WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday proposed sweeping emissions cuts for new cars and trucks through 2032, a move it says could mean two out of every three new vehicles automakers sell will be electric within a decade.

The proposal, if finalized, represents the most aggressive U.S. vehicle emissions reduction plan to date, requiring 13% annual average pollution cuts and a 56% reduction in projected fleet average emissions over 2026 requirements. The EPA is also proposing new stricter emissions standards for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks through 2032.

Continue reading “Biden looks to boost EV sales with plan to cut vehicle emissions”

PARIS, April 13 (Reuters) – Renault (RENA.PA) said on Thursday it had entered a long-term commercial partnership with French start-up Verkor to produce batteries for the carmaker’s premium and Alpine electric models.

The targeted capacity of 12 gigawatt hours (GWh), enough to power more than 100,000 vehicles, would make Renault the biggest client of Verkor’s planned “gigafactory” in Dunkirk, which is aiming for a total capacity for batteries equivalent to 16 GWh.

Continue reading “Renault plugs into premium EV battery deal with start-up Verkor”

April 12 (Reuters) – Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc (HOG.N) said on Wednesday Chief Financial Officer Gina Goetter was leaving the company at the end of April, and toymaker Hasbro Inc (HAS.O) said she would take over as its finance chief.

Harley issued a statement saying that Vice President, Treasurer David Viney will serve as interim CFO after Goetter’s departure on April 28.

Continue reading “Harley-Davidson CFO to step down, joins toymaker Hasbro”

CHENGDU, China, April 12 (Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr on Wednesday launched a compact, all-electric sport utility vehicle, as it targeted a premium market in China that has been dominated by German automakers.

The Geely-owned [RIC:RIC:GEELY.UL] brand said it also planned to offer the SUV-styled Zeekr X and its Zeekr 001 EV sedan in Western Europe without saying when that would be.

Continue reading “China’s Zeekr launches electric SUV, targets Europe”

April 12 (Reuters) – New vehicles’ average transaction price fell below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the first time in 20 months, according to data published by automotive research company Kelley Blue Book.

Vehicle prices turned hot after a pandemic-driven supply chain snag and an increased demand for private cars.

Continue reading “New vehicle prices fall below sticker price after nearly two years, Kelley Blue Book data shows”

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday proposed sweeping emissions cuts for new cars and trucks through 2032, a move it says could mean two out of every three new vehicles automakers sell will be electric within a decade.

The proposal, if finalized, represents the most aggressive U.S. vehicle emissions reduction plan to date, requiring 13% annual average pollution cuts and a 56% reduction in projected fleet average emissions over 2026 requirements. The EPA is also proposing new stricter emissions standards for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks through 2032.

Continue reading “U.S. proposes 56% vehicle emissions cut by 2032, requiring big EV jump”

April 12 (Reuters) – Mercedes-Benz Group (MBGn.DE) sales rose moderately in the first quarter of the year, boosted by electric vehicles (EV) and premium cars, the German carmaker said on Wednesday.

Worldwide sales increased 3% to 503,500 vehicles, with Europe posting the strongest growth at 8%.

Continue reading “Mercedes posts rise in Q1 sales boosted by EVs, premium cars”

April 12 (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) self-driving technology unit Waymo said on Wednesday that some of its vehicles in San Francisco encountered dense fog and briefly pulled over to the side of the road.

The incident, which occurred at around 6.00 a.m. Pacific Time, impeded some traffic movement before the cars moved out of the area as the fog began to clear, Waymo said.

Continue reading “Waymo vehicles pull over in California due to fog”

By Terje Solsvik

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) – A major U.S. transport union on Tuesday opposed a request by Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) self-driving unit Waymo and autonomous driving technology company Aurora Innovation Inc (AUR.O) for an exemption from rules on warning devices for large semi-trucks, citing safety issues.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said last month it received a joint application from Waymo and Aurora seeking a five-year exemption from rules that require drivers to place reflective triangles or a flare around a stopped truck to alert other drivers and help prevent a crash.

Continue reading “US union opposes driverless trucks waiver for Waymo, Aurora”

SEOUL, April 11 (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday it planned to invest 24 trillion won ($18.14 billion) in South Korea’s electric vehicle (EV) industry through 2030, bolstering its presence in a segment that is set to dominate long-term global automotive demand.

The investment plan by the group, which includes Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS), Kia Corp (000270.KS) and Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd (012330.KS), came as President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Kia’s first designated electric vehicle plant.

Continue reading “Hyundai Motor Group to invest $18 bln in South Korean EV industry by 2030”

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) – The U.S. Energy Department (DOE) on Monday proposed reducing electric vehicles’ (EV) mileage ratings to meet government fuel economy requirements, a move that could force automakers to sell more low-emissions cars or improve conventional models.

DOE wants to significantly revise how it calculates the petroleum-equivalent fuel economy rating for electric and plug-in electric hybrids for use in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program.

