Source : PTI | Tata Motors is committed to migrate its facilities to become net zero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 and is working on multiple technologies to achieve this including electric and hydrogen fuel technology, its Executive Director Girish Wagh said. The USD 37 billion organisation which is the country’s leading player in the commercial vehicle segment will continue to invest annually over INR 2,000 crore in the commercial vehicle business, the official said.

“As a part of sustainable transition which is an irreversible megatrend, Tata Motors is committed to become net zero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. As a part of that, we have to work towards zero-emission vehicle technologies for our entire portfolio as also ensuring that our facilities emit no Co2 or they become net zero co2 emission…we are working on multiple vehicle technologies,” Wagh told PTI in an interview here. Continue reading “Tata Motors committed to migrate facilities to zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045: Girish Wagh”

Aug (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers (UAW) union on Friday said members voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike at the Detroit Three automakers if agreement is not reached before the current four-year contract expires on Sept. 14.

The authorization was approved by 97% of voting members at General Motors (GM.N), Ford Motor (F.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI), said UAW President Shawn Fain, who leads the union that represents about 150,000 workers. Continue reading “UAW votes overwhelmingly to authorize strike at Detroit Three automakers”

Aug (Reuters) – Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its Michigan affiliate have asked a U.S. judge to dismiss a lawsuit from Ford Motor (F.N) accusing them of a conspiracy that artificially inflated how much the automaker was paying for insurance premiums and other commercial health insurance services.

In a pair of filings, the Blue Cross defendants on Thursday argued Ford had not shown that the insurers blocked any competing company from selling insurance products. Continue reading “Ford Motor Co’s health insurance antitrust suit filed too late, Blue Cross argues”

Aug  (Reuters) – The U.S. trucking industry may begin to see an uptick in freight demand in the back half of the year after grappling with another quarter of lower profits due to a slump in package volumes, company executives and analysts said.

The expectations have been largely fueled by U.S. retailers’ comments on their improving inventory position and prospects of better inbound container shipments. Continue reading “U.S. trucking firms see freight downturn reversing after dour quarter”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: JBM Auto is gearing up to participate in the recently announced scheme under which 10,000 electric buses will be deployed in 169 cities under the public-private partnership model, a top company official said on Friday. The company, which already has orders for 5,000 electric buses from across the country in its kitty, is looking to go through the policy fine print before deciding its future course of action.

“We are very well positioned with our product range, manufacturing capacity and technology to execute this but definitely we are waiting for further clarity on the policy in the next few weeks,” JBM Group Vice Chairman and Managing Director Nishant Arya told PTI on the sidelines of the B20 Summit here. Continue reading “JBM Auto gearing up to participate in PM-eBus Sewa scheme”

SEOUL, Aug 25 (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor’s (005380.KS) unionised workers in South Korea voted on Friday for possible strike action after two months of talks with the company over wage increases and an extension of the retirement age stalled last week.

The union, one of the biggest in the country with about 44,000 members, said 88.93% of its members had approved strike action unless the company accept the demands. Continue reading “Hyundai Motor’s union in South Korea votes to strike”

Summary

• Tesla pushes for India EV import tax policy change-sources
• Proposes duty tax cut for EV makers who commit to invest-sources
• India considering plan, wary of impact on local players
• Tesla has expressed interest in India plant, cheaper EV

NEW DELHI, Aug 25 (Reuters) – India is working on a new electric vehicle policy that would slash import taxes for automakers that commit to some local manufacturing, following a proposal by Tesla (TSLA.O) which is considering entering the domestic market, people with direct knowledge said. Continue reading “Exclusive: With Tesla push, India mulls import tax cut if EV makers build locally”

DETROIT, Aug (Reuters) – Many smaller U.S. manufacturers that supply parts to the Detroit Three automakers will be at risk if a long United Auto Workers strike shuts down assembly lines starting next month, industry executives and analysts said.

