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”

COPENHAGEN, April 5 (Reuters) – Sweden-based Volvo Car AB (VOLCARb.ST) said on Wednesday its sales increased by 8% year-on-year in March to 63,132 cars, helped mainly by the company’s fully electric cars.

Volvo Car, majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding (0175.HK), said in a statement its fully electric models made up 41% of all its cars sold globally in the first three months of this year.

Continue reading “Volvo Car’s sales up 8% in March”

PTI – A total of 11,025 vehicles (7,750 private and 3,275 government vehicles) have been scrapped till March 31 this year by the registered vehicle scrapping facilities, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

PTI – The plan finalised by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) at a meeting chaired by Union Minister for Power & New and Renewable Energy R K Singh last week, is in accordance with the Prime Minister’s announcement at COP26, of achieving 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel (Renewable Energy + Nuclear) sources by 2030.

PTI – Killwatt’s business comprises development, design, manufacture, sale and distribution of high-tech products and components in the field of electric two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles, it added.

By David Shepardson

By Nathan Gomes

April 4 (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co (F.N) posted a 10.1% rise in first-quarter U.S. auto sales on Tuesday, fueled by pent-up demand for electric vehicles, SUVs and trucks amid easing supply chain disruptions.

The Detroit automaker joins other global rivals in reporting a rise in sales, as the industry was able to get more of their vehicles to dealers and customers on time in the quarter.

Continue reading “Ford’s quarterly US auto sales jump 10.1% on pent-up demand, easing supply”

By Victoria Waldersee

BERLIN, April 4 (Reuters) – Tesla (TSLA.O) will warn that its ‘sentry mode’, which records a car’s surroundings, risks infringing data privacy laws in Germany after consumer group vzbv sued the manufacturer for failing to mention this in advertising.

The case is the latest in a series of disputes in countries from China to the Netherlands over the cameras in Tesla cars, which the company says are to protect from theft or vandalism but authorities worry lead to filming without consent.

Continue reading “Tesla to warn of data privacy risk from car security cameras in Germany”

By Joseph White and David Shepardson

April 4 (Reuters) – About 5,000 General Motors Co (GM.N) salaried workers took buyouts to leave the company, putting the company well on the way to hitting a $2 billion cost-cutting target, the automaker’s chief financial officer said Tuesday.

GM shares were trading down 2.1% in afternoon trading, even though CFO Paul Jacobson said demand for GM’s trucks and SUVs remains strong in the United States.

Continue reading “GM buyouts cut 5,000 salaried jobs, CFO says”

By Eric Onstad

LONDON, April 4 (Reuters) – Sweden, South Africa and Australia are at the forefront of a push to transform piles of mine waste and by-products into rare earths vital for the green energy revolution, hoping to substantially cut dependence on Chinese supply.

Prices of the minerals used in products from electric cars to wind turbines have been strong, and a rush to meet net-zero carbon targets is expected to further boost demand.

Continue reading “Mine waste finds new life as source of rare earths”

By Paul Lienert

April 4 (Reuters) – A new generation of electric vehicle (EV) batteries that hold more energy, achieve longer driving range and charge more quickly should begin reaching customers by mid-decade, powered by new silicon-based electrodes that are slated to go into production next year in central Washington state.

Two startup companies, Group14 Technologies and Sila Nanotechnologies, are focused on new applications for silicon, an abundant element that is being developed as a supplement or replacement for graphite in battery anodes.

Continue reading “New silicon anodes could help EV batteries go farther, charge faster”

April 3 (Reuters) – A federal jury in San Francisco on Monday ordered Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) to pay about $3.2 million to a Black former employee after he won a racial harassment lawsuit against the electric-vehicle maker, far less than the $15 million he rejected last year in opting for a new trial.

The verdict came after a week-long retrial in the 2017 lawsuit by plaintiff Owen Diaz, who in 2021 was awarded $137 million by a different jury. A judge agreed with that jury that Tesla was liable but said the award was excessive. He ordered a new trial on damages after Diaz declined the reduced $15 million award.