Continue reading “US proposes to slash EV mileage ratings to meet fuel economy rules”

By Ernest Scheyder

April 11 (Reuters) – General Motors Co (GM.N) will announce on Tuesday an investment in lithium technology startup EnergyX as it expands further into the mining industry, the latest deal by the car maker to ensure long-term supplies of the metal used to make electric vehicle batteries.

The global push by automakers to electrify their fleets has sparked a rush for stable supplies of lithium, copper, nickel and other critical minerals. Demand is expected to exceed supply by the end of the decade, fueling interest in novel production methods.

Continue reading “Exclusive: General Motors moves deeper into mining with EnergyX lithium investment”

April 11 (Reuters) – BMW (BMWG.DE) remains on track for slightly higher sales this year despite a dip in demand in the first quarter, including in the Chinese market, the German carmaker said on Tuesday.

BMW said it delivered 588,138 vehicles in the first quarter, down 1.5% on the previous year, while electric vehicle (EV) sales rose 83.2% year on year to 64,647 vehicles.

Continue reading “BMW on track for 2023 target despite slight Q1 sales fall”

ROME, April 11 (Reuters) – Italian supercar maker Ferrari said on Tuesday it had signed a deal with Samsung Display to use its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panels in future car models.

The South Korean company will develop “bespoke OLED technology display solutions” for the next generation of Ferraris, Chief Executive Benedetto Vigna said in a statement.

Continue reading “Ferrari partners with Samsung to develop in-car displays”

By Nathan Gomes

April 11 (Reuters) – CarMax Inc (KMX.N) on Tuesday posted fourth-quarter profit above analysts’ estimates as cost cutting measures helped the pre-owned car retailer soften the blow from a slowdown in demand for vehicles.

Shares of the Richmond, Virginia-based company rose over 9% at $71.81 in morning trade.

Continue reading “CarMax speeds past quarterly profit estimates on cost cuts”

By Michael Martina and Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) – The leader of a U.S. congressional committee on China said on Monday he was concerned about electric carmaker Tesla Inc’s (TSLA.O) dependency on China, a day after the company revealed plans to open a Megapack battery factory in Shanghai.

Tesla announced the factory in a tweet on Sunday, and Chinese state media said it would initially produce 10,000 Megapack units a year, equal to around 40 gigawatt hours of energy storage, and complement a huge existing Shanghai plant making electric vehicles.

Continue reading “US House committee chair ‘concerned’ by Tesla deals in China”

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, April 10 (Reuters) – Growth in sales of China’s passenger vehicles was flat in March from a year earlier, industry data showed on Monday, as more price cuts by auto brands and the rollout of incentives by local governments helped to support demand.

Car sales in March were 1.61 million units, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said. In the first three months, sales had fallen 13.4% to 4.33 million units, it added.

Continue reading “China’s car sales stay flat in March amid price war”

By Stefanno Sulaiman

JAKARTA, April 10 (Reuters) – Indonesia will propose a free trade agreement for some minerals shipped to the United States so that companies in the electric vehicle battery supply chain operating in the country can benefit from U.S. tax credits, a senior minister said on Monday.

Washington has issued a new guidance for EV tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), requiring a certain value of battery components to be produced or assembled in North America or a free trade partner. The rules are aimed at weaning the United States off dependence on China for the development of its EV battery supply chain.

Continue reading “Indonesia to propose limited free trade deal with US on critical minerals”

SHANGHAI, April 9 (Reuters) – Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) is opening a factory in Shanghai, capable of producing ten thousand Megapack energy product per year, to supplement output of Megapack factory in California, the company said in a tweet on Sunday.

The news was first reported by Chinese state media outlet Xinhua.

Continue reading “Tesla to build Shanghai factory to make Megapack batteries”

PTI – The USD22-billion conglomerate launched the business in July 2021 aiming to leverage on its expertise in manufacturing and building materials, tech-enabled logistics and credit, to be a platform of choice for MSMEs and enterprises in India.

TAIPEI, April 9 (Reuters) – Foxconn (2317.TW) is planning to invest T$25 billion ($820 million) in the next three years in new manufacturing facilities in southern Taiwan to support its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions, the company said on Sunday.

The company, formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, said the investments in Kaohsiung will include plants for making electric buses and batteries for EVs.

Continue reading “Foxconn plans $800 million investment in southern Taiwan”

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) – General Motors’ (GM.N) robotaxi unit Cruise LLC is recalling the automated driving software in 300 vehicles after one of its driverless vehicles crashed into the back of a San Francisco bus.

The March 23 collision was the fault of a software error in a Cruise automated vehicle (AV) that inaccurately predicted the movement of an articulated San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority bus, Cruise said on Friday. The crash caused moderate damage to the Cruise but did not result in any injuries.

Continue reading “GM’s Cruise recalls 300 self-driving vehicles to update software after bus crash”

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) – Tesla (TSLA.O) is recalling just over 400 Model 3 vehicles in the United States because front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen.