Many small and medium-sized auto parts manufacturers are in a weak financial condition after the shock of pandemic shutdowns and subsequent semiconductor shortages that depressed vehicle production at General Motors (GM.N), Ford (F.N) and Stellantis NV’s (STLAM.MI) North American operations for much of the past three years, industry experts told Reuters. Continue reading “Analysis: Parts makers risk cash crunch in a Detroit auto strike”

Aug (Reuters) – New vehicle sales in the United States are expected to rise in August, helped by improved supply and strong demand for personal transport, a report from industry consultants showed on Thursday.

U.S. new vehicle sales, including retail and non-retail transactions, are estimated to reach 1,354,600 units in August, a 15.4% jump from a year earlier, according to the joint report by J.D. Power and GlobalData. Continue reading “US auto sales to rise in August on increased vehicle supply, strong demand”

Source : PTI | Revolt Intellicorp, one of the seven companies accused of violating phased manufacturing programme guidelines under the INR 10,000-crore FAME-II scheme, has repaid the subsidy claimed, along with interest, amounting to INR 50.02 crore to the government. Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy IndustriesHanif Qureshi confirmed the repayment and said the ministry will give “a few weeks more” to six other companies found violating the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) norms.

He said while notices were issued to the firms after giving them a hearing, more time will be given as some of them maintain that they have not violated norms and will be required to submit documents validating their claims. Continue reading “Revolt Intellicorp returns INR 50 cr claimed under FAME-II; 6 firms to get ‘few more weeks’”

Source : PTI | Lithium-ion battery recycling firm RecycleKaro on Thursday said it plans to invest INR 100 crore for setting up a nickel plant in Maharashtra with a capacity to produce 1,200 tonnes of the metal annually. Spread across 17 acres of land, the upcoming facility at Palghar district of the state will incorporate a plant capable of producing nickel from scrapped lithium-ion batteries and nickel hydroxide, RecycleKaro said in a statement.

The plant will commence production by the end of 2023, it said.

This venture is aimed at completing the value chain of a circular economy and meeting the surging demand for lithium-ion batteries in India’s fast expanding electric vehicle market, the company said. Continue reading “Battery recycling firm RecycleKaro to invest INR 100 cr to set up plant in Maharashtra”

Source : PTI | Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said he will unveil a 100 % ethanol-fueled variant of Toyota’s Innova car on August 29. The Union minister, who has been exhorting automakers to come out with alternative fuel-powered and green vehicles, had last year launched a hydrogen-powered car, Toyota Mirai EV.

“On August 29, I am going to launch the popular (Toyota) Innova car on 100% ethanol,” Gadkari said while addressing the Mint Sustainability Summit here.

This car will be World’s first BS-VI (Stage-II), electrified flex-fuel vehicle. Continue reading “Nitin Gadkari to launch 100% ethanol-fueled car on Aug 29”

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MG Motor India expands its network in Hyderabad; adds three more touchpoints in a day ThePrint

Volkswagen India rolls out new brand communication Autocar

New Volkswagen Tiguan ready for global debut Autocar Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (25th August 2023)”

DETROIT, Aug (Reuters) – Hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles may not be dying as fast as some predicted in the auto sector’s rush to develop all-electric models.

Ford Motor (F.N) is the latest of several top automakers, including Toyota (7203.T) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI), planning to build and sell hundreds of thousands of hybrid vehicles in the U.S. over the next five years, industry forecasters told Reuters.

The companies are pitching hybrids as an alternative for retail and commercial customers who are seeking more sustainable transportation, but may not be ready to make the leap to a full electric vehicle. Continue reading “Focus: Gas-electric hybrid vehicles get a boost in the US from Ford, others”

Summary

• Bigger group could spearhead Malaysia EV growth – sources
• Consideration fits with government’s EV push
• Competition to become Southeast Asia EV hub heats up

SINGAPORE/BENGALURU, Aug 24 (Reuters) – Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby (SIME.KL) said it is buying a majority stake in industrial group UMW Holdings (UMWS.KL) for 3.57 billion ringgit ($768.90 million) in a deal that could spearhead the country’s electric vehicle (EV) journey.

The 61.2% stake in UMW is being sold by the country’s top asset manager Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), the biggest shareholder in both Sime Darby and UMW. Continue reading “Malaysia’s EV push accelerates as Sime Darby to buy majority stake in UMW”

BERLIN, Aug (Reuters) – Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) has begun purchasing strategically important chips it believes will be in short supply globally directly from 10 manufacturers including NXP Semiconductors (NXPI.O), Infineon Technologies (IFXGn.DE) and Renesas Electronics (6723.T) the carmaker said on Wednesday.

