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    Solid-state batteries: SSB is not as easy as ABC
    Hard to believe, but the lithium-ion battery,  which has been synonymous with the auto industry’s electrification phase, not to mention the proliferation of personal electronic goods, is ripe for redevelopment. There have been different chemistries coming in and out of vogue, mainly involving the choice of cathode material, but the fundamentals have remained in place since the first commercialization in 1981. Now, development is advanced for one of the most fundamental elements of the ...
    Four factors shaping the battery metals market
    Amid persistent macroeconomic uncertainty, spot demand for battery metals has waned over 2023, contributing to a general weakening of metals prices, down from record price highs in 2022. But the horizon for energy transition-related demand has arrived, spurred forward by various government initiatives that have supported plug-in electric vehicle uptake to decarbonize the transport sector and a focus on renewable energy sources. Batteries are the most expensive component of electric vehicle...
    CATL focuses on innovation and overseas investments to keep growing
    Mainland China-based battery-cell maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL) is already one of the leading lithium-ion (Li-ion) cell suppliers to the automotive industry. Established in 2011, CATL catered to more than 29% of the demand of Li-ion batteries from the light-vehicle segment in 2022. The company competes with suppliers such as LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and Panasonic. In 2022, CATL Group (including all its joint ventures) supplied more than 187 GWh of Li-ion cells to th...
    Battery recycling climbs up the priority list of OEMs
    During the life cycle of an electric vehicle (EV), battery cell manufacturing and raw material mining has the biggest contribution toward CO2 emissions. The other major challenge is with the supply of critical raw materials, such as cobalt, nickel and lithium. As EV uptake picks up pace, production of lithium-ion battery cells will also have to expand in line to meet the demand. This is expected to put huge pressure on the raw material supply chain of these materials. Along with availa...
    Can the industry follow Tesla’s transition to 48V architecture soon?
    Recently, Tesla announced that it will transition its electrical and electronics (E/E) architecture from 12V to 48V. The purpose behind this decision is to structurally improve power efficiency and further advance vehicle lightweighting. The decision is in line with Tesla's strategy to pursue architectural and modular innovation, and signifies the strengthening of its component ecosystem. During Tesla's Investor Day in March, the company hinted at the adoption of a 48V-based E/E architecture....
    UAW expands strike at GM, Stellantis after a week of standoff with Detroit Three
    After a week into the persisting standoff with the Detroit Three – General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Stellantis – the United Auto Workers (UAW) announced on September 22 that it is expanding the ongoing strike to 38 parts distribution locations across 20 states in the US. In its second wave, the UAW strike aims to target the aftersales and service facilities, which is expected to have a direct and immediate impact on the carmaker’s dealerships, and therefore customers. While the UA...
    Shifting gears from Frankfurt to Munich and the race for electric dominance
    Previously known as the Frankfurt Motor Show, the IAA Mobility relocated to Munich in 2021, shifting the focus away from the traditional static motor show to giving practical demonstrations of new technology. While the ritualistic wall-to-wall “thumpin’-and-pumpin’” music inside the Messe Frankfurt every other September is but a distant memory, the sheer range of exciting new electric and autonomous vehicle concepts are still on display in different locations in Germany’s third-largest...
    Our battery technology delivers a platform for manufacturing efficient, affordable EVs: OneD Battery Sciences
    S&P Global Mobility: How was OneD Battery Sciences established? Please tell us about the origin of ‘SINANODE’ platform. Vincent Pluvinage: I have lived in the Silicon Valley since 1987, and I have taken a couple of companies public. Since 2001–02, I have been active in Silicon Valley as an investor, mainly focusing on innovative technologies, where I can use my physics and bioengineering background, to bring to market technologies that are well patented. I am an inventor at heart...
    Suppliers to Volkswagen ID3
     The Volkswagen ID3 is produced at  the parent plant in Wolfsburg in Germany. The vehicle is expected to peak at more than 43,000  in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility forecast.
    ROUND TABLE: How AI is reshaping engineering in the automotive industry
    AI can address specific original equipment manufacturer challenges, enabling greater product development efficiency and faster time to market, which are crucial in the highly competitive automotive industry. Marking the first of our series of roundtable discussions with automotive industry specialists, we gathered three experts to learn more about the current and potential use of AI in the automotive industry, covering sales efficiency, potential job creation, regulatory aspects and its role in ...
    Batteries on the brink: Opportunities and challenges
    Sustainability vs. economics Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in operation will reach 171 million units globally in 2032, according to S&P Global Mobility. What will happen to all those end-of-life batteries? The race is on to recycled electric vehicle (EV) batteries. But at what cost and who stands to gain? EV sales are blossoming but it is still a waiting game for battery recyclers. Where and when is the window of opportunity for high-voltage battery recycling? A new study by S&...
    Suppliers to the new Volkswagen ID7
    The Volkswagen  ID.7 is produced at the company’s plant Emden in Germany. The vehicle is expected to peak at more than 49967  in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility forecast.
