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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...
    Euro-7 norms: The shifting dynamics of the European automotive industry
    In a vote held earlier in November, the European Parliament endorsed a modified Euro-7 emissions regulation, bringing testing procedures for new cars more in line with Euro 6 standards. While praised by some as a middle ground, apprehensions linger regarding the potential relaxation of car pollution standards. The members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will begin discussions with the EU government to finalize the new rules. What was proposed a year back in November 2022? The European Co...
    Chinese carmaker GAC Group to set up an EV plant in Thailand
    In an effort to expand its presence beyond its home market in China, GAC Aion, the electric vehicle subsidiary of Chinese automaker GAC Group, plans to build an EV manufacturing plant in Thailand, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on Nov. 30. Citing a company announcement, the report mentioned that GAC Aion plans to invest a total of $65.9 million in setting up its EV factory in Thailand’s Rayong province and that the plant will be developed to have a production capacity...
    Toyoda Gosei achieves SBT certification for decarbonization efforts
    Toyoda Gosei, a Japanese company, has achieved the Science Based Target (SBT) certification from the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) for its decarbonization efforts. The company has set CO2 reduction targets for 2030, which have been recognized as aligned with the Paris Agreement, a company press release on Nov. 30 said. Toyoda Gosei aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 46.5% in its production activities (Scope 1 and 2) and 27.5% in its entire supply chain (Scope 3) compared to 2019 lev...
    BYD chooses AWS as preferred cloud provider for connected vehicle platform
    BYD, the world's leading manufacturer of new-energy vehicles (NEVs), has selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider for its connected vehicle platform. BYD sells more than 5 million NEVs across 70 countries and regions, and AWS provides a scalable, reliable and secure foundation for the automaker's core operations, according to a company press release on Nov. 30. Using AWS services such as Amazon S3, Amazon EKS and Amazon CloudFront, BYD built a connected vehicle ...
    India’s JSW Group to acquire 35% stake in SAIC-owned MG Motor India
    Indian conglomerate JSW Group plans to acquire a 35% stake in SAIC-owned MG Motor India as the Chinese carmaker looks to dilute its stake in its Indian entity, according to a news report published by Reuters on Nov. 30. The report cited a joint announcement made by the two companies. The shareholder agreement, and share purchase and share subscription agreement were signed by both the companies in London on Nov. 30. According to the report, the agreement between JSW and SAIC was signed wit...
    Isuzu Motors plans to set up R&D facility for EVs at its Fujisawa plant in Japan
    Japanese vehicle manufacturer Isuzu Motors Ltd. plans to build an electric vehicle development and testing facility within its Fujisawa-based plant to accelerate the development of a full lineup of carbon-neutral (CN) compliant vehicles by 2030, the company announced Nov. 29. Isuzu plans to install testing and evaluation equipment at its upcoming research and development (R&D) facility, which is slated to develop systems and components optimized for commercial EVs. The carmaker said that ...
    Altilium secures £700,000 from UK government for two collaborative research projects
    UK-based material recycling company Altilium has secured over £700,000 in UK government innovation funding for two collaborative research projects focused on the recovery of copper and rare earth elements (REE) from mine waste, the company announced Nov. 28. The company said that it plans to further build on its work on recovering lithium and other critical battery materials from end-of-life electric vehicle batteries by partnering with CPI and Camborne School of Mines (CSM) for the two...
    Nissan plans to cut engine types by 60% as it attempts to electrify – report
    Nissan Motor plans to reduce the number of gasoline engines it develops for cars debuting in 2028 or later, focusing instead on hybrid vehicles (HVs) and minicars. The automaker aims to have 55% of its vehicle lineup electrified by 2030 and will launch 27 new electrified models, including electric vehicles, by the same year, Nikkei Asia reported Nov. 29. Nissan will continue to manufacture gasoline-powered engines for its existing vehicles but will halt development of new gasoline-only engine...
    BMW Regensburg gains substantially using AI-driven predictive maintenance
    BMW Group Plant Regensburg has implemented an AI-supported predictive maintenance system to monitor conveyor technology during assembly, aiming to avoid more than 500 minutes of vehicle assembly disruption annually. The system uses existing data from installed components and conveyor element control to identify potential faults early, allowing for quick maintenance and minimizing costs, the automaker said Nov. 27. The innovation team at BMW Group Plant Regensburg developed the system in co...