The German carmaker, which previously relied on its component suppliers to purchase chips, began striking direct deals with chipmakers last October to ensure its supply was secure, according to Karsten Schnake, head of a Volkswagen-wide taskforce for component supply founded in 2022. Continue reading “Volkswagen strikes direct supply deals for chips to avoid global shortage”

HONG KONG, Aug (Reuters) – Xiaomi Corp (1810.HK) has won the approval of China’s state planner to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs), said two people with knowledge of the matter, marking a major step towards the smartphone maker’s goal of producing cars by early next year.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which regulates new investments and production capacity in China’s auto industry, gave the nod for EV manufacturing to Beijing-based Xiaomi earlier this month, said the people. Xiaomi’s venture is only the fourth since end-2017 to win NDRC approval. Continue reading “Exclusive: China’s Xiaomi wins state planner nod to make EVs amid glut in autos”

HONG KONG, Aug (Reuters) – Zeekr, Chinese automaker Geely’s premium electric vehicle (EV) brand, will meet global investors from August-end to test appetite for a $1 billion U.S initial public offering (IPO), said people with direct knowledge of the matter.

It is hoping the share sale will yield a valuation of over $13 billion, as achieved during a private $750 million funding round in February, two people said. Continue reading “China EV maker Zeekr to start investor tour ahead of $1 bln US IPO -sources”

Aug  (Reuters) – The U.S. workplace safety regulator said on Wednesday it was investigating a recent chemical solvent leak at an Ohio battery plant jointly owned by General Motors (GM.N) and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution (373220.KS).

The joint venture, Ultium Cells LLC, said on Wednesday it had discovered a cathode mixing slurry leak at its Ohio production facility and took immediate steps to isolate the cause and contain it. Continue reading “US agency probes chemical spill at battery plant owned by GM, LG Energy”

SEOUL, Aug  (Reuters) – China’s BYD Co Ltd (002594.SZ) and South Korea’s KG Mobility Co Ltd (003620.KS) are in talks to jointly build an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in South Korea, a source told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Chinese battery and EV maker and the South Korean automaker hope to secure stable battery supplies through the venture, said the source with direct knowledge of the matter, declining to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. Continue reading “BYD, KG Mobility in talks on battery joint venture in South Korea -source”

Aug (Reuters) – Italian carmaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) is exploring options to partner with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Zhejiang Leapmotor (9863.HK) as it tries to expand its presence in the world’s largest auto market, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.

Considerations for a tie-up are ongoing and no final decisions have been made, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Continue reading “Stellantis explores tie-up with Chinese EV maker Leapmotor – Bloomberg News”

Source : PTI | Adani TotalEnergies E-Mobility Limited (ATEL) will set up EV charging infrastructure with all-electric cab aggregator, Prakriti E-Mobility (Evera), the company said on Tuesday. “The collaboration will feature an integration of 200 EV charging points super hub in Delhi. This strategic partnership will be scaled up pan-India to encourage decarbonized mobility,” it said in a statement.

Adani TotalEnergies E-Mobility Limited (ATEL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Total Gas Limited, the equal joint venture of Adani Group and French energy giant TotalEnergies. Continue reading “Adani TotalEnergies E-Mobility partners with Evera Cabs for charging hubs”

Source : PTI | Petrol pump owners in the national capital held a protest at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, demanding the removal of value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel and revising their margins on sales. Representatives of various dealer welfare associations of petrol pump owners from other states also participated in the protest.

The protesters demanded the removal of VAT, terming it “disruptive”, and include petroleum products in the goods and services tax (GST) regime. Continue reading “Petrol pump owners in Delhi stage protest demanding removal of VAT, revision of margins”

Source : PTI | India’s top gas firm GAIL (India) Ltd plans to invest INR 30,000 crore in the next three years as it expands petrochemical capacity and scouts for LNG supplies globally, its chairman Sandeep Kumar Gupta said on Wednesday.