    White paper: Electrification technology in reshaped supply chains for ubiquitous EVs
    With the rapid rates of electric vehicle adoption continuing in major markets globally, legislative agendas supporting aggressive transitions to phase out mainstream internal combustion engine (ICE) usage, and supply chains gearing up accordingly, the narrative around electrification technology is shifting toward one of maturity and scale. Click the link above to download the full article.
    INTERVIEW: Urbix on graphite and other promising anode technologies
    Graphite has been traditionally used in the automotive sector for brake linings and clutch materials. However, its significance has been increasing due to its crucial role in electric vehicle batteries. Graphite serves as the anode material in these batteries, and there are no viable alternatives. The rising popularity of hybrid and all-electric vehicles, along with grid storage systems, has triggered a surge in demand and generated new business for Urbix, a graphite processor, says it is helpin...
    Dry electrode coating process gaining prominence in lithium-ion cell manufacturing
    The general belief that 100% electrification of vehicles is a silver bullet to end all emissions-related concerns of the automotive sector is not as convincing anymore, as the focus is squarely on net zero, the ambit of which extends far beyond zero tailpipe emissions. The net-zero emissions concept includes the manufacturing process, the source of the energy used in manufacturing and the emissions emanating from the entire supply chain. In the current scenario, manufacturing of the Li-on cel...
    What Toyota’s staggering announcements on battery technologies, giga castings mean
    In its most elaborate presentation so far, on June 13 Toyota Motor Corp. shared details of its strategic technology roadmap including the developments on new battery chemistries, hydrogen fuel cells and the pathway to achieve significant cost reduction in manufacturing electric vehicles. One of the largest carmakers in the world with a significant technology advantage on plug-in hybrid EVs and patents on EV batteries, Toyota has been visibly lagging in rolling out pure battery electric vehicl...
    Strong policies push North America and Europe up in the Li-ion battery value chain
    Greater China is going to see some strong competition in lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cell manufacturing space, thanks to new localization mandates being introduced in regions, such as Europe and North America, which is attracting a lot of interest from cell makers for setting up new cell production plants. According to the recently published “Global battery cell production capacity tracker 2023” from S&P Global Mobility, the global battery manufacturing capacity is expected to grow a...
    INTERVIEW: Charging trends and the 30-minute retail economy
    The current electric vehicle charging infrastructure offering is diverse in terms of product quality, user experience and payment systems. Sometimes chargers are out of service. Sometimes the payment system is down. Given that the EV charging network is still in its infancy, there is plenty of room for improvement. To learn more about tomorrow’s charging infrastructure, trends in the public transport charging space and the 30-minute retail economy, we spoke to Bill Loewenthal, chief product of...
    INTERVIEW: Spotlight on Manganese
    The role of manganese in the battery-material conversation is frequently disregarded, given that it is used in smaller amounts compared with other metals in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Its primary function is as a stabilizer in the cathode. However, there is growing OEM and investor interest in manganese. Tesla and Volkswagen have expressed interest in shifting their Li-ion battery designs away from cobalt and nickel and toward manganese. Mainland China dominates the manganese market, accoun...
    Can Brazil’s commercial truck fleet turn electric?
    In Brazil, intermodal transport is limited, with average truck trips spanning more than 2,000 km. Combine that with a commercial truck fleet averaging 12 years of age, and a lack of affordable options to replace with new vehicles, and Brazil is facing a truck-emissions timebomb. Brazil has a truck parc of 2.2 million units, and the movements to modernize the fleet by agribusiness, e-commerce and construction have contributed to reducing the fleet average age. However, while the emission restr...
    INTERVIEW: Aehra on the opportunities and challenges for a battery-electric vehicle startup
    The switch to electrification means there is an opportunity for startup automakers unburdened by legacy costs and investments to change the way cars are designed and built. “We assessed the waters with a few SPACs and found the level of redemptions, mixed with the cost overburden of being public too soon was entirely counterproductive.” “We see electric mobility as an opportunity, a brand leveller. Where perceptions of certain brands and products may have lagged reality in the past, u...
    Suppliers to the new BMW i5
    The BMW i5 is produced at company’s Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany. The electric vehicle is expected to peak at more than 39722 in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility forecast.
    Titan Silicon can completely replace graphite from battery anode: Sila Nanotechnologies
    Sila’s anode material plant in Moses Lake, Washington, will produce enough material to serve up to 200,000 electric vehicles in its first phase. With Mercedes-Benz as its first official customer, Sila is working through an early qualification process with other potential customers. Sila’s innovative silicon materials can entirely replace graphite from battery anode. Berdichevsky gives a detailed account of how Sila was formed, the advantages of breakthrough silicon anodes in EV...
    Suppliers to the new Cupra Leon
    The Cupra Leon  is produced at built at Martorell plant in Spain. The VW’s SEAT is expected to peak at more than 52311 in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility forecast.
