HANOVER, Germany, (Reuters) – German autos supplier Bosch CEO Stefan Hartung expects very little growth in car and commercial vehicle markets worldwide this year and next, he said in an interview with Reuters.
“Demand on the car market (globally) is lower than the industry expected five years ago,” Hartung said on the sidelines of the IAA Transportation trade fair in Hanover, Germany. Continue reading “Bosch chief sees stagnating growth in car markets worldwide”
HANOVER, Germany, (Reuters) – Major manufacturers, such as Daimler Truck and Traton, displaying their trucks at a transportation fair in Hanover this week say they are ready to go electric, but their e-trucks will not sell without massive investments in charging infrastructure.
Christian Levin, chief of Volkswagen’s truck subsidiary Traton, which owns such brands as Scania, MAN, Navistar, and Volkswagen Trucks and Buses, said the European Union’s goal of reaching a 50% share of e-trucks 2030 for now looks out of reach. “It’s not just about cost, it’s also about charging infrastructure, permissions, green electricity, supply of green electricity, and of course pricing. All of that needs to come together,” he told Reuters in an interview. Continue reading “Truckmakers say they are ready to go electric, but what about charging?”
BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s commerce minister said the European Union’s imposition of tariffs on electric vehicles (EV) will “seriously interfere” with trade and investment cooperation and hurt both China and Germany.
In talks on Tuesday with German Vice Chancellor and Economic Minister Robert Habeck, Wang Wentao said he hoped to reach a solution in line with World Trade Organisation rules as soon as possible, and avoid the escalation of China-EU economic and trade frictions, according to a statement released by China’s Ministry of Commerce early on Wednesday. Continue reading “EV tariffs will damage Germany, China, says Chinese commerce minister”
BERLIN, (Reuters) – Volkswagen may book up to 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) in provisions for planned capacity cuts as early as the fourth quarter, analysts at brokerage Jefferies said in a note after travelling with company executives in North America.
Volkswagen said earlier this month it was considering shutting plants in Germany for the first time in its history, part of a cost-cutting plan as it struggles to compete with Asian rivals. Continue reading “Volkswagen may book up to $4.4 billion in provisions on capacity cuts, Jefferies says”
BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – The European Commission said on Monday that the deadline for Chinese electric vehicle makers to make price commitments as a way of averting tariffs had passed, with no possibility to revise their offers after they were all rejected.
The Commission, which is conducting an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese-built EVs, said several EV exporters had submitted price undertakings – a commitment by an exporter to respect minimum import prices in order to offset subsidies. Continue reading “EU says deadline for Chinese EV price offers has passed”
ROME, (Reuters) – Italy backs tariffs proposed by the European Commission on Chinese exports of electric vehicles (EVs), Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview published on Monday before he met China’s commerce minister in Rome.
“We support the duties that the EU Commission proposes, to protect the competitiveness of our companies,” Tajani told daily Corriere della Sera in an interview. Continue reading “Italy backs EU’s tariffs on Chinese electric cars”
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The 1.3 million-member Teamsters union could decide who to endorse in the 2024 U.S. presidential election as early as Wednesday after members met Democratic candidate Kamala Harris on Monday, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said.
Union representatives met her Republican rival Donald Trump in January. “We can’t kick this can down the road,” O’Brien told reporters after meeting with Harris for nearly an hour. Continue reading “Teamsters meet VP Harris, could make US presidential pick this week”
OSLO, (Reuters) – The Swedish state will not take a stake in battery maker Northvolt and the company’s future must be determined by its private owners, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press conference on Monday.
Northvolt last week announced it would shrink its operations and cut jobs, sparking fears that Europe’s best shot at a home-grown electric vehicle battery champion may stall. Continue reading “Sweden will not take stake in Northvolt, prime minister says”
DETROIT, (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers union said on Monday it had filed unfair labor practice charges against Chrysler-parent Stellantis for violating the labor contract the parties reached last fall.
