Summary

• Aim to close the EV sales gap with Tesla, other rivals
• Toyota had just 0.3% share of EVs sold in 2022-Goldman Sachs
• Automaker to use its famous lean manufacturing methods

TOYOTA CITY, Japan, Sept 19 (Reuters) – At factories in Japan’s industrial heartland, Toyota (7203.T) has turned to self-propelled assembly lines, massive die casting and even old-fashioned hand polishing as it aims to make up for lost ground in battery electric vehicles. Continue reading “In EV battle, Toyota bets on new technology and old-school thinking”

Sept 18 (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia is in early talks with U.S. electric automaker Tesla (TSLA.O) to set up a manufacturing facility in the kingdom, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The report comes just hours after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan asked Tesla CEO Elon Musk to build a vehicle factory in Turkey, according to the country’s communications directorate. Continue reading “Tesla, Saudi Arabia in early talks for EV factory – WSJ”

SEOUL, Sept 19 (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) and a union representing its South Korean workforce on Monday sealed a wage deal that will boost annual pay by about 12%, avoiding a strike and production losses at the company’s biggest manufacturing base.

The union, one of the biggest in South Korea with more than 44,000 members, said on Monday that a total of 58.8% of its voting members had approved the tentative agreement reached last week, while 41.1% rejected it. Continue reading “Hyundai Motor’s South Korea union accepts 12% wage hike deal”

LONDON/LOS ANGELES, Sept 18 (Reuters) – A clutch of European and U.S. delivery company startups is racing to serve the growing market for offering zero-emission, electric last-mile deliveries in cities to retailers and consumers before giant shippers do the same.

The likes of Germany’s Liefergrun, the UK’s Zedify and Packfleet, and New York-based DutchX are tapping into retailers’ need to hit environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) and emission-reduction targets. Collectively, zero-emission delivery startups have raised around $1 billion so far, according to Pitchbook and data collected by Reuters. Continue reading “Startups with electric vans race to fill demand for zero-emissions delivery”

BANGKOK/JAKARTA, Sept 19 (Reuters) – China’s electric vehicle giant BYD (002594.SZ) has been on a tear in Southeast Asia, shooting past rivals including Tesla (TSLA.O) to take more than a quarter of the share of EVs sold in the region.

Along with attractive prices, BYD’s early success is based on a pattern of distribution partnerships with large, local conglomerates that have allowed the carmaker to expand reach, test consumer preferences and navigate complex government regulations in the region, officials from three partners and analysts said. Continue reading “China’s BYD rides on partnerships to expand EV sales in Southeast Asia”

Sept 18 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers union said it would announce on Friday more plants to strike if no serious progress was made in talks with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler-parent Stellantis, adding to pressure on the Detroit Three automakers.

Ford <F.N> also faces a total strike at its smaller Canadian operations if no agreement is reached on Monday evening with the union representing about 5,600 Canadian auto workers, just days after workers at one of its U.S. plants walked out. Continue reading “UAW to strike at more US auto plants if no progress made by Friday”

Source : PTI | The Karnataka government has cleared 91 industrial investment proposals worth INR 7,659.52 crore with the potential to generate 18,146 jobs.

The State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) headed by Minister for Large and Medium Industries, and Infrastructure Development M B Patil met on Friday and approved 26 projects involving more than INR 50 crore investment, totaling INR 5,750.73 crore. These hold the potential to create 13,742 jobs. Continue reading “Karnataka govt approves 91 investment projects worth INR 7,660 cr”

Source : PTI | As Mumbaikars bid adieu to the last diesel-run double-decker bus of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, commuters and staffers reminisced about their journey in the iconic red vehicle that became a symbol of the city itself. “Hello, Mumbai Police? I’d like to report the theft of one of my most important childhood memories,” wrote industrialist Anand Mahindra on ‘X’, echoing the loss felt by many Mumbaikars. Continue reading “Last diesel-run double-decker bus of Mumbai drives into history”

Source : PTI | Policy predictability is needed to make investment plans for accelerating electric mobility in the two-wheeler segment, according to electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy Chief Business Officer Ravneet S Phokela. . The company, in which Hero MotoCorp is a significant investor, expects 100 % electrification of the domestic two-wheeler market by 2030 even as it prepares to start exports to an India-like market in the near future.