The nation’s top gas marketing and transportation firm is looking at liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a transport fuel, joining Essar-promoted GreenLine which operates the nation’s largest LNG-powered fleet of heavy commercial vehicles. Continue reading “GAIL to invest Rs 30,000 crore in next 3 years; scouts for LNG abroad”

Source : PTI | French auto major Renault is looking for a local supplier-based electric vehicle system in India, which will help them offer vehicles at affordable prices, according to a senior company official. Renault does not want to burden the customer with huge costs, generally associated with an Electric Vehicle (EV), the official said, adding that it is focusing on the mass market, with an eye on the middle and upper-middle classes.

“We need a lot of local suppliers for EVs because we want to go for a local supplier-based system. So, the cost of acquisition (for a buyer) becomes competitive,” Venkatram Mamillapalle, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Renault India Operations, told PTI during a recent interaction. Continue reading “Looking for local supplier-based electric vehicle system in India to offer vehicles at lower prices: Renault”

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) – U.S auto safety regulators said Tuesday automakers can comply with a Massachusetts law requiring them to share vehicle data with independent repair shops, reversing course after previously objecting that it could make vehicles vulnerable to hacking.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

said automakers could safely share diagnostic data with independent shops using short-range wireless technology, but warned that using long-range wireless signals could potentially let hackers send dangerous commands to moving vehicles. Continue reading “US OKs state auto-repair law after raising hacking concerns”

Aug 22 (Reuters) – VinFast’s shares more than doubled on Tuesday to the highest since Vietnamese electric vehicle maker’s blowout Wall Street debut after Reuters reported that South Korea’s Star Group Industrial plans to open factory in Vietnam.

In the latest volatile session since its backdoor listing last week, VinFast’s stock was last up 127% at $40.24, giving it a market capitalization of $95 billion. The stock traded as high as $46.98 earlier in the session. Continue reading “VinFast shares more than double to highest since market debut”

NEW YORK, Aug 22 (Reuters) – Sigma Lithium (SGML.V), , which produces metal used in electric vehicle batteries, has sued a former co-chief executive officer, accusing him of stealing trade secrets to undermine the company’s effort to sell itself.

The complaint was filed on Monday in federal court in Manhattan against Calvyn Gardner, who until January was Sigma’s co-CEO with Ana Cabral-Gardner, who he is divorcing and who remains CEO. Luisa Valim, Gardner’s daughter-in-law, is also a defendant. Continue reading “Sigma Lithium, eyeing buyout, sues ex-CEO and daughter-in-law over trade secrets”

Source : PTI Automobile industry on Tuesday hailed India’s first crash testing programme Bharat NCAP, saying it will further elevate vehicle safety standards in the country and as an authentic and objective rating system it will help customers take informed purchase decisions.

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India said it will offer at least three models for testing under the programme in the first lot itself, while others such as Hyundai Motor India, Mahindra & Mahindra and Renault also fully supported the programme. Continue reading “Bharat NCAP to help elevate vehicle safety standards in India: OEMs”

Summary

• BlackRock, Canada Pension Plan back convertible note
• Omers, IMCO also help lead latest funding round
• Close to agreeing plan for Canadian factory – sources

STOCKHOLM/LONDON, Aug 22 (Reuters) – Swedish lithium-ion battery producer Northvolt has raised $1.2 billion from investors including BlackRock (BLK.N) and several Canadian pension plans as it prepares to build new factories in Europe and North America, its finance chief told Reuters. Continue reading “Exclusive: Northvolt raises $1.2 billion in latest funding round for factory build out – CFO”

PRAGUE, Aug 22 (Reuters) – The Czech plant of Japan’s Toyota (7203.T) halted production due to a parts shortage caused by a fire at a local supplier, a spokesperson for the carmaker said on Tuesday.