The UAW said it filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board because Stellantis has refused to provide information about its future product plans. Continue reading “UAW union files unfair labor practice charges against automaker Stellantis”
(Reuters) – Drivers are more likely to engage in non-driving activities, such as checking their phones or eating a sandwich, when using partial automation systems, with some easily skirting rules set to limit distractions, new research showed on Tuesday.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted month-long studies with two such systems – Tesla’s Autopilot and Volvo’s Pilot Assist – to examine driver behavior when the technology was in use and how it evolved over time. Continue reading “Drivers more likely to be distracted while using partial automation tech, study shows”
Source : PTI | New Delhi: Mahindra & Mahindra on Monday expanded its light commercial vehicle (LCV) range with a new product range based on an all new platform developed at an initial investment of INR 900 crore. The company has introduced “Veero” light commercial vehicle in the less than 3.5 tonne range with both diesel and CNG trims, with price starting at INR 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
An electric version of the LCV would be introduced at a later stage. Continue reading “Mahindra expands LCV range with product based on multi-energy platform”
Source : PTI | Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India on Monday expanded its Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) range in the country with the launch of the locally produced EQS 580 4MATIC. India is the first country outside the US to start the local production of the seven-seater electric SUV.
EQS SUV 580 4MATIC is the second model, after the EQS sedan, to be locally produced at company’s Pune-based manufacturing plant. Continue reading “Mercedes expands BEV range; rolls out second locally produced model in India”
Source : PTI | Mumbai: Amazon and Global Optimism co-founded The Climate Pledge on Monday launched a network of shared charging stations for faster adoption of electric mobility, with the Pledge signatories and partners looking to collectively invest over USD 2.65 million into the project by 2030. These signatories include Amazon, Mahindra Logistics, HCLTech, Greenko and Delotte as well as industry partners Kazam and Magenta Mobility, according to a release.
The Climate Pledge is a commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
Continue reading “The Climate Pledge launches network of shared charging stations for EVs”
Source : PTI | The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has upheld a district forum order, holding the manufacturer and customer relation office of Hyundai Motors India as not responsible for any wrong doing or omission by an authorised dealer. The authorised dealer did not deliver a car after receiving the booking amount.
The commission — comprising president Justice Sangita Lal Dhingra and member JP Agarwal — was hearing an appeal against an order of the Delhi district forum order, which, in January 2015, held that the head office of Hyundai Motors India and its customer relation office were not responsible for the breach of commitment by Suhrit Hyundai in Mayapuri. Continue reading “Hyundai not responsible for dealer’s omissions, says Delhi consumer commission”
Source : PTI | A proposed 14-lane road near the Atal Setu sea bridge that will connect to Pune via a ring road will bring down traffic on Mumbai-Pune Expressway by 50%, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday.
The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways was talking about road plans for Mumbai-Bengaluru at an alumni event organised by COEP Technological University on the occasion of Engineer’s Day. Continue reading “New road near Atal Setu will bring down Mumbai-Pune Expressway traffic by 50%: Gadkari”
Source : PTI | Kolkata: The West Bengal transport department has decided to streamline the registration of e-rickshaws and phase out unregistered and illegally manufactured vehicles. The decision was taken in view of representations from various bodies about the plying of lakhs of unregistered e-rickshaws built in workshops without following any standard manufacturing procedures or safety guidelines.
A senior transport department official said that district magistrates have been asked to identify battery-operated unregistered e-rickshaws built clandestinely at local garages and phase them out in a time-bound manner.
BERLIN, (Reuters) – Volkswagen may book up to 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) in provisions for planned capacity cuts as early as the fourth quarter, analysts at brokerage Jefferies said in a note after travelling with company executives in North America.
Volkswagen said earlier this month it was considering shutting plants in Germany for the first time in its history, part of a cost-cutting plan as it struggles to compete with Asian rivals. Continue reading “Volkswagen may book up to $4.4 billion in provisions on capacity cuts, Jefferies says”
Continue reading “Volkswagen India Drives in the Festive Season With The Launch of Volksfest 2024”
Mumbai: Volkswagen India has further bolstered its presence in Punjab with the inauguration of a new sales touchpoint in Mohali. This expansion further reinforces the Brand’s commitment to providing premium mobility solutions to its customers in the state. Continue reading “Volkswagen India Introduces a New Sales Touchpoint In Mohali, Punjab”
Summary
BENGALURU, (Reuters) – Ford Motor said on Friday it plans to restart manufacturing at its factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, two years after it ended production in India, the world’s third-largest car market. Continue reading “Ford says to restart India production for exports after two-year gap”
BEIJING, (Reuters) – BYD, has significantly ramped up hiring, increasing its workforce to more than 900,000 people as of Friday, a senior manager said, making the Chinese electric vehicle giant one of the largest employers in the country.
The move comes as the Chinese government has been prioritising a push to create more jobs, for college graduates in particular as its economy falters. Continue reading “Chinese EV giant BYD ramps up hiring as Beijing prioritises employment”
BEIJING, (Reuters) – China is disappointed at the EU Commission for ignoring efforts by industry to find solutions, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Friday, after the bloc rejected offers from electric vehicle makers for minimum import prices.