With the FAME-II (Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India) scheme coming to an end in March next year, Phokela said Ather is happy with the government support and the current levels of subsidy but hoped that it would be extended for another three to five years for acceleration of EV adoption. Continue reading “Policy predictability for E2W adoption needed to make investments: CBO, Ather Energy”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Electric vehicles are a focal point for SUV maker Jeep in India and it is evaluating different options before finalising its plans for the domestic market, a top company executive has said. Jeep India, which is a part of automobile group Stellantis, also said that the company is aiming for over 90% localisation in its compact SUV Jeep Compass over the next three years.

The company has a 50:50 joint venture manufacturing facility with Tata Motors at Ranjangaon in Pune district. Continue reading “Jeep finalising EV strategy for India, looks to increase localisation”

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept 14 (Reuters) – Tesla (TSLA.O) has combined a series of innovations to make a technological breakthrough that could transform the way it makes electric vehicles and help Elon Musk achieve his aim of halving production costs, five people familiar with the move said.

The company pioneered the use of huge presses with 6,000 to 9,000 tons of clamping pressure to mold the front and rear structures of its Model Y in a “gigacasting” process that slashed production costs and left rivals scrambling to catch up. Continue reading “Tesla reinvents carmaking with quiet breakthrough”

Sept 16 (Reuters) – Negotiators for the United Auto Workers and Ford Motor had “reasonably productive discussions” toward a new contract, the union said on Saturday, while officials at Chrysler parent Stellantis said a proposal to resume work at an idled Illinois factory has fallen through.

About 12,700 UAW workers remained on strike for a second day as part of a coordinated labor action targeting three U.S. assembly plants – one at each of the Detroit Three automakers. Continue reading “UAW cites ‘productive’ talks with Ford on second day of US auto strike”

Sept 17 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit Three automakers entered its third day on Sunday with no immediate resolution on the horizon.

Union negotiators and representatives of General Motors (GM.N), Ford (F.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI) were set to resume talks starting Sunday, following the start of the most ambitious U.S. industrial labor action in decades. This is the first time the UAW has gone on strike against all three automakers simultaneously. Continue reading “UAW strike against automakers enters third day, no resolution seen”

ISTANBUL, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan asked Tesla (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk to build a Tesla factory in Turkey, the country’s communications directorate said on Monday.

It cited Musk as saying that many Turkish suppliers are already working with Tesla and that Turkey was among the most important candidates for its next factory.

Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Continue reading “Erdogan asks Musk to build Tesla factory in Turkey”

Source : PTI | GreenCell Mobility and VE Commercial Vehicles on Friday said they have entered into an agreement for supply of 1,000 electric buses in the next five years. The two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding, which envisages VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) supplying 1,000 Eicher electric buses to GreenCell’s intercity bus business, NueGo, the two companies said in a joint statement.

NueGo is already operating in over 30 cities, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Agra, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Bhopal, Indore, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bengaluru, Tirupati, Chennai and Pondicherry. Continue reading “VECV to supply 1,000 electric buses to GreenCell Mobility in next 5 years”

Sept 15 (Reuters) – General Motors (GM.N) said on Friday it expects to be forced to idle operations at its Kansas assembly plant next week after the United Auto Workers union struck a nearby Missouri plant earlier in the day – the first ripple effect from the walkout.

