a battery-making gigafactory, the first of four such plants European and Asian companies plan to build in the north of the country.
The development by Automotive Cells Company, a joint-venture between Stellantis (STLAM.MI), Mercedes (MBGn.DE) and TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), involves total investment of 2 billion euros ($2.20 billion) – with the French state and local authorities providing nearly half.
Continue reading “France inaugurates first of four gigafactories in the north”
TOKYO, May 30 (Reuters) – Daimler Truck Holding AG (DTGGe.DE) and Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) have struck a preliminary deal to combine their truck units in Japan, the companies said on Tuesday.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU), the businesses of Daimler-owned Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp and Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors Ltd (7205.T) would be combined under a holding company, they said in a statement.
Continue reading “Toyota, Daimler strike deal to combine Japanese truck operations”
TOKYO, May 30 (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp’s (7203.T) global sales rose by nearly 5% in April from a year earlier, boosted by stronger demand for hybrids and gasoline-powered cars in Japan and China.
The Japanese automaker also reported better overseas sales of battery electric vehicles (EVs), bringing the total number of battery-powered units it sold in the first four months of the year above last year’s level.
Continue reading “Toyota’s April global sales rise on stronger demand in Japan, China”
TOKYO, May 30 (Reuters) – Mitsubishi Motors Corp (7211.T) will extend a suspension of its production in China beyond May, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday, highlighting struggles the Japanese car maker faces in the world’s largest auto market.
Mitsubishi Motors is discussing when to resume production in China with its local partner, a company spokesperson said, adding that there was nothing he could say about the timing.
Continue reading “Mitsubishi Motors to extend suspension of production in China -Yomiuri”
OTTAWA, May 29 (Reuters) – Canada’s federal government and the Quebec province will each provide about C$150 million ($112 million) for a General Motors-POSCO Chemical (GM.N)(005490.KS) battery materials facility that is expected create about 200 jobs in the country, the Canadian industry ministry said on Monday.
The U.S. carmaker and South Korea’s POSCO outlined their plan last year to build the facility in Becancour, Quebec, to produce cathode active material (CAM) for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Continue reading “Canada, Quebec to provide about C$300 mln for GM-POSCO battery materials facility”
Gurugram, May 29, 2023: MG Motor India, a British automobile brand with a 99-year-old legacy, introduced the Advanced BLACKSTORM edition of the MG Gloster – India’s First Autonomous Level-1 Premium SUV today. This exclusive special edition comes in an elegant and deep Black hue, adding a clear touch of distinction to the vehicle. The Advanced Gloster BLACKSTORM will be available nationwide at an ex-showroom (Delhi) price of Rs 40,29,800/-.
Continue reading “MG Motor India introduces the Advanced Gloster BLACKSTORM”
DETROIT, May 29 (Reuters) – Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) and MediaTek Inc (2454.TW) on Monday said they will collaborate on technology to power advanced vehicle infotainment systems that can stream video or games or interact with drivers using artificial intelligence.
Under the agreement, announced at the Computex technology trade show in Taipei, MediaTek will integrate an Nvidia graphic processing unit chiplet and Nvidia software into the system-on-chips it supplies to automakers for infotainment displays.
Continue reading “Nvidia, MediaTek partner on connected car technology”
TOKYO, May 28 (Reuters) – Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended that shareholders of Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) vote in favour of a resolution urging the automaker to improve disclosure of its lobbying related to climate change.
ISS in a report also regarded three of Toyota’s four outside director nominees as not independent. Toyota said all candidates met the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s independence criteria.
Continue reading “ISS backs Toyota shareholder proposal on climate disclosure”
May 26 (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co (F.N) shares jumped by more than 7% on Friday after the No. 2 U.S. automaker announced a deal allowing its electric-vehicle owners to access rival Tesla Inc’s (TSLA.O) charging stations in North America.
Tesla’s Superchargers could become the standard for EV charging in the United States, Ford CEO Jim Farley told CNBC, but added: “With adapters and software, we really don’t have to make a choice right now what the standard is, but I think it’s going to play out in the free market.”
Continue reading “Ford, Tesla shares jump over 7% on Superchargers deal”
PTI – The company has registered at the portal of government e-marketplace (GeM), which was launched in 2016 by the commerce ministry for buying goods and services by central ministries and departments with a view to bringing transparency in government procurement.
PTI – Starting in 1965 as an answer to cut reliance on foreign companies for doing engineering and other work for the massive projects that a newly independent nation undertook, EIL is building the country’s first biorefinery, which will use bamboo to produce ethanol, and moving into green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel.
Continue reading “Engineers India eyes non-fossil fuel business, overseas for new phase of growth”
PTI – Delhi transport department and Delhi Electric Vehicle cell on Wednesday kicked off the process of drafting a revised ‘Delhi EV Policy 2.0’ with a stakeholder consultation.