The European Commission said it had received offers from electric vehicle makers in China for minimum import prices into Europe as a way of avoiding hefty tariffs but had rejected them. Continue reading “China disappointed at EU ‘ignoring’ tariff efforts”
Summary
(Reuters) – The Biden administration on Friday locked in steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports, including a 100% duty on electric vehicles, to boost protections for strategic industries from China’s state-driven industrial practices. Continue reading “US locks in steep China tariff hikes, some industries warn of disruptions”
(Reuters) – Uber Technologies on Friday it would expand its partnership with Alphabet’s Waymo to bring ride hailing to Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, early next year.
Shares of Uber rose 5%, while Alphabet was up around 2%. Continue reading “Uber, Waymo to expand autonomous ride hailing to Austin, Atlanta”
Summary
STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Northvolt’s shock decision this week to shrink its operations and cut jobs has sparked fears that Europe’s best shot at a home-grown electric vehicle battery champion may stall, sector experts and people familiar with the situation told Reuters. Continue reading “Struggling Northvolt stokes fear for Europe’s battery future”
Source : PTI | Electric two-wheeler startup Warivo Motor India is looking to nearly double its topline to around INR 120 crore this fiscal on the back of its entry into high-speed electric-scooter segment, according to top company officials. The company, which has been present in low-speed (top speed of up to 25 kmph) so far, on Friday launched its high-speed scooter CRX with price starting at INR 79,999 (ex-showroom).
“Earlier, we were in the low-speed electric scooters segment. Now with the CRX, we are getting into the high-speed segment which will help us get more volumes.” Warivo Motor India CEO Shammi Sharma told PTI. Continue reading “Warivo forays into high-speed e-scooter segment, eyes INR 120 crore topline in FY25”
Source : PTI | Domestic passenger vehicle wholesales declined by about 2% year-on-year in August as companies curtailed dispatches to reduce inventory at dealers amid a drop in demand. According to data issued by the industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the total passenger vehicle dispatches in the domestic market stood at 3,52,921 units last month compared to 3,59,228 vehicles in August 2023, a dip of 1.8%.
Two-wheeler wholesales rose 9% to 17,11,662 units last month against 15,66,594 units in the year-ago period, it added. Continue reading “Passenger vehicle wholesales dip 2% in August as OEMs cut dispatches”
Monthly Performance: August 2024
Production: The total production of Passenger Vehicles, Three Wheelers, Two Wheelers, and Quadricycle in August 2024 was 24,91,263 units
Domestic Sales:
National, September 12, 2024: Tata Power EV Charging Solutions Limited, one of India’s largest EV Charging solutions providers and a subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (a subsidiary of Tata Power), today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Motors Limited (Tata Motors), India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, to set up 200 fast-charging stations for electric commercial vehicles (CV) in all metros cities viz. Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata. This strategic move expands their ongoing collaboration, in providing sustainable mobility solutions, with a focus on easy charging solutions for small electric commercial vehicles.
As part of this initiative, Tata Motors and Tata Power will provide exclusive charging tariffs for Tata Motors’ electric CV owners, resulting in lower operating costs and increased profitability for its customers. Electric CV users across the Country, will soon benefit from access to almost 1000 strategically located fast chargers, with the planned expansion of the charging network. Continue reading “Tata Power Renewable Energy and Tata Motors sign a MoU to set up 200 fast-charging stations for electric commercial vehicles”
BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – The European Commission said on Thursday it had received offers from electric vehicle makers in China for minimum import prices into the European Union as a way of avoiding tariffs, but had rejected all of them.
The Commission, which is conducting an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese-built EVs, said several EV exporters had submitted price undertakings – a commitment by an exporter to respect minimum import prices in order to offset subsidies. Continue reading “EU rejects minimum price offers from Chinese EV exporters”
WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly voted on Thursday to approve legislation to tighten rules limiting Chinese content in vehicles qualifying for U.S. electric vehicle tax credits.
The House voted 217 to 192 to approve the bill, which has not been taken up by the Senate, to tighten the definition of Chinese components that make vehicles ineligible for U.S. EV tax credits. Continue reading “US House passes bill targeting China that would limit EV tax credits”
WASHINGTON/DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors is in talks to buy electric vehicle batteries that would use technology from China’s CATL and be assembled at a new plant in the United States, a person briefed on the matter confirmed on Thursday.