    Fuel for Thought: ICE shakeout
    The time for denial is over. There are still suppliers of parts related to internal combustion engines that are steadfast in their belief that the looming (and eventual) shift away from ICE toward any number of battery-electric propulsion formats is just a passing fad. In their view, scores of OEMs, suppliers, dealers and infrastructure partners have it completely wrong. They believe that the billions in investment earmarked in virtually every major global market to build a new ecosystem are cap...
    LFP battery making its position stronger in light EV segment
    For decades, the desire to find a middle ground between cost and performance has been driving the automotive industry toward newer, more efficient technologies. As the age of automotive electrification dawns, we see this happening more prominently, especially for batteries. Batteries account for the biggest share (around 30-40%) in the cost of an electric vehicle (EV). Any reduction in this cost will help bring cost parity between an EV and an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. Althoug...
    Charging ahead: McLaren Applied on the next ‘wave’ of electrification
    UK-based McLaren Applied is a specialist in vehicle electrification, particularly inverters. It recently struck a deal with STMicroelectronics for the supply of silicon carbide power modules for its 800V inverter. Inverter technology is rapidly adopting silicon carbide semiconductors, and McLaren has turned to the Geneva-based company in the absence of a local supply chain. To learn more about the inverters market and the migration from distributed ECU E/E architecture to a centralized zona...
    Talking Heads: Forever chemicals
    Last January, five European countries - Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden - submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to restrict PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the EU under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. The group are calling for an EU ban on PFAS as early as 2026, pointing to recent studies that have linked the chemicals’ exposure to a wide range of health problems. The proposed r...
    Fewer EVs qualify through US Treasury’s guidelines on battery sourcing
    On March 31, the US Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released proposed guidance on the new clean vehicle provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law in August 2022. Aimed at incentivizing the domestic production of electric vehicles (EV) and batteries and reducing dependency on foreign supply chains, the proposed guidance, according to the US government, intends to provide clarity and certainty to manufacturers on the IRA requiremen...
    EVangelists: Putting the electric cart before the power generation horsepower?
    One of the most recognized patterns in current well-to-wheel analysis is the differentiation of localized power generation sources and supply chain contributions to the overall carbon footprint of vehicles. Experts like Kelly Senecal rightly point out that in many cases, the power grid is dirtier than a hybrid, even when vehicles manufacturing energy sources are responsibly developed.  Click the link above to download the full article.
    Europe moves closer to implementing battery passports for EV batteries
    The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union reached a provisional agreement on a proposal to strengthen the sustainability rules for batteries in December 2022. The Parliament and the Council said they are also open to further discussions on the new technological developments and future challenges pertaining to the batteries and battery materials. The negotiating representatives on both sides agreed that a carbon footprint declaration and label must be made mandatory for batter...
    Tesla Investor Day 2023: Tesla focuses on the ‘big picture’
    Tesla's co-founder and CEO Elon Musk believes that the desire for people to own a Tesla car is very high. The limiting factor is the (un)affordability of these cars. Remedying that seems to be the next goal for Musk as he wants to reduce the cost of producing the next-generation Tesla models by almost half, making them more affordable. On 1 March, Tesla hosted its Investor’s Day at its Texas gigafactory, where it presented its ‘Master Plan 3’, which succeeds the previous two Master...
    Suppliers to the new Ford Ranger
    The Ford Ranger is produced at at the Michigan Assembly Plant ,USA. The vehicle is expected to peak at more than 75484 in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility forecast.
    Suppliers to the 2023 Volvo EX90
    The Volvo EX90 is built at Volvo's Charleston, South Carolina plant. The full-sized SUV is expected to peak at more than 46585 in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility forecast.
    Supplier to the new Mercedes-Benz GLC
    The Mercedes-Benz GLC produced at the at the Beijing plant in China. The vehicle is expected to peak at more than 122981 in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility forecast.
    Unable to find investors, Britishvolt files for insolvency
    Battery startup Britishvolt filed a notice to appoint an administrator in the insolvency courts in the UK on January 17, 2023, after failing to raise funds from new and existing investors to keep the business afloat. While a majority of 300 existing employees have lost their jobs as an immediate consequence of Britishvolt’s liquidation, the development is also being seen as a blow to the UK government’s efforts of establishing a flourishing ecosystem for electric vehicle (EV) and battery man...
    Talking Heads: CES – the wrap
    In 2023, some 300 exhibitors showcased their vehicle technology. Its increasing importance – usurping the traditional auto shows like NAIAS, Paris, IAA and Geneva along the way – is demonstrated if we wind back the clock to 2014. Then, there were just nine OEMs present and some 125 automotive technology exhibitors. With this growth has also come maturity. The 2023 CES was less about fanciful concepts and more about tangible. Click the link above to download the full article.