    Chinese carmaker Changan’s EV unit Deepal to expand in Europe, ASEAN markets
    Chinese carmaker Changan’s electric car unit Deepal plans to expand its presence in Europe and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) markets in 2024, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on Nov. 27. The report mentioned that the global expansion strategy is part of Deepal’s aggressive sales targets for 2024. Deepal plans to sell 450,000 electric vehicles globally in 2024, the report said, citing the brand's CEO Deng Chenghao. Disclosing his company’s plans on th...
    China’s Great Wall Motor to expand to eight European countries, set up local R&D footprint
    Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor plans to further expand its presence to at least eight new countries in Europe, after commencing its operations in the continent in 2022, according to a news report published by online news portal Electrek on Nov. 27. The report said that the carmaker also plans to set up a new European research and development (R&D) center as it continues to evaluate local production of electric vehicles in the region. The company currently produces cars only in China, ...
    Sono Motors signs investment agreements for restructuring
    Sono Motors has secured investment commitments from YA II PN Ltd. (Yorkville) to restructure and emerge from its self-administration proceedings, it said in a press release on Nov. 27. The deal is expected to provide sufficient financing for the company's business operations until at least the end of 2024. Closing of the investment with Yorkville and conclusion of the insolvency proceeding are currently expected in late January 2024. The company has also been able to offer reemployment to the...
    Volkswagen aims toward cost optimization, efficiency in EV transition
    German automaker Volkswagen is embarking on cost optimization for a successful transition toward electric mobility, according to a Reuters report on Nov. 28. The company's €10 billion cost-cutting program will include staff reductions, quoting its Brand Chief Thomas Schaefer, who stated that high costs and low productivity are making the company's cars uncompetitive. The company is in negotiations with its works council over the cost-cutting scheme at its VW brand, which is the first step i...
    Changan Automobile to establish production base in Thailand, eyeing Southeast Asian markets
    Changan Automobile, a Chinese auto giant, has announced plans to establish a production base in Thailand, with an annual capacity of 100,000 units in the first phase. The facility, which began construction in early November, is expected to be up and running by the first quarter of 2025. Changan aims to use Thailand as a base to enter more Southeast Asian countries and other right-hand drive car markets, CnEVPost reported Nov. 27. The first phase of the production base will introduce mode...
    Dongfeng Motor’s premium EV unit Voyah enters the Netherlands
    Chinese vehicle manufacturer Dongfeng Motor has entered the Europen market with its premium electric vehicle unit Voyah Automobile, the company said Nov. 27. Dongfeng’s official entry in Europe was marked by the carmaker’s presence at the Fully Charged Live Europe Auto Show, which opened Nov. 24 in Amsterdam. Dongfeng Motor Import and Export Co. Ltd., through Voyah Automobile, is demonstrating its models — Voyah Free and Voyah Dream at the exhibition, marking its Voyah brand’s officia...
    AutoTechInsight Weekly – 27 November 2023
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    Nissan confirms production of electric Qashqai, Juke and all-new Leaf models in Sunderland, UK
    In an official announcement on Nov. 24, Japanese carmaker Nissan has confirmed that all the three cars it produces at its Sunderland, UK-based factory will be 100% electric. The facility, which Nissan calls the EV36Zero hub and refers to as its blueprint for future manufacturing, will consist of three electric vehicles, three gigafactories and up to £3 billion of investment. The commitment will support Nissan’s 7,000 UK employees and the 30,000 supply chain jobs in the UK, the company said...
    Volkswagen ropes in Magna-Steyr to develop two models under US-bound EV brand Scout
    Europe's largest vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen has roped in Austria-based contract manufacturer Magna-Steyr to develop and produce two electric vehicle models to be positioned under its US-bound Scout brand, according to a news report published by the German publication Kleine Zeitung on Nov. 23. VW’s Scout range of EVs are expected to debut in the US in early 2027. According to the report, the development work at Magna in Graz, Austria, and the US is already in full swing, and the two...