The Detroit automaker said the Wentzville, Missouri, plant, where workers went on strike, is providing critical stampings to its Fairfax, Kansas, assembly plant. Continue reading “GM expects to be forced to idle Kansas auto plant next week”

Sept 15 (Reuters) – He is known to quote the Bible and Nation of Islam civil rights leader Malcolm X. He is a social media fanatic who keeps the pay stubs of his union member grandfather in his wallet. And now, Shawn Fain is representing nearly 150,000 auto workers in one of the biggest labor strikes in decades.

In taking action against all three Detroit carmakers, Fain, the head of the United Auto Workers, has remade the strategy of the union he leads, choosing a bolder, much riskier path than his predecessors after he won office by a narrow margin in a first-ever direct election earlier this year. Continue reading “UAW Chief Shawn Fain disrupts Detroit’s labor tradition”

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday called on automakers to concede more to workers who walked off the job at Detroit’s largest car companies, accusing them of enjoying record profits without sharing them fairly with workers.

The UAW strike at three factories owned by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler-owner Stellantis kicked off the most ambitious U.S. industrial labor action in decades. Continue reading “Biden wants automakers to give UAW workers more in strike talks”

Sept 15 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers union began unprecedented, simultaneous walkouts at General Motors (GM.N), Ford (F.N) and Chrysler parent Stellantis’ (STLAM.MI) U.S. operations early on Friday after failing to reach pay deals with the automakers.

The walkouts cap weeks of clashes between the union and Detroit Three executives over union demands for a bigger share of profits generated by combustion trucks, and stronger job security as automakers shift to electric vehicles. Continue reading “Detroit Three plants where UAW is on strike”

DETROIT, Sept 15 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers said it plans to resume bargaining on Saturday after launching its first simultaneous strikes at General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler parent Stellantis, with effects of the limited shutdown starting to spread on Friday.

The most ambitious U.S. industrial labor action in decades has halted production at three plants producing the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler and Chevrolet Colorado, along with other popular models. Continue reading “UAW, automakers to resume talks as strike starts to create parts shortage”

Sept 15 (Reuters) – Stellantis’ (STLAM.MI) latest offer to the striking United Auto Workers includes hiking wages by 19.5% and making salaried workers hourly, The Detroit News reported on Friday, citing the union.

The offer also includes consolidating aftersales parts plants and increasing the number of supplemental workers the jeep maker can use, the report said. Continue reading “Stellantis boosts wage hike offer to 19.5%, seeks concessions, UAW says- Detroit News”

Source : PTI | New Delhi, The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations on Thursday asked for the reduction in GST rates on entry-level two-wheelers to 18%, saying the segment has not recovered from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at the Auto Retail Conclave here, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) President Manish Raj Singhania said in the ongoing fiscal so far, while the retail sales of total vehicles have grown by around 7%, the entry-level two-wheeler segment is yet to witness the robust growth seen.

“Although the two-wheelers segment experienced year-on-year growth, we are still 20% behind the pre-COVID levels,” Singhania said. Continue reading “FADA seeks reduction in GST rates for entry-level two-wheelers to 18%”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said dealers of automobiles should also open vehicle scrapping facilities. Addressing the fifth Auto Retail Conclave, Gadkari said the government is encouraging a circular economy, and accordingly the government will give permission to dealers to start vehicle scrapping facilities.

He also noted that India is encouraging use of alternate fuel and biofuel and pointed out that the government is working to make India the largest manufacturer of green hydrogen. Continue reading “Auto dealers should also open vehicle scrapping facilities: Nitin Gadkari”

Source : PTI | India and Mongolia reviewed the progress of the central Asian country’s first oil refinery which is being built with assistance from New Delhi. The review of the project was done during the three-day visit of Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, to Mongolia which concluded on Thursday.

Kumar held discussions with Mongolian state secretary in the foreign ministry N Ankhbayar and called on minister of education and science L Enkh-Amgalan and minister and chief cabinet secretary D Amarbayasgalan. Continue reading “India, Mongolia review oil refinery project”

TOKYO, Sept 15 (Reuters) – The U.S. state of Indiana could well become the most-favoured location for Subaru (7270.T) to establish an electric vehicle production site in the world’s biggest economy, the Japanese automaker’s chief executive said.