    Visual interaction is moving to the forefront of HMI design
    Automotive display HMI is growing in demand owning to convenience features and enhancing customer experience. Moreover, in the coming years development of multi-display will not only provide greater freedom of information usage and control between driver and passenger, but it will also reduce product development complexities and costs for automakers. Although, in real-terms automakers will invest more during the initial years to gain longer-term benefits. Automakers are also engaged in the devel...
    BorgWarner spins off fuel systems, aftermarket businesses to sharpen EV focus
    In an attempt to sharpen its focus on electric vehicle (EV) technologies while accelerating growth under the “Charging Forward” strategy, the Michigan-based automotive component supplier BorgWarner Inc. said on December 6, 2022, that it plans to spin off its fuel systems and aftermarket businesses into a separate, publicly traded company (NewCo). The announcement comes amid the ongoing global shift to EVs as both automakers and component suppliers transition supply chains and their respec...
    Talking Heads: Key themes for 2023
    The current year has again been dominated by the chip crisis. Overlaid on this has been the worsening macroeconomic position due to the fallout from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has had knock-on effects for the industry in terms of demand surety. In turn this has brought an end to the era of cheap capital, which has served to slow the burgeoning mobility startup ecosystem. In the broader sense the sector looks set to be heading to a phase where demand-side considerations replace the curren...
    Update on the semiconductor shortage and outlook for 2023 and beyond
    From the first rumblings out of China in December 2020 the semiconductor has gone on to dominate discussions around the automotive sector. The issues are still ongoing – just last week Jaguar Land Rover announced it was slowing production of certain models due to a continuing supply squeeze – and a few voices in the industry are being heard speculating that the crunch will last until 2026. To get a perspective on the current situation and future developments we talked with Jeremie Bouchaud, ...
    Talking Heads: CASE on the road to nowhere?
    The CASE megatrends – connected, autonomous, shared and electric – in case you’ve not been paying attention, have been the hot topics of the automotive industry in the past decade. They’ve even given rise to talk of the industry in the whole as the mobility industry rather than the more prosaic automotive industry. But is the CASE narrative running into trouble? Hot on the heels of the news that Ford and VW were exiting their Argo AI autonomous driving technology venture came news out...
    Highlights from the 2022 Paris Motor Show
    The biennial Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l'Automobile in French) alternates with the Frankfurt Motor Show. The 2022 edition, which took place from 17–23 October 2022 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, returned in four years after the last one planned in March 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic. The 2022 edition of the show also indicated that automotive shows are becoming a diminishing affair. The list of no-shows included Stellantis’s Fiat, Maserati and Alfa-Romeo brands; VW and ...
    Geothermal brines: The key to low-emission localized lithium supply chains?
    The progressive rise in vehicle electrification has driven a massive increase in demand for lithium products applicable in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. While capacity expansions of the base chemical have largely stayed ahead of demand, geographical concentration of the chemical’s upstream extraction and midstream processing sectors in Latin America and mainland China respectively combined with logistical freight issues caused by the pandemic have driven an exponential hike in spot prices (...
    Winter is Coming
    With energy prices in Europe skyrocketing, placing business bottom lines in triage mode, a harsh winter could place certain automotive sectors at risk of being unable to keep their production lines running. Click the link above to download the article.
    Highlights from the 2022 North American International Auto Show
    The 2022 edition of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) featured a redesigned layout, with the main exhibits and many events indoors at Huntington Place, and other events outdoors in nearby Hart Plaza. Participation was limited this year, with hometown automakers—Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis—carrying the show. Other major exhibitors were Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz. With many other big automakers and brands keeping away from the show, the ma...
    Landmark Umicore deal key to Volkswagen’s EV battery strategy in Europe
    On 26 September 2022, Europe’s largest carmaker Volkswagen Group’s newly established battery company PowerCo and Brussels-based material supplier Umicore announced setting up a joint venture (JV) for precursor and cathode material production in Europe, starting from 2025. The landmark agreement with Umicore is expected to be critical for VW, which has two major long-term milestones to achieve: prepare for the European Union’s regulatory requirement of allowing sale of only zero-carbon-emis...
    Inflation Reduction Act 2022 remains a tough call for carmakers to avail EV tax credits
    It has been almost a month since the Democrats in the US Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA 2022), which became legislation on 16 August 2022 after the US President Joe Biden signed the act. While carmakers and their suppliers across the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain have been scrambling to decode the new mandates, auto industry lobbies from Europe, South Korea, and Japan have already expressed deep concerns about the ability of global carmakers to meet the requi...
    Suppliers to the new Jeep Grand Cherokee
    According to S&P Global Mobility, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee's highest year of production will be 2023, when more than 175780 units will be produced.
    Suppliers to the new Renault Austral
    The new third generation Austral mid-sized SUV is assembled at the carmaker's facility in Palencia, Spain. S&P Global Mobility forecasts that the highest year of production for this SUV will be 2023, when more than 117326 units will be produced.  