    Bramble Energy, EDAG Group partner to demonstrate potential of hydrogen fuel-cell system within EV skateboard platform
    UK-based Bramble Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the EDAG Group, an independent engineering services provider, to collaborate on a digital integration of its patented printed circuit board fuel cell (PCBFC) into EDAG’s electric vehicle storage platform, Bramble Energy announced Nov. 22. Bramble Energy said that the digital investigation will involve the design of a customized fuel-cell stack as well as the overall system layout fitting the EV platform, which would...
    Stellantis opens all-new recycling hub in Turin, Italy
    Stellantis NV has officially opened its SUSTAINera Circular Economy Hub (CE Hub) at the Mirafiori Complex in Turin, Italy, the vehicle manufacturer announced Nov. 23. The new facility was inaugurated by John Elkann, chairman of Stellantis, and Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, among other senior company executives last week. Stellantis said that the new recycling facility, which is spread across an area of 73,000 square meters, is set up with an investment of €40 million. The carmaker said...
    Honda unveils its latest generation fuel-cell system design for variety of vehicle applications
    Japanese automaker Honda showcased its next-generation fuel-cell system prototype at European Hydrogen Week in Brussels, highlighting its potential for various industries. The compact and powerful system is designed for use in fuel-cell vehicles, commercial vehicles, construction machinery and stationary power stations. Honda has been developing hydrogen technologies for over 30 years and believes hydrogen has high potential as an energy carrier, along with electricity, according to a company pr...
    Nissan plans to build EV versions of Qashqai and Juke cars at its Sunderland factory, UK
    Japanese carmaker Nissan plans to produce the electric version of two of its best-selling models at its Sunderland plant in the UK after several months of talks with the government, according to a news report published by Sky News on Nov. 23. According to the report, Nissan plans to build all-new electric Qashqai and Juke models at its Sunderland plant — a decision that is expected to save thousands of jobs at the manufacturing plant. The report added that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a...
    Xiaomi confirms mass production plans of its first electric car is on track
    Xiaomi has confirmed that its first electric sedan is on track to get into mass production in the first half of 2024 as per the original goal, according to a news report published by Pandaily on Nov. 21. The report cited Xiaomi Group’s President William Lu who spoke to investors and analysts on Nov. 20 on the sidelines of the company’s financial results conference call. The report further mentioned that Xiaomi plans to conduct the second winter test for its first electric cars soon. It...
    Faraday Future forays into the Middle East market
    Faraday Future has announced its entry into the Middle East market with partnerships with Master Investment Group and Siraj Holding, according to a company press release dated Nov. 23. The company plans to launch a limited-edition model, the FF 912.0 Futurist aiFalcon, for the Middle East market, with delivery targeted in 2024. The partnership aims to advance sustainable mobility and embrace cutting-edge AI technology in the region. Faraday Future will showcase its FF 912.0 Futurist Alliance ...
    Stellantis launches circular economy hub in Turin, Italy
    Stellantis has launched its first Circular Economy Hub in Turin, Italy. The hub is part of the company's Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, which aims to become a carbon net-zero corporation by 2038. The hub is located at the Mirafiori Complex and has an investment of €40 million. It occupies a total area of 73,000 square meters, with 55,000 square meters being reclaimed from a partially unused facility. The hub will employ around 170 people initially, with a projected increase to 550 by 2025, ...
    AVL, ISID partner to accelerate product development and promote sustainability
    AVL, a leading mobility technology company, and Information Services International-Dentsu (ISID), an IT solutions provider and systems integrator, have partnered to help manufacturers shorten product development times, promote sustainable practices, and enhance the quality and efficiency of existing products. AVL brings its expertise in automotive engineering, simulation and testing, while ISID contributes its experience in consulting and system integration based on Model-Based System Enginee...
    Tesla to debut in India in 2024, may begin localization by 2026
    Tesla is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with the Indian government to sell its electric vehicles in India through the Completely Built Unit (CBU) route and set up a manufacturing plant in the country. The plant is expected to be established in one of the three states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which have well-developed ecosystems for making EVs and exporting them, according to a report published by Autocar on Nov. 22. The US-based EV maker is expected to invest a minim...
    Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India partners with Indian Institute of Science for advancements in sustainable mobility innovation
    Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for advanced research collaboration. With the vision of "solving global problems locally," this agreement aims to facilitate joint research, nurture talent and promote collaborative innovation in sustainable mobility, according to an Autocar Professional report on Nov. 22. The partnership will focus on driving engineering transformation and pursu...