Delhi’s Electric Vehicle policy which will complete three years in August has so far achieved around 86 per cent of its measures and targets, according to the transport department. Delhi transport department and Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) cell on Wednesday kicked off the process of drafting a revised ‘Delhi EV Policy 2.0’ with a stakeholder consultation.
Continue reading “Delhi EV policy achieves 86% of targets: Transport department”
PTI – The company, which is planning to enter new cities like Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad is targeting a revenue of INR 500 crore this year, up from INR 125 crore last year.
Startup electric mobility services provider Zypp Electric is targetting to deploy 2 lakh vehicles in its fleet in the next three years and will need up to USD 300 million to fund its expansion, according to company CEO and co-founder Akash Gupta.
PTI – Maruti Suzuki India expects continuing production loss in the first quarter due to the shortage of electronic components, with relief anticipated in July-September. Last fiscal, Maruti lost 1.7 lakh units due to chip shortage, and it is anticipated that the company will lose numbers in May and June. The carmaker has an order backlog of over 4 lakh units with Ertiga leading the pack with close to 1 lakh bookings.
Continue reading “Maruti Suzuki expects production loss in Q1; anticipates some relief from July”
PTI – Bridgestone India, which is a subsidiary of Japanese multinational tyre manufacturer Bridgestone Corporation, has a well-diversified portfolio, mainly of radial tyres which cater to OEM as well as replacement segments.
Tyre maker Bridgestone is looking to expand its retail footprint in India by 20-25 per cent this year and is aiming to grow higher than the industry’s growth, a top company executive has said. Bridgestone India at present has over 3,200 dealerships across 1,300 cities and towns in India.
Continue reading “Bridgestone looks to expand retail footprint in India”
PTI – Hydrogen is a clean burning fuel and shows promise for use in the most energy intensive sectors of the economy-transportation, electricity generation and manufacturing, the researchers said.
Coal may provide a potential new way to store hydrogen gas, much like batteries store energy for future use, addressing a major hurdle in developing a clean energy supply chain, according to a study. Hydrogen is a clean burning fuel and shows promise for use in the most energy intensive sectors of the economy-transportation, electricity generation and manufacturing, the researchers said.
Continue reading “Storing hydrogen in coal may help power clean energy economy: Study”
PTI – An agricultural field near Kachhipura village was found covered in crude oil leaked from a pipeline belonging to ONGC on Sunday, said Bharuch-based GPCB regional officer Margi Patel.
The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has ordered the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to pay INR 50 lakh in damages for the spillage of crude oil from its pipeline in Bharuch district, an official said on Friday. It has been alleged that 25 camels died after drinking water contaminated with the spillage on Sunday, though the central government-controlled oil major has denied it.
Continue reading “Gujarat: ONGC asked to pay damages for crude oil leak in Bharuch district”
May 25 (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co (F.N) said on Thursday it has agreed with Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) to allow its electric vehicle owners to gain access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in North America in early 2024.
The tie-up between the rivals makes Ford the first major automaker to embrace Tesla’s proprietary charging standard, giving the automaker access to the biggest network of high-speed Superchargers in the United States.
DETROIT, May 25 (Reuters) – U.S. trade policy with China and other nations must strike a more equitable balance between needs of workers and corporate profits, leaders of two big U.S. unions said at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers meeting on Thursday.
“We’re not anti-trade,” United Auto Workers union President Shawn Fain said during a panel discussion led by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. “We’re anti-trade (when) it’s a one-sided affair.”
Continue reading “At APEC trade meeting, union leaders call for new ‘balance’ with China”
WASHINGTON, May 25 (Reuters) – A group of 27 Senate Republicans on Thursday called on the Biden administration to drop its plan to drastically cut vehicle emissions through 2032 and ramp up electric vehicle sales.
In a letter led by Senator Shelley Moore Capito, lawmakers said the administration plan will “effectively mandate a costly transition to electric cars and trucks in the absence of congressional direction.” The Environmental Protection Agency proposal issued in April estimates sharp emissions cuts would result in 67% of new light duty vehicle sales as electric by 2032.
Continue reading “Senate Republicans want EPA to drop plan to cut emissions, boost EVs”
May 25 (Reuters) – Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) and its Audi unit have agreed to an $85 million settlement in principle over violations of Texas environmental laws stemming from its diesel cheating scandal, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Thursday.
The settlement stipulates that the German automakers pay a civil penalty of $85 million for their unlawful actions, Paxton said.
Continue reading “VW, Audi agree to $85 million diesel settlement in principle with Texas”
May 25 (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co (F.N) CEO Jim Farley said on Thursday Chinese electric vehicle makers are its main rivals in the sector, but the company has hurdles competing on cost at a smaller scale.