    Suppliers to the new Dodge Hornet
    Built in Stellantis’ factory in Pomigliano, Italy ,  Dodge Hornet is expected to peak at more than 32430 in 2023, according to S&P Global Mobility forecast.
    How the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 impacts the US EV ecosystem
    On 7 August 2022, Democrats in the US Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which aims to not only take control of rising inflation by reducing the fiscal deficit but also invest in domestic manufacturing of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs), secure the necessary supply chain, and cut down the carbon footprint by roughly 40% by 2030. The proposal made within the purview of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) expects to raise about USD739 billion and invest about ...
    Suppliers to the new Mercedes-Benz EQE
    The new EQE SUV is assembled at the Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa plant in Alabama. Tuscaloosa is a key production location for Mercedes-EQ luxury electric SUVs, including the EQS SUV and the EQE SUV, which will be available later this year. According to S&P Global Mobility, the highest year of production for this SUV will be 2023, when more than 36810 units will be produced.
    How rapid electrification of vehicles will impact the coolant industry?
    The need to establish a sustainable global transportation system, which accounts for nearly one-third of the global carbon emissions, is leading to rapid electrification of vehicles across segments. As several countries continue to tighten the emission norms for automobiles and roll out new policies for the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), vehicle manufacturers are increasingly investing in their respective product portfolios, supply chains, new technologies, and EV ecosystem to ensure that ...
    Software complexity starting to cost CEOs their job
    Complexity in the software has increased to a level where it has become not just difficult to debug and maintain, but it has compounded an OEM’s already difficult situation to comprehend the overall system interactions between various electronic control units (ECUs) and to properly test all the various combinations of features in a car. Most of the software in vehicles is written by suppliers that also use third-party software and work with externals, so the OEM’s control on the result is ve...
    Suppliers to the new Tesla Model Y
    The Tesla Model Y is manufactured at the automaker's factory in Gruenheide, Germany. Output of the mid-size SUV is expected to peak at more than 241600 in 2023, according to IHS Markit.
    Will China drive global alignment in EV battery swap standards?
    China, the largest electric car market in the world, is expected to drive global benchmarks in electric vehicle battery swapping practices, as well as the emerging battery-as-a-service, or BaaS, industry. Neither the EV battery swap model is new nor it was invented in China. However, it is the only market where several companies have implemented the model successfully and have concrete plans to further scale it up as a direct result of the supportive government policies. The established Chinese ...
    Suppliers to the new BMW X1
    Built at Regensburg factory in Germany, the third-generation BMW X1 is expected to peak at more than 132194 in 2023, according to S&P Global Mobility forecast.
    The evolving landscape of inverter technology in EVs
    The automotive industry is slowly but steadily moving toward an electric future. Several factors are at play that will determine the pace of this transition from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to electrified vehicles. One of the key factors is certainly the performance of the EV, especially the range that it will offer in the real-world driving conditions. Slapping a bigger battery onto the EV will give the additional range, but that will significantly add to the cost and weight of the ve...
    Battery Industrialisation Centre underpins U.K. push for manufacturing and technology leadership
    UKBIC is a national battery manufacturing development facility, commissioned to aid and accelerate battery manufacturing in the UK, as well as educating and upskilling the battery sector workforce in preparation for mass production. UKBIC is a publicly funded, open access facility, funded by the Faraday Battery Challenge under the watch of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Located on a 2...
    Growth of Li-ion battery manufacturing capacity in key EV markets
    The future of the automotive industry lies in electrification is not a topic for a debate anymore. However, what is being debated is how quickly the world will be able to let go of its century-long dependence on fossil fuels and embrace electric-powered vehicles. Several factors will play a role in determining this pace, including the availability of enough batteries to enable this transition. Currently, there is an installed capacity of about 948 GWh for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries global...
    Suppliers to the 2022 Honda Civic
      The 2022 Honda Civic Hatch is assembled at the Greensburg Assembly plant in United States .Production of the vehcile will peak at more than 93,700  units in 2023. 
    How will ECHA’s proposal on the use of lead affect Europe’s net zero ambitions?
    The proposal by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to include lead as one of the eight new substances of very high concern (SVHC) in the REACH Authorisation List can hurt the growth potential of manufacturers using lead metal, reduce the competitiveness of an existing supply chain and negatively impact Europe’s well-established circular economy, Dr Steve Binks, director, regulatory affairs at International Lead Association (ILA) said in an interview. ILA, which had issued a position paper...
    Shanghai lockdown creates new supply chain concerns for OEMs
    A dramatic surge in new COVID-19 infections and the breakout of a new sub-strain of the Omicron variant forced the mainland Chinese government to impose a full-scale lockdown in the country’s financial hub, Shanghai, from early April. Shanghai is a major automotive component manufacturing hub as well, and a prolonged lockdown in the city would cause significant disruptions to vehicle production in the region, and logistical barriers hindering export of parts from the country. The lockdown h...