    BAIC Group to manufacture Xiaomi’s first electric car in China
    Xiaomi’s first electric car will be produced by the Chinese state-owned vehicle manufacturer Beijing Automotive Group Co. (BAIC Group), according to a news report published by the website Pandaily on Nov. 15. The report cited a public disclosure made by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which shared model information of the upcoming electric car developed by the consumer electronics major Xiaomi. Citing the publicly available information, the report stated that...
    Hyundai partners with University College London to develop hydrogen tech for carbon neutrality by 2050
    Hyundai Motor and University College London (UCL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in London to collaborate on research and development of hydrogen production, fuel cells and electrification technologies. The partnership aims to accelerate the establishment of a hydrogen economy and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, a goal shared by both South Korea and the UK, according to a press release from PRNewswire dated Nov. 22. The MOU signing ceremony took place befor...
    UK startup Advanced Electric Machines secures £23 million to scale up production capacity
    Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), a leader in sustainable motor manufacturing for the automotive industry, has secured £23 million in Series A funding round, the UK-based startup announced Nov. 22. It said that the new funding will be used to scale up production capacity at its facility in the North-East of the UK, deliver on ambitious growth plans to establish a global sales footprint, and bolster research and development (R&D) capabilities. The Series A funding round was led by Lega...
    Geely’s premium EV arm Zeekr expands footprint in Europe
    Geely’s premium electric car unit Zeekr has opened its first showroom in Stockholm, its first in Europe, and a second store is slated for opening in Amsterdam in December, according to a news report published by the online automotive news portal Electrive on Nov. 20. The report stated that Zeekr plans to open more showrooms in 2024, starting with Germany, as well as begin delivering cars to its customers in Europe simultaneously. It said that the first Zeekr cars for customers in Sweden ...
    Lucid unveils Gravity sport utility vehicle with advanced interiors
    Electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid has unveiled its Gravity sport utility vehicle (SUV), according to a company press release on Nov. 16. The Gravity SUV features an exterior design that is aerodynamic and efficient, with a target coefficient of drag of less than 0.243. The interior offers a large cargo space, with a sliding second-row seat and integrated tables for an elevated back-seat experience. The SUV also features an intuitive 34-inch curved and uninterrupted organic LED display, and a n...
    Talbros Automotive Components receives multiyear orders worth 5.80 billion Indian rupees
    Talbros Automotive Components has received new multiyear orders worth about 5.80 billion Indian rupees (about $69.6 million) from both domestic and overseas customers, it said in a press release dated Nov. 20. The orders are to be executed over a period of the next five years, starting from fiscal year 2025 onward, and cover the company’s product lines such as gaskets, heat shields, forgings, chassis and rubber hoses. The company has received orders from export original equip...
    NHK Spring to build new plant in Mexico to boost motor-core production capacity
    NHK Spring Co. has announced its decision to construct a new plant in Mexico to increase its production capacity of motor cores, it said in a press release dated Nov. 17. The company plans to invest approximately ¥7.5 billion (about $50.8 million) in the new plant, which will be built on a site adjacent to its current plant in Mexico. The dedicated Mexico plant, along with the motor-core production plant in Japan, will improve productivity and efficiency, allowing the company to increase its...
    AutoTechInsight Weekly – 20 November 2023
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    LA Auto Show 2023: Kia unveils all-electric EV3 and EV4 concept models
    Kia has unveiled two new electric vehicle concepts, the EV3 and EV4, at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show, according to a company press release on Nov. 16. The EV3 is a compact crossover that takes design cues from the flagship EV9, while the EV4 is a four-door sedan. Both concepts use bioplastic and recycled materials throughout. The EV3 features a sloping roofline and disconnected C pillar that gives the roof a floating effect. The interior has advanced ergonomic seats and a spacious horizonta...
    BrightDrop becomes part of General Motors
    BrightDrop, an electric delivery startup, has become a subsidiary of General Motors, the US automaker said in a press release on Nov. 16. BrightDrop was started in GM’s Innovation Lab and has leveraged the company's manufacturing expertise. The startup has produced a product portfolio that helps major companies such as FedEx, Ryder and DHL decarbonize their fleet operations. The integration of BrightDrop will also enable GM to scale up production of its Zevo electric delivery vans, which ar...