Continue reading “Tesla ordered to pay $3.2 million to Black ex-worker in US race bias case”

PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) – France could offer tax breaks and subsidies for producing climate friendly technologies in the country, according to proposals on Monday from lawmakers preparing a green industry bill.

In the scramble to adopt more low-carbon, France’s government is concerned that its companies could fall irrevocably behind U.S. rivals, boosted by the Biden administration’s $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act.

Continue reading “French lawmakers propose tax credits, subsidies for green industry”

April 3 (Reuters) – Membership in the United Auto Workers union rose 3% in 2022 to 383,000 as it works to organize workers in battery plants and other electric vehicle components.

Last month, Shawn Fain won a closely contested race against incumbent Ray Curry for UAW president by fewer than 500 votes out of about 140,000 cast. Fain said last week the union was ready to go to war against “employers who refuse to give our members their fair share.”

Continue reading “United Auto Workers union membership rose 3% in 2022 to 383,000”

PTI – Yulu said it provides flexible rental packs and allows delivery partners to earn higher earnings compared to ICE-powered vehicles.

April 3 (Reuters) – Top global automakers reported a rise in first-quarter U.S. sales on improving shipments to dealers, with the exception of Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), which continued to grapple with parts shortage, data showed on Monday.

General Motors Co (GM.N), which replaced Toyota as the top U.S. automaker in 2022, posted a 17.6% rise in first-quarter auto sales.

Continue reading “US sales at top automakers rise on improving inventory, Toyota struggles”

Oct 10 (Reuters) – Rising demand for electric vehicles (EV) around the world is encouraging automakers such as Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) and Stellantis NV (STLA.MI) to step up efforts to secure raw materials needed for making batteries.

Following are some of the deals major automakers have announced with suppliers and miners:

TESLA (TSLA.O):

26-Aug-2022 – Panasonic Holdings Corp (6752.T), a supplier to Tesla, is in talks to build an additional EV battery plant in the United States at a cost of about $4 billion.

Continue reading “Factbox: Automakers accelerate drive to secure battery raw materials”

April 3 (Reuters) – Rivian Automotive Inc (RIVN.O) maintained its annual forecast on Monday as the electric-vehicle maker scrambles to lift output in an industry under pressure from an uncertain economy and a price war started by Tesla Inc (TSLA.O).

Shares of Rivian, whose backers include Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), fell 2.4% in a broad decline for EV stocks that saw Tesla fall 6.3% after its own production report.

Continue reading “Rivian reiterates production forecast as EV maker rushes to boost output”

BERLIN, April 2 (Reuters) – Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) does not plan to develop a new combustion engine generation of its legendary Golf car, brand chief Thomas Schaefer told autos publication Automobilwoche on Sunday, marking the end of the line for a vehicle on sale since 1974.

The Golf 8, currently in production, will be the last combustion engine version of the hatchback car, with one more series of updates expected next year.

Continue reading “Volkswagen not planning new combustion engine Golf, Automobilwoche reports”

SHANGHAI, April 1 (Reuters) – China’s Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) is partnering with more legacy automakers to produce Aito-branded electric cars, the company’s senior executive said on Saturday, in a move to expand its presence in the auto industry.

Huawei will team up with Chery Automobile (CHERY.UL), BAIC Motor (1958.HK) and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (600418.SS) in jointly developing and manufacturing Aito-branded vehicles, Richard Yu, Huawei’s Smart Car CEO, said at the China EV 100 forum in Beijing.

Continue reading “China’s Huawei partners with more automakers to produce Aito EVs”

WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY, March 31 (Reuters) – The U.S. and Mexico on Friday announced a deal to resolve a U.S. labor complaint at VU Manufacturing in northern Mexico that requires the auto parts plant to let workers freely choose their union in line with a trade pact aimed at improving labor rights.

Mexico’s government previously found “serious irregularities” at the factory violating the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the second probe into the plant at the request of the U.S. following worker complaints.

Continue reading “U.S., Mexico agree deal to fix labor dispute at VU Manufacturing plant”

PTI – The entry-level trims of the models, which come with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, would however continue to feature the manual transmission in order to cater to the price-conscious customer.