    Suppliers to the new Chevrolet Silverado
    The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado is assembled at the Oshawa Assembly plant in southern Ontario .Production of the vehcile will peak at more than 84360  units in 2023. 
    Battery raw material price hikes may pose additional pressure to OEMs' electrification roadmaps
    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may exacerbate price pressure on critical battery raw materials and result in less affordable EVs, with battery input costs increasing by over 7,000 USD for several popular models.  Prices of lithium, nickel and cobalt, which can represent some 27% of the total battery input costs for certain battery chemistries, had already been sustained over the last few months, due to increased demand from the automotive sector, particularly in China, and low inventories. ...
    Russia-Ukraine conflict: Shortage of several critical parts leaving German OEMs exposed
    The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has disrupted production at several supplier facilities, forcing them to announce temporary production suspensions or shifts of production operations to other sites, opening another front for carmakers scrambling to stabilize their production output in light of the ongoing semiconductor shortages. Tier-1 suppliers, such as Leoni, Gentherm, Aptiv, Kostal, Kroschu, Fujikura, Sumitomo Electric, Nexans, Yazaki, and Prettl, have plants in Ukraine producing primarily wi...
    Is the European Commission’s proposed Chips Act a lost chance to secure chip supplies?
    The European Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council to establish a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem or Chips Act, just like the US government’s recent policy on semiconductors, aims at securing strategic supply of chips to support various industries. The act focuses on shoring up more semiconductor manufacturing capacity while ensuring the availability of a trained workforce to support the industry throug...
    Special analysis: New battery electric vehicle entrants in China
    The global automobile industry has experienced a huge change toward electrification in recent years. Startup battery-electric vehicle (BEV) manufacturers have played an essential role in this era and even led technical development in multiple segments. Aside from currently being the world’s largest automobile market, mainland China has been more aggressive than other regions to replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with BEVs thus making mainland China home to many BEV startups. Acc...
    Demand for high-density, fast-charging batteries to drive adoption of immersion cooling technology
    Increasing demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries that can deliver longer driving range, faster charging capabilities, safety, and sustainability is not only leading to a rapid evolution in the battery chemistries but also the thermal management techniques to optimize the battery performance. As vehicle manufacturers prepare for the global EV transition, the suppliers of thermal technologies, along with the new and upcoming startups, are increasingly working to develop innovative solutions t...
    Cobalt in future EV supply chains: Addressing long-term demands through strategic investments
    1. Introduction – Cobalt and the EV revolution Driven primarily by emission-based legislations and mandatory electrification-targets worldwide, the electric vehicle (EV) industry has grown exponentially over the last few years with the demand for EVs nearly doubling between 2020 and 2021, from 2.4 million vehicles to 4.5 million. The growing EV market has meanwhile caused an unprecedented surge in demand for the materials needed to produce the lithium-ion batteries (LiB) and motors powering...
    Suppliers to the new Volkswagen ID4
    The first-generation Volkswagen ID4 is assembled at parent VW Group's factory in Zwickau Germany.Production of the new electric crossover will peak at more than 112,500 units in 2024. 
    Auto parts to software ecosystem: Does Aptiv and Wind River merger make sense?
    Well-known auto parts maker Aptiv acquired automotive and IoT software developer Wind River on 11 January 2022. This is the first automotive acquisition of this year. This deal is the biggest since 2017 and the divergence of Delphi by Aptiv. Aptiv Aptiv PLC, formerly known as Delphi Automotive PLC, is a tier-1 supplier for the automotive industry. Aptiv designs and manufactures vehicle components and provides electrical and electronic and active safety technology solutions to the global au...
    Suppliers to the new Opel/Vauxhall Mokka
    The second-generation Opel/Vauxhall Mokka is assembled at the Stellantis Poissy facility in France. Output of this model, at the French plant, is expected to peak at more than 136,000 units in 2023, according to IHS Markit.
    Suppliers to the new Nissan Qashqai
    Produced by the Nissan since 2006, with most of the European volume built at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the UK. Nissan’s compact crossover SUV is now in its third generation. With production starting in June 2021, the all-new Qashqai is Nissan's first model built in Europe using a significant number of lightweight aluminum panels, IHS Markit forecast production will reach its highest level of 303,000 units in 2023.
    Suppliers to the new 2022 Audi e-tron GT
    The first-generation Audi e-tron GT is assembled alongside the Audi R8 at Audi’s Boellinger Hoefe facility in Germany. Output of this model is expected to peak at 14,000 units in 2026, according to IHS Markit.
    Suppliers to the new 2022 BMW 2-Series
    The second-generation BMW 2-Series 2-door coupé (G42) is the first BMW designed by BMW of Mexico. It is also assembled in BMW's San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico. Output of this model is expected to peak at around 43,000 units in 2024, according to IHS Markit.