“We had to stop production yesterday evening. This will of course have an effect on our production plan. It is not clear how long will the outage last,” said spokesman Tomas Paroubek. Continue reading “Toyota halts production at Czech plant due to parts shortage”

Summary

• Korean firm plans factory that alone could meet half U.S. demand
• Chinese Apple supplier to open magnet plant this year -sources
• Vietnam’s rare earths deposits second only to China’s
• China dominates world’s magnet supply

HANOI/SEOUL, Aug 22 (Reuters) – Korean and Chinese magnet firms, including an Apple supplier, are set to open factories in Vietnam, according to documents and people familiar with the plans, amid a push to diversify supply chains away from China and defend against Sino-U.S. tension. Continue reading “Exclusive: Rare earths magnet firms turn to Vietnam in China hedge”

BENGALURU/WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) – The space race India aims to win this week by landing first on the moon’s south pole is about science, the politics of national prestige and a new frontier: money.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 is heading for a landing on the lunar south pole on Wednesday. If it succeeds, analysts and executives expect an immediate boost for the South Asian nation’s nascent space industry. Continue reading “India’s boom, Russia’s crunch: how money is shaping a new space race”

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (Reuters) – India’s new safety rating system for passenger cars will be implemented from Oct. 1, the country’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on Tuesday.

The world’s third-largest car market, India has some of the deadliest roads, where some 150,000 people die in accidents every year, according to government data. Continue reading “India’s new safety ratings for passenger cars to start on Oct. 1”

WASHINGTON, Aug (Reuters) – U.S. auto safety regulators on Monday proposed expanding and enhancing reminder systems to boost seat belt use and reduce traffic crash deaths and injuries that have been rising in recent years.

The proposed new warning system by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would extend to both rear seat and front seat passengers and expand current warnings for the driver. It would apply to passenger cars, trucks and most buses that weigh 10,000 pounds or less. Continue reading “US proposes requiring passenger, rear seat belt reminder systems”

BERLIN, Aug (Reuters) – German auto parts supplier Continental (CONG.DE) is considering the sale of the car division currently bundled within ContiTech, manager magazin reported on Monday, citing company sources.

The possible sale would be part of a wider reorganisation of the company being planned by Supervisory Board Chairman Wolfgang Reitzle and the executive board around CEO Nikolai Setzer, the publication added, citing the sources. Continue reading “Continental considers sell-off of ContiTech car business – manager magazin”

Aug (Reuters) – Two former Tesla (TSLA.O) employees were behind a data breach that compromised personal information of more than 75,000 people including staff, the electric carmaker said in a legal disclosure.

Data exposed by the breach was leaked to German media outlet Handelsblatt, Steven Elentukh, Tesla’s data privacy officer, said in a submission to Maine’s attorney general office. Continue reading “Tesla says two ex-employees behind May data breach”

Source : PTI | Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) on Monday said it will supply 9 megawatt of green energy to Tata Motors’ plant in Pantnagar as part of an agreement. A power purchase agreement (PPA) has been signed with Tata Motors Limited Pantnagar plant in Uttarakhand, Tata Power said in a statement.

The project will be commissioned within six months from the PPA execution date. It will utilise rooftop and ground-mounted units for installation, TPREL said. Continue reading “TPREL to supply 9 MW green energy to Tata Motors plant in Uttarakhand”

Source : PTI | The power usage for electric vehicles (EVs) rose more than three-fold from 4.56 million units in September last year to 14.44 million units in July 2023, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited said on Monday. State-run MSEDCL, also called Mahavitaran, is the nodal agency for providing charging stations for EVs, as well as other works like helping the private sector come up with such infrastructure, and assisting the government in policies regarding the sector, an official release said.

Quoting MSEDCL CMD Lokesh Chandra, the release said the power usage for EVs in Maharashtra was 4.56 million units in September 2022, which rose to 6.10 million units in March and further to 14.44 million units in July this year. Continue reading “Electricity usage by EVs rises from 4.56 mn units in Sep last year to 14.44 mn units in July 2023, says MSEDCL”

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug (Reuters) – California’s autos regulator said on Friday it is investigating “recent concerning incidents” involving autonomous vehicles operated by General Motors (GM.N) unit Cruise in San Francisco and asked the company to take half its robotaxis off the roads.

The statement from California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) came after a Cruise robotaxi was involved in a crash with an emergency vehicle in San Francisco late on Thursday, the latest accident involving the self-driving cars. Continue reading “California regulator probes crashes involving GM’s Cruise robotaxis”