Crosstown rival Ford Motor already plans to license CATL technology to produce low-cost lithium-iron batteries at a battery plant it is building in Michigan under a plan announced in February 2023. Continue reading “GM in talks to buy EV batteries built with Chinese tech in US, source says”
Source : PTI | New Delhi: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Secretary Anurag Jain on Thursday pitched for scrapping of pre-BS era vehicles, especially commercial heavy vehicles, citing pollution and safety issues. Bharat Stage (BS) norms were introduced in the country in 2000.
“If look at pre-BS vehicles, these do so much of pollution. The vehicles which are from before 2000 do pollution 15 times (more). Do you think such vehicles should run when there is so much of problems happening in our country due to pollution,” Jain said. Continue reading “Pre-Bharat stage vehicles should be scrapped, says top official”
Source : PTI | Electric two-wheeler buyers can avail a maximum subsidy of up to INR 10,000 in the first year of the PM E-DRIVE Scheme to be rolled out soon, Union Heavy Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy said on Thursday. Addressing a media briefing, Kumaraswamy said the subsidy under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme for electric two-wheelers has been fixed based on battery power at INR 5,000 per kilowatt hour but the overall incentive will not exceed INR 10,000 in the first year.
In the second year, it will be halved by INR 2,500 per kilowatt hour, and the overall benefit will not exceed INR 5,000.
WAF THINK TANK
So, What’s Wrong with the Car Registration Plates at NCR- Delhi ? WAF
Hybrid cars throw lifeline to platinum metals WAF Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (13th September 2024)”
With effect from October 1, 2024, there will be a change of baton on the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand and on the Board of Management of SEAT S.A. Patrik A. Mayer will take over from David Powels as Chief Financial and IT Officer of SEAT. S.A., while David Powels will take over the responsibilities of Patrik A. Mayer.
“In these times, the finance department is undoubtedly of great importance. As CFO of the Volkswagen brand, Patrik Mayer has made a significant contribution to the structured and successful launch of the performance program. David Powel will build on this. And at the same time – under even more difficult conditions – provide impetus for competitive costs and structures. It is also about leveraging the synergies within the Brand Group Core with the utmost consistency,” says Thomas Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Brand Group Core & CEO Volkswagen Brand. Continue reading “Management change in the finance department of the VW brand group”
Volkswagen has entered into a cooperation with the German start-up Revoltech GmbH from Darmstadt. The aim is to research and develop sustainable materials based on industrial hemp. These could be used as a sustainable surface material in Volkswagen models from 2028. The material made from 100% bio-based hemp uses residues of the regional hemp industry. It can be produced on existing industrial plants and recycled or composted at the end of its service life in an automobile. The first presentations of the innovative material have already received a very positive response and feedback from customers.
Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Technical Development: “In our search for new materials, we are very open to new ideas from many different industries. At Technical Development, we place a strong focus on innovative, creative and sustainable solutions for holistic, resource-saving vehicle development.” Continue reading “Imitation leather from industrial hemp: innovative and sustainable material for future car interiors”
Source : PTI | Automobile dealers using demonstration vehicles or demo cars for promoting sales can claim input tax credit (ITC) under the GST law, the has said. However, no ITC would be available if demo cars are used by dealers for their own purpose during the course of the business.
In a circular, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said authorised dealers are required to maintain demo vehicles at their sales outlet as per dealership norms which are used for providing trial runs and for demonstrating features of the vehicle to the potential buyers.
Continue reading “Automobile dealers can claim ITC on demo cars used for promoting sales: CBIC”
(Reuters) – The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary investigation into some electric vehicles manufactured by Vietnam’s VinFast, it said on Thursday, over reports that the Lane Keep Assist System was not functioning correctly.
The investigation into about 3,118 VinFast vehicles follows allegations in 14 reports by drivers of VinFast 2023 and 2024 models that the system “has difficulty detecting lanes on the roadway, provides improper steering inputs and is difficult to override by the driver”, NHTSA said in a statement. Continue reading “US auto safety regulator opens probe into some VinFast cars”
ROME, (Reuters) – Stellantis said on Thursday it would suspend production of the fully electric Fiat 500 small car for four weeks due to sluggish demand.
The global slowdown in sales of electric vehicles (EVs), partly due to diverging policies on green incentives, has pushed automakers worldwide to adjust their EV plans.
“The measure is necessary due to the current lack of orders linked to the deep difficulties experienced in the European electric (car) market by all producers, particularly the European ones,” Stellantis said in a statement. Continue reading “Stellantis pauses production of electric Fiat 500 due to poor demand”