    Suppliers to the new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee
    The fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee is assembled in Detroit Michigan, USA. Output of this model at the Michigan plants is expected to peak at around 480,000 units in 2023, according to IHS Markit.
    Special Report: Foxconn's preparedness to redefine EV value chain
    Taiwan-based Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Technology Group, is promoting a new electric vehicle (EV) business model that has the potential to drive extensive collaboration in the industry, reduce research and development (R&D) cost, and shorten the development cycle for new EV products. Over the next five years, Foxconn could emerge as a company that can drive significant changes in EV manufacturing value chain and make the e-mobility landscape more competitive for the established OEMs...
    Infrastructure bill’s EV charger funding a good start, but more funding likely to be needed to meet growing demand
    On 15 November 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the USD1.2-trillion infrastructure bill. The bill is expected to support the automotive industry in many ways, from improved road conditions, cleaner commercial vehicles, electric vehicle (EV) battery factories, battery recycling, and lithium mining and refining. However, one of the largest EV appropriations will be toward vehicle charging. Some USD7.5 billion has been allocated to alternative fuel charging, primarily for EV chargers and s...
    What Fit for 55 means for all member nations in the European Union
    Unveiling a roadmap to make Europe the world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050, the European Commission rolled out the ‘Fit for 55’ package on 14 July 2021, proposing that the suggestions made by the governing body be made legally binding for all members of the European Union (EU). The ‘Fit for 55’ package, which comprises close to a dozen proposals for EU’s climate, land use, energy, among other areas, views transportation sector as one of the key emitters of the greenhou...
    Why the Nissan-Envision AESC gigafactory is strategic for UK’s EV battery supply chain
    Unveiling its strategy to put the UK at the center of its electric vehicle (EV) game plan for Europe, Nissan, along with its battery partner Envision AESC, made a crucial announcement on 1 July to jointly invest GBP1 billion (USD1.37 billion) in the northeastern region to set up the country’s first EV ecosystem of such scale. Named EV36Zero, the planned GBP1 billion EV ecosystem involves Nissan investing up to GBP423 million to produce a next-generation electric crossover at its Sunderland ...
    Stellantis’s EV roadmap hinges heavily on its battery strategy
    Amsterdam-based Stellantis announced its vehicle electrification strategy for this decade and beyond on its EV Day on 8 July. The parent company to over a dozen iconic brands, including Fiat, Citroën, Peugeot, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Maserati, plans to pump in EUR30 billion (over USD35 billion) over the next five years in electrifying all brands through this decade. At the heart of its giant plan are four all-new battery-electric vehicle–focused platforms, three core electric drive mo...
    Battery cell chemistry and design would be key to BEV lightweighting
    As the automotive industry progresses toward electrification, the advancement of the lithium-ion (li-ion) battery will be the most important development that all stakeholders would be keen to follow. There are several challenges that li-ion battery faces today in terms of range, charging times, and safety. These challenges would need to be addressed before batteries can enable parity with the internal combustion...
    An analysis on the risks and remedies of electric vehicle (EV) battery fires
    There is no question that electromobility is the future for the automotive industry and the shift away from internal combustion engines (ICEs) is occurring at a tremendous speed. Many countries have set (or are in the process of setting) deadlines for the phasing out of vehicles driven by conventional, fossil fuel–burning engines. New York and California in the United States, Thailand, and Quebec in Canada, among others, have fully committed to zero-emission vehicles from 2035 onward. Washingt...
    Is there a future for a battery-swapping business model globally?
    So far battery swapping has been unable to make the transition from being a niche offering to a mass-market service. Battery swapping offers many advantages to customers, including the potential to overcome range anxiety and slow charging times. According to the IHS Markit Consumer Survey in 2019—conducted in eight major automotive markets with 8,000 participants—35% of consumers expect their vehicle to fully charge in less than 30 minutes, out of which 11% wanted a full charge in less than ...
    Volkswagen reveals e-mobility strategy on its first Power Day
    One of the most predominant trends in the global automotive industry of today is the relentless move toward electrification.  Carmakers around the world are heeding the demand to shift away from inefficient propulsion methods and focus instead on hybridization and electrification. German automotive manufacturer, Volkswagen, has envisioned a transformation into a global market leader for e-mobility solutions—an aim that was clearly outlined during its Power Day event held on 15 March. I...
    UK’s 2030 ban on ICE vehicles puts spotlight on charging infrastructure readiness
    The United Kingdom recently announced its plans to ban the sales of petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, superseding the previous goal to ban new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales by 2040. The sale of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars and vans that have zero-emission driving capability will be allowed until 2035. While the government’s announcement is seen as a step in the right direction, it is going to impact the plans of automakers, electric vehicle (EV) charging point operators (...
    Brexit deal: What lies ahead for the UK automotive components industry?