“I think we see the Chinese as the main competitor, not GM (GM.N) or Toyota (7203.T),” Farley said at the Morgan Stanley Sustainable Finance Summit. “The Chinese are going to be the powerhouse.”
Continue reading “Ford CEO says China main EV rival, not GM, Toyota”
PTI – “We (transport) are responsible for 40 per cent of air pollution in the country…as the transport minister, actually I am responsible for that,” Gadkari said, citing the case of New Delhi which is grappling with air pollution woes.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the transport sector contributes to 40 per cent of the air pollution in the country, and exhorted the industry to develop greener fuel alternatives to reduce the problem. Speaking at the GH2 summit here, Gadkari said 90 per cent of this contribution comes from the road transport sector, the portfolio he handles.
PTI – The company, which sold around 50,000 units of electric passenger vehicles last year, is targeting to reach 1 lakh units this fiscal while it also targets deeper penetration of CNG with the launch of its Altroz iCNG premium hatchback. “So far the indicators are good in terms of demand sustaining at high levels, although the additional moves that we were getting from pent-up demand and low channel inventory that have subdued,” Chandra told PTI.
BERLIN, May 25 (Reuters) – German authorities have serious indications of possible data protection violations by Tesla (TSLA.O), Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Thursday, citing the data protection office in the state where the carmaker has its European gigafactory.
Handelsblatt’s report said the U.S. electric car manufacturer has failed to adequately protect data from customers, employees and business partners, citing 100 gigabytes of confidential data leaked to the newspaper by a whistleblower.
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Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (26.05.2023)”
DETROIT/BICESTER, England, May 25 (Reuters) – British electric van startup Arrival , which has hit many road bumps in its quest to become the next Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), now hopes huge subsidies from the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and a second reverse merger will give it a fresh shot at survival.
Continue reading “British EV maker Arrival seeks second chance with US EV tax credits”
SHANGHAI/BEIJING, May 25 (Reuters) – Great Wall Motor (601633.SS) has filed a report with China’s regulators against BYD (002594.SZ), , it said on Thursday, claiming its rival’s two top-selling hybrid models did not meet emissions standards and triggering a rare public spat.
BYD rejected the claim, saying its vehicles met China’s emission standards and that it reserved the right to take legal action against Great Wall.
Continue reading “Great Wall Motor says rival BYD failing on hybrid emissions”
HANOI, May 25 (Reuters) – Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast said it is recalling all of the first batch of vehicles it shipped to the United States last year following a safety warning issued by U.S. authorities.
The move came after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said 999 of VinFast’s VF 8 vehicles suffered a software error in the dashboard display that prevented critical safety information from being shown and “may increase the risk of a crash”.
Continue reading “Vietnam’s VinFast recalls first batch of US-bound EVs over safety risk”
MILAN, May 25 (Reuters) – The Italian government, which is assessing tyre maker Pirelli’s (PIRC.MI) new shareholder agreement, is concerned about plans to allow top shareholder China’s Sinochem to appoint more board members and potentially choose future CEOs, two sources said.
Italy’s right-wing government has to approve the scheme under “Golden Power” rules aimed at protecting assets deemed strategic for the country, at a time when relations between China and Western countries have entered a tenser phase.
Continue reading “Italy probing China’s possible growing influence on Pirelli -sources”
MUMBAI, May 25 (Reuters) – India’s Ola Electric is planning a stock market listing by the end of 2023, and has appointed investment bank Goldman Sachs and domestic bank Kotak to manage the share sale, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Ola Electric, which makes electric scooters, is backed by investors such as SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) and Tiger Global Management, and was valued at $5 billion in its last fundraise in 2022.
Continue reading “India’s Ola Electric aims for IPO by 2023-end, hires Goldman, Kotak – source”
WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) – Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) said on Wednesday it may limit shipments of gasoline-powered vehicles to dealers in states that have adopted California’s strict emissions rules.
In a communication to dealers seen by Reuters, the Italian-American automaker said to meet the California emissions rules “we may be compelled to allocate fewer conventional gasoline engine vehicles to California states” and more to other states that have not adopted the rules.
PTI – Uber said it has teamed up with Zypp Electric for 10,000 EV two-wheelers in Delhi by 2024. The company also announced a partnership with SIDBI to unlock INR 1,000 crore in EV financing. Uber said it is also bringing its global partnership with BP to India through Jio-bp and has also tied up with GMR Green Energy for fast charging Uber EVs.
May 23 (Reuters) – California has asked the Biden administration to approve its plan to require all new vehicles sold in the state by 2035 to be either electric or plug-in electric hybrids, a landmark move that could speed the end of gasoline-powered vehicles, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB), which approved the plan in August, asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday to approve a waiver under the Clean Air Act to implement its new rules that set yearly rising zero emission vehicle rules starting in 2026 and would end the sales of vehicles only powered by gasoline by 2035.