Subaru sees the years to 2028 as a key period for building up its EV sales so that it will eventually hit an annual sales target of 600,000 battery-powered vehicles by 2030 that will make up half of its global sales. Continue reading “Japan’s Subaru sees Indiana as possible U.S. EV production site”

DETROIT, Sept 14 (Reuters) – With just over 30 hours to go before a strike deadline he set, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain on Wednesday rolled out the latest, unprecedented twist in his unorthodox campaign to win a historic contract for nearly 150,000 workers at the Detroit Three automakers.

For the first time in the UAW’s history, the union could order members at all three of Detroit’s automakers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis NV — to walk off the job starting after their contracts expire at 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, Fain said in a Facebook video address Wednesday evening. Continue reading “Auto union chief Shawn Fain quotes Malcolm X, shines on Facebook as takes on Detroit Three”

DETROIT, Sept 15 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers union launched simultaneous strikes at three factories owned by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis early on Friday, kicking off the most ambitious U.S. industrial labor action in decades.

The walkouts at the “Detroit Three” will halt production of the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler and Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck, along with other popular models. UAW President Shawn Fain said the union will hold off for now on more costly company-wide strikes, but said all options are open if new contracts are not agreed. Continue reading “U.S. auto workers launch first simultaneous strike at Detroit Three”

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Source : PTI | New Delhi: Tata Power Delhi Distribution on Tuesday announced its strategic partnership with the US-based cyber security and data analytics software company Utiltyx. . The partnership aims to enhance the company’s preparedness against future threats and challenges related to cyber security, a company statement said.

The association is aimed at augmenting IED (Intelligent Electronic Device) visibility, adding strengths to the capabilities of Tata Power-DDL to fight cyber threats and providing credible & real-time analytics for its distribution grid, thereby preparing the power distribution infrastructure for future threats and growth, the statement said. Continue reading “Tata Power Delhi Distribution ties with US-based Utiltyx to ensure cyber security, seamless power supply”

COPENHAGEN, Sept 14 (Reuters) – Sweden’s Volvo (VOLVb.ST) will begin serial production of heavy battery electric trucks at its Ghent factory in Belgium, the truckmaker said in a statement on Thursday.

The Ghent factory is the largest production site for Volvo trucks with a yearly capacity of around 45,000 trucks, the company said.

It added the plant will be building three of its different models – the Volvo FH, the Volvo FM and the Volvo FMX Electric. Continue reading “Volvo to start production of electric trucks at Ghent factory”

Sept 13 (Reuters) – Battery components maker Sunrise New Energy (EPOW.O) said on Wednesday that it had received interest for its products from electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O).

Sunrise shares rose as much as 11% to $1.87 in morning trade.

The China-based company, through its joint venture, manufactures and sells graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Tesla uses lithium-ion batteries to power its cars. Continue reading “Tesla shows interest in Sunrise New Energy’s battery components”

Summary

• Investigation ramps up EU-China tensions
• Probe will set tone for upcoming bilateral talks
• China’s EV market share in Europe has been growing
• Analysts warn of China retaliation if EU levies tariffs
• China says EU probe is protectionist

SHANGHAI/BEIJING Sept 14 (Reuters) – Beijing on Thursday blasted the launch of a probe by the European Commission into China’s electric vehicle (EV) subsidies as protectionist and warned it would damage economic and trade relations, as shares in Chinese EV makers slipped. Continue reading “Beijing blasts ‘protectionist’ EU probe as China EV stocks slip”

Source : PTI | Leading carmakers Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai Motor India on Tuesday said the percentage of diesel cars in passenger vehicle sales is expected to come down with stricter emission regulations, increasing the cost of ownership. On a day when Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke of the need to levy an additional 10 per cent tax on diesel-run vehicles to help cut emissions, although clarified that there is no proposal under the government consideration to impose such a tax, the automakers pointed out that already sales of diesel passenger vehicle have been declining. Continue reading “Maruti, Hyundai say diesel passenger vehicle sales likely to come down with stricter emission norms”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Tata Power Delhi Distribution on Tuesday announced its strategic partnership with the US-based cyber security and data analytics software company Utiltyx. The partnership aims to enhance the company’s preparedness against future threats and challenges related to cyber security, a company statement said.