    In an unprecedented time, where world governments are divided between increasing efforts toward providing economic stimuli and protection from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the outlook for the UK Brexit deal is in a state of ambiguity. The UK government will observe the newly formed trade agreement with the European Union, beginning 1 January 2021, estimated to be worth USD900 billion, a year. The prime highlight of the new deal was that UK goods can be sold without tariffs and quotas in the EU...
    The E-mobility industry will deepen its roots in 2021
    The year gone by was unlike anything expected at the start of the year. The COVID-19 pandemic, which became a potential concern around February, soon metamorphosed into an outright global disaster. Many sectors were impacted by the restrictions and lockdowns on a global scale; in fact some are still continuing at some level. The automotive industry, which was hoping for a recovery after a slow 2019, saw production and sales come to a standstill for nearly 1–2 months. While most of the elect...
    The big challenge around battery raw materials sourcing
    Electromobility is completely changing the landscape of the transportation sector around the globe. While customers have the option of adopting electric vehicles (EV) gradually, the automakers have to transition to electrified or fully electric vehicles in a more hurried manner owing to stricter emission norms and expected restrictions on sales of pure internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. One of the main hurdles faced by the industry is to ensure a consistent and sustainable supply of raw ...
    Advanced semiconductors key to efficient EV inverters
    In terms of consumer demand, electric vehicles (EVs) are still far away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. There is a constant and increasing push from automakers, suppliers, and technology companies to make EVs more efficient on performance and range to make them a viable alternative to ICE vehicles. In this endeavor, most of the attention has been on the improvements in battery and motor technology. However, in the background, a lot of R&D is happening to improve a few other c...
    Will Tesla’s thrust on expanding its in-house expertise pay off?
    On 22 September, Tesla hosted an announcement-packed ‘Battery Day”, showcasing its vision on where it wants to be in terms of battery cell technology and production capacities within the next three years, as well as what some of the innovation in the works could mean for end customers of its electric vehicles (EV). The company announced evolutionary changes, right from the cell design, down to the manufacturing processes related to every cell component, that will not only improve the perform...
    Mainland China shifts policy stance to offer OEMs more flexibility on NEV strategy
    Globally, Mainland China has among the most dynamic new energy vehicle (NEV) policy, which is being updated regularly to be in sync with the economic conditions, market demand, and technology developments. The initial heavy subsidies given by the central government are seen to have largely done the job of assisting a quick transitioning towards electrified vehicles in mainland China. These NEV subsidies are now being phased out to create a more stable and self-reliant environment for the industr...
    Range-extended EVs face cost, complexity hurdles toward higher adoption
    The automotive industry has experimented with several forms of electrification, trying to find the right balance between development, vehicle cost, customer needs, and the operability in the real world. While the vehicles with the most basic level of electrification are deemed mild-hybrids, whereby the electric motor only assists the internal combustion engine (ICE) with propulsion assist and coasting functionality, the most electrified are full battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel-cell elec...
    Is Tesla’s application of LFP cathode technology indicative of price over performance?
    A recent development has got the automotive industry talking about a battery chemistry which, over the last half-a-decade, has been steadily losing market share in the electric vehicle (EV) segment—lithium iron phosphate (LFP). Tesla recently received an approval from the Mainland Chinese government to use LFP batteries in Model 3 in Mainland China. Although the supplier is still unclear, reports and IHS Markit intelligence indicate that Tesla is planning to source LFP-cathode batteries from M...
    Growing EV market to drive demand for battery heating systems
    Keeping the lithium-ion batteries in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) within optimum temperature levels plays a key role in the efficiency of these vehicles, as temperatures that are too low or too high can degrade the ability of these batteries to store charge and deliver optimal voltages and amperages. In addition to peak battery performance, maintaining optimal battery temperature also plays an important role in improving battery charging times and maintaining battery life. This issue becom...
    V2G could become a necessity in an EV-dominated landscape
    The current global electricity production of more than 26,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) just about meets the global demand. The demand is mostly from the industrial segment and the transportation segment’s contribution is negligible. However, the demand from the transportation segment is certainly going to rapidly increase in the coming years as EVs gain a bigger market share in the automotive industry. A strong EV charging infrastructure will be one of the key aspects to ensure EV adoption, and it...
    Market outlook for automotive sensors as electrification expands
    The automotive industry experienced one of its most sluggish periods over the last couple of years. Macroeconomic factors such as the US–China trade war and a weak Chinese manufacturing output led to dented consumer sentiment across most verticals, but the automotive industry bore one of the biggest brunt. Passenger car sales have been badly hit during the period, including in major markets such as China, and recovery is not expected until at least the second half of 2020. However, the grow...
    E-mobility sector round-up – 2019
    The electrification of transportation segment has been one of the megatrends for a couple of years, and 2019 was no different. The number of new electrified models showcased and launched during the year was high, and so were the investments announced by automakers, suppliers and technology stakeholders in new technology and capacity building. While sales of EVs across the globe continued to grow, it was significantly impacted due to the slowdown in global automotive production, especiall...
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