    SAIC-GM to recall over 1 million vehicles in China over safety risk
    General Motors' Chinese joint venture with SAIC Motor (SAIC-GM) is set to recall over 1.13 million vehicles, Reuters reported Nov. 10. Affected vehicles include select Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet models, according to the report, stating China's market regulator. The recall is due to the weak humidity resistance of fuel-pump control units that could lead to abnormal functioning and, under extreme circumstances, loss of power during driving. Among the 1,134,085 cars to be recalled are model y...
    Valeo to supply electric powertrain to Mahindra & Mahindra
    Valeo has announced that India-based Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has selected the company to provide the electric powertrain for a certain range of Born Electric passenger vehicle platform and onboard charger (OBC) combo for electric utility vehicles, according to a company press release dated Nov. 13. The total order is worth about $1 billion. “The collaboration with Valeo is in alignment with our 'Born Electric' vision. Valeo’s electrification technology compliments our purpose-bu...
    Toyoda Gosei to supply hydrogen tank, topcoat-less, hot-stamped grille for Toyota’s Crown sedan
    Toyoda Gosei has announced that it will supply a high-pressure hydrogen tank and topcoat-less, hot-stamped grille for the new Crown sedan by Toyota Motor, according to a company press release dated Nov. 13. The fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) model of the Crown sedan is equipped with high-pressure hydrogen tanks to store the hydrogen fuel. The high-pressure hydrogen tank is jointly developed using technology by Toyota Motor and Toyoda Gosei. Placed in the rear of the vehicle, the tank offer...
    Continental announces cost-cutting measures
    Continental has announced that it is streamlining business and administrative structures, in a press release dated Nov. 13. The company is aiming save about €400 million annually by 2025. While the exact number of globally affected jobs has not been decided yet, it is expected to be in the mid four-digit range at Automotive. The Automotive sector is also currently examining additional measures to increase efficiency in the research and development (R&D) area. To streamline the business ...
    Posco International to invest $519 million on scaling up EV parts business
    Posco International Corp. (Posco), the energy and trading unit of South Korea’s steel giant Posco Holdings Inc., plans to invest 680 billion South Korean won (about $519.1 million) on scaling up its electric vehicle component business, with an aim of riding on the surging growth of electric mobility, according to a news report published by The Korea Economic Daily on Nov. 9. The plan to expand into the EV parts business is part of Posco’s global strategy to foray into sustainability ...
    Volvo to acquire Proterra’s battery business, assets for $210 million
    Swedish automaker Volvo Group has been selected as the winning bidder in an auction for the business and assets of the Proterra Powered business unit at a purchase price of $210 million, the company announced Nov. 10. Notably, Proterra Inc. and Proterra Operating Co. Inc. are in a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy process in the US. The company said that the transaction between Proterra Inc. and Proterra Operating Co. Inc. as sellers and Volvo is subject to approval by the bankruptcy court i...
    Celanese launches two new polyamides for EV powertrain components and batteries
    Celanese has launched two new polyamides (PAs) for electric vehicle powertrain component and battery manufacturers, Plastics Today reported Nov. 8. The new materials offer improved safety, design flexibility and manufacturing efficiency. The Frianyl PA W-Series is a flame-retardant PA for large, thick-walled battery components, while the Celanyl PA B3 GF30 E is a PA-based compound for semistructural and structural EV powertrain applications. The Frianyl PA W-Series offers optimal comparati...
    AutoTechInsight Weekly – 13 November 2023
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    Niron Magnetics raises $33 million in additional funding
    Niron Magnetics, the company known for pioneering the world’s first high-performance, rare-earth-free permanent magnets, announced Nov. 8 that it has raised $33 million in additional funding, with new investments coming from General Motors Ventures and Stellantis Ventures as well as some previous local investors, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) and the University of Minnesota (UMN), among others. Niron said that the new financing will allow it to expand its current pilot product...
    Ford invests $281million in hybrid vehicle production in South Africa
    US automaker Ford has announced an investment of 5.2 billion South African rands (approximately $281 million) to produce a hybrid vehicle in South Africa, according to a Reuters report dated Nov. 9. The company is urging the government to expedite the development of an electric vehicle policy, as the UK and Europe have announced plans to ban the sale of new petrol cars by 2035, which poses an existential threat to South Africa's auto industry. Ford plans to produce its Ranger Plug-in Hybrid E...