The association is aimed at augmenting IED (Intelligent Electronic Device) visibility, adding strengths to the capabilities of Tata Power-DDL to fight cyber threats and providing credible & real-time analytics for its distribution grid, thereby preparing the power distribution infrastructure for future threats and growth, the statement said. Continue reading “Tata Power Delhi Distribution ties with US-based Utiltyx to ensure cyber security, seamless power supply”

Summary

• Lithium industry working to reduce DLE water use
• DLE seen as fully commercial by 2025
• Lithium industry boosting freshwater recycling

PITTSBURGH, Sept 13 (Reuters) – The mining industry is working to boost freshwater recycling while also developing direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies as it races to reinvent how the battery metal is produced for the green energy transition, executives said. Continue reading “Lithium tech developers eye ways to boost water recycling”

Summary

• EU opens anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs
• Investigation to last up to 13 months
• Chinese share of European EV market up to 8% this year

BRUSSELS, Sept 13 (Reuters) – The European Commission launched an investigation on Wednesday into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect European Union producers against cheaper Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports it says are benefiting from state subsidies. Continue reading “EU to investigate ‘flood’ of Chinese electric cars, weigh tariffs”

Source : PTI | Passenger vehicle wholesales in the country rose 9% year-on-year in August on the back of strong demand for utility models, including SUVs, industry body SIAM said on Monday.

Overall passenger vehicle dispatches to dealers rose to 3,59,228 units last month from 3,28,376 units in August 2022. Utility vehicle sales increased 34% year-on-year to 1,81,825 units. Continue reading “Powered by utility vehicles, PV dispatches to dealers increase 9% in August: SIAM”

Source : PTI | Leading carmakers Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai Motor India on Tuesday said the percentage of diesel cars in passenger vehicle sales is expected to come down with stricter emission regulations, increasing the cost of ownership. On a day when Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke of the need to levy an additional 10 % tax on diesel-run vehicles to help cut emissions, although clarified that there is no proposal under the government consideration to impose such a tax, the automakers pointed out that already sales of diesel passenger vehicle have been declining.

“It is a natural phenomenon that as the emission regulations keep tightening, the cost of acquisition will keep increasing, and this process (decline in diesel vehicle percentage) will be much faster going forward,” Maruti Suzuki India Senior Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales) Shashank Srivastava told reporters here on the sidelines of SIAM annual convention. Continue reading “Diesel PV sales likely to come down with stricter emission norms”

Source : PTI | In a strongly-worded message, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday suggested the auto industry not to import components unnecessarily if the exporting country is not giving equal access to Indian players. He however said that companies can import quality products if those are not available or manufactured domestically.

“Where things are being unnecessarily imported without India getting an equal opportunity in those countries I would be tempted….,” he said here at the annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Continue reading “Piyush Goyal talks tough to auto industry on unnecessary import of components”

Source : PTI | Production of the first sof advanced chemistry cell batteries in India is likely to commence by January 2024, Union Minister Mahindra Nath Pandey said on Tuesday. In May 2021, the government approved the PLI (Production Linked Incentives) scheme for manufacturing ACC (Advanced Chemistry Cell) batteries at an estimated outlay of INR 18,100 crore.

ACCs are the new generation advanced energy storage technologies that can store electric energy, either as electrochemical or chemical energy and convert it back to electric energy as and when required. Continue reading “Production of advanced chemistry cell batteries in India likely to start by Jan 2024: Mahindra Nath Pandey”