Tesla will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners to address the issue that could allow the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame on the recalled 2018 and 2019 model year vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said a lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Continue reading “Tesla recalls 422 U.S. vehicles over suspension part”

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, April 6 (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is set as early as next week to propose new rules to spur sweeping cuts in vehicle emissions pollution that will push automakers towards a big increase in electric vehicle sales, sources told Reuters.

The proposed rules are expected to cover the 2027 through 2032 model years. Environmental groups and some automakers think the proposal will result in at least 50% of the U.S. vehicle fleet by 2030 being electric or plug-in hybrids – in line with a goal President Joe Biden outlined in 2021. The administration has not backed calls by California and others ban the sale of new gasoline-only light-duty vehicles by 2035.

Continue reading “US EPA to propose new vehicle pollution cuts, sees big EV jump”

PTI – GreenLine, India’s only LNG-powered heavy trucking logistics company, on Friday said it has deployed its LNG-powered trucks at UltraTech Cement’s bulk terminal located at Pune, in Maharashtra.

PTI – APM gas will be priced at 10 per cent of the price of a basket of crude oil that India imports (Indian basket of crude oil). The rate such arrived at, however, will be capped at USD 6.5 per million British thermal units.

By Daniel Leussink and Maki Shiraki

TOKYO, April 7 (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Friday it aims to introduce 10 new battery electric vehicle models by 2026 – a long awaited ramp-up in an area that the Japanese automaker has been slow to embrace.

Toyota will also set up a new, specialised unit to focus on next-generation battery EVs, senior executives said at a briefing, in an apparent response to widening concern that it is losing out to Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and other rivals.

Continue reading “Toyota says to launch 10 new battery EV models by 2026”

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, April 6 (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is set as early as next week to propose new rules to spur sweeping cuts in vehicle emissions pollution that will push automakers towards a big increase in electric vehicle sales, sources told Reuters.

The proposed rules are expected to cover the 2027 through 2032 model years. Environmental groups and some automakers think the proposal will result in at least 50% of the U.S. vehicle fleet by 2030 being electric or plug-in hybrids – in line with a goal President Joe Biden outlined in 2021. The administration has not backed calls by California and others ban the sale of new gasoline-only light-duty vehicles by 2035.

Continue reading “US EPA to propose new vehicle pollution cuts, sees big EV jump”

By Hyunjoo Jin and Paul Lienert

San Francisco, April 6 (Reuters) – Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) said it plans to expand the use of cheaper, iron-based batteries to a version of its Semi heavy electric trucks and an affordable electric vehicle.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has championed on the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology dominated by Chinese suppliers, saying in March, “the vast majority of the heavy lifting for electrification will be iron-based cells.”

Continue reading “Tesla to use iron-based batteries in Semi electric trucks and affordable electric car”

By Norihiko Shirouzu, Joseph White and Maki Shiraki

April 6 (Reuters) – After making sweeping changes to its leadership team, Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) is looking at a factory floor overhaul as it maps out a move to a new, dedicated platform for battery electric vehicles, four people familiar with the matter said.

Koji Sato may confirm that new EV architecture is in the works at his first briefing as CEO on Friday, one of the people has said.

Continue reading “Toyota looks to overhaul EV strategy as new CEO takes charge”

By Joseph White

DETROIT, April 6 (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co (F.N) unveiled a new electric Courier van aimed at winning business customers in Europe, and boxing out electric van startups such as Arrival SA.47K.F

The electric Courier is part of a revamped lineup of smaller, commercial vans for the European market that will also include gasoline and diesel models, Ford said. The new Courier vans are 25% larger than the current model, and will carry heavier loads, Ford Pro chief Ted Cannis said in an interview.

Continue reading “Ford aims a new electric van at European cities – and startups”

April 6 (Reuters) – Jaguar Land Rover expects free cash flow of over 800 million pounds (about $1 billion) for the fourth quarter, boosted by a 24% rise in wholesale volumes as chip and other supply constraints eased, the luxury carmaker owned by India’s Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) said on Thursday.

Tata Motors, which acquired the British car maker in 2008, had set a target of 1 billion pounds of free cash flow for the fiscal year.

Continue reading “Jaguar Land Rover posts Q4 free cash flow about $1 bln”

By David Shepardson and Nathan Gomes

NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) said on Wednesday that most of its electric and plug-in electric hybrid models will see tax credits halved to $3,750 on April 18 after new U.S. Treasury rules take effect.

The rules, which were unveiled Friday, were mandated by Congress in August as part of a $430 billion climate bill. China dominates the global supply chains of products like EV batteries and solar panels and the rules are aimed at moving U.S. battery production and supply chains away from China.

Continue reading “Ford, Stellantis says new rules will cut EV tax credits for most models”

April 5 (Reuters) – New car registrations in the UK rose for the eighth consecutive month in March, recording an 18.2% growth from a year earlier, and also marked the best month ever for battery electric car sales, according to industry data released on Wednesday.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said new car registrations jumped to 287,825 units as supply chain challenges continued to ease, making the first quarter of 2023 the strongest three-month period since 2019.

Continue reading “UK new car sales jump 18% YoY in March; best ever month for EVs”