    Hyundai Mobis secures $940 million in loan to expand EV business in North America
    Hyundai Mobis has secured an investment of $940 million in loan to establish a new electrification hub in North America, based on its press release dated Nov. 8. The plan is part of Hyundai Mobis’ strategy to expand its global footprint in electric mobility. The announcement came soon after the successful funding for a battery cell joint venture factory in Indonesia last year. Although the company did not disclose the names of its funding providers, it said that the loan was secured after l...
    Bosch opens new production plant for hydrogen powertrain systems in Chongqing, China
    Bosch has opened a new site for Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) Co., Ltd., a strategically important facility for the German automotive component supplier’s global electrification strategy, in the Jiulongpo District of Chongqing City, China, Bosch announced Nov. 2. The facility, which saw construction beginning in 2021, is equipped with Bosch's largest Class-A fuel cell powertrain research and development center, the company said in its press note. The new facility, which is s...
    Audi begins production of electric motors for EVs based on its PPE platform
    German premium carmaker Audi has commenced the production of electric motors at its manufacturing plant based in Győr, Hungary, the company announced Nov. 7. These electric motors, which will be used in Audi’s electric vehicle line up, will be developed on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), the carmaker’s dedicated EV platform. The newly developed electric motors will be used for the first time in the Audi Q6 e-tron series, Audi said in its press note dated Nov. 7, adding that the prod...
    General Motors, Niron sign strategic agreement to jointly develop rare-earth-free motor magnets
    Legacy carmaker General Motors announced Nov. 8 that it has completed a strategic partnership agreement with Niron Magnetics of Minneapolis. The two companies plan to jointly develop Niron’s clean earth magnet motor technology that can be used in the carmaker’s future electric cars. In addition, General Motors’ venture capital unit, General Motors Ventures, has also made an investment in Niron, which will join the ranks of its 30-plus portfolio companies, the company said, adding that the ...
    Hella’s groupwide sales up 12.6% to €5.93 billion for first nine months of FY'23
    Hella, an automotive supplier operating under the Forvia umbrella brand, reported a 12.6% year-over-year increase in groupwide sales to €5.93 billion for the first nine months of fiscal year 2023, according to a press dated Nov. 7. Hella had reported net sales of €5.3 billion in the same period last year. The operating income grew by around 68% to €363 million, with the operating income margin increasing to 6.1% from 4.1%. In the Business Group Lighting segment, sales increased by 16.1%...
    Covestro partners with HiPhi to launch joint laboratory on advanced material solutions for future mobility
    The automotive industry is making intensive efforts in decarbonization while going smarter, and innovative material solutions can make an important contribution to achieving this goal. Considering such trends, Covestro and Chinese premium electric vehicle brand HiPhi unveiled a joint laboratory at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to advance low-carbon footprint material solutions and smart technologies for future mobility, according to a press release dated Nov. 7. The joint lab wil...
    Continental launches 3-year DIAZI project to digitalize industrial production processes
    Continental has launched a three-year project called Digitalization of the Industrialization Process in the Automotive and Supplier Industries (DIAZI) in collaboration with eight renowned IT and process optimization companies, universities and specialist startups. The project aims to digitalize the entire production process for automotive components, increasing efficiency, flexibility and cost effectiveness, the company said in a press release on Nov. 6. Thomas Ebenhöch, head of operations f...
    Raymond acquires majority stake in Maini Precision Products for $81.9 million
    Raymond Group has acquired a 59.25% stake in Maini Precision Products Ltd. (MPPL) for $81.9 million, Mint reported Nov. 3. The acquisition will diversify Raymond's business portfolio beyond its core fabric and realty segments and open up new opportunities in rapidly growing sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs). MPPL manufactures precision engineering products for aerospace, EV and defense sectors with 11 manufacturing facilities in India. As part of the deal, Raymond will consolidate its e...
    BorgWarner receives extension for hybrid tech supply contract with European OEM
    US-based auto component supplier BorgWarner said on Nov. 2 that it has received an extension of its contract to supply Combined Inverter and DC Converter (CIDD) units to a premium European OEM for use in the company's all-wheel-drive B and C segment hybrid applications. CIDD offers a compact solution for managing a vehicle's electric drive and accessory systems, and the technology is intended for use in premium European OEMs' all-wheel drive B and C segment hybrid applications. BorgWarner'...
    Fisker appoints David King as chief technology officer
    Fisker has appointed David King as the chief technology officer, effective immediately, according to a press statement dated Nov. 3. King, who joined the company in 2021, replaced Burkhard Huhnke. King had previously served as Fisker's senior vice president and led the development and launch of the Ocean body program in Graz, Austria. King will now lead Fisker's global engineering and software teams in the US, Europe, India and mainland China, reporting to Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker. King...
    Hesai secures lidar design win with Leapmotor
    Hesai Technology has secured an automotive lidar design win with electric vehicle (EV) maker Leapmotor, according to a press release dated Nov. 3. Hesai will supply its ultra-high resolution long-range lidar AT128 for Leapmotor's upcoming series production vehicle model. Founded in 2015, Leapmotor is an EV company with a full suite of research and development and manufacturing capabilities. The company developed the LeapPilot intelligent driving assistance system, which continuously introduce...
    TPEM to build EVs on JLR’s EMA platform
    Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. (TPEM) and Jaguar Land Rover PLC (JLR) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the licensing of JLR’s Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform for a royalty fee, Tata Motors Ltd. announced Nov. 2. TPEM and JLR are 100% subsidiaries of Tata Motors. TPEM plans to use JLR’s EMA platform, which includes its electrical architecture, electric drive unit (EDU) and battery pack and manufacturing know-hows for the development of its...
    MAHLE Powertrain opens battery engineering center in Europe
    MAHLE Powertrain, a Germany-based specialist engineering services provider, has opened a new state-of-the-art battery development center in Stuttgart, Germany, the company announced Nov. 2. With the new engineering center, the company aims to cater to the requirements of its European clients, it said. The new battery engineering center spreads across more than 1,300 square meters and can accommodate all aspects of the battery development process, ranging from initial prototyping to small-scal...
    AutoTechInsight Weekly – 06 November 2023
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    Ford Motor acquires energy startup Auto Motive Power
    Ford Motor Co. plans to acquire energy-management startup Auto Motive Power (AMP) to boost its electric vehicle charging, battery management and power-conversion technology capabilities, according to a news report published by TechCrunch on Nov. 2. Following the deal and completion of acquisition process, the Los Angeles-based startup will cease to exist, the report said, adding that Ford plans to scoop up the startup’s technology, talent and facility in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., to ad...
    Chinese carmaker Changan Auto plans to build EV plant in Thailand
    Chinese automaker Changan has signed a land purchase agreement with Thailand's industrial estate developer WHA Group to build its new electric vehicle factory in the Southeast Asian country, according to a news report published by Xinhua News Agency on Oct. 26. The EV assembly plant will be spread across an area of 40 hectares and will be located in Thailand's eastern Rayong province, which is part of the country's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Changan’s EV plant is expected to b...
    Borgwarner’s Q3 net sales up 12% YOY to $3.62 billion
    Michigan, US-based automotive component supplier BorgWarner Inc. (BorgWarner) has reported third-quarter 2023 net sales at $3.62 billion, registering a growth of 12% year over year, compared with the net sales of $3.23 billion for the third quarter of 2022, the company announced Nov. 2. The increase was primarily due to higher demand for the company’s products and recoveries from the customers of material-cost inflation. Net earnings slumped to $50 million from $273 million last year. The c...
    Ford, Quantron to jointly develop hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles
    US legacy automaker Ford Motor Co. and Quantron AG, a specialist in sustainable passenger and freight transport, have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to cooperate on joint development of hydrogen fuel cell-propelled vehicles, according to a press note issued by Quantron on Nov. 2. Under the strategic cooperation between the two companies, Quantron’s technology including the driving range, e-axle, battery, fuel cell and tank integration, energy management and aerodynamics will be evaluated f...
    Nippon Steel drops lawsuits against Toyota
    Nippon Steel Corp. has dropped its lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp. over a patent for a technology used in electric motors, saying wrangling among Japanese companies was not beneficial to keep the nation competitive, the Associated Press reported Nov. 2. Both companies see their partnership as critical in the Japanese auto industry. Japan’s top steelmaker said in a statement that such internal disputes were not fitting for a period of uncertainty and rapid change toward “carbon neutr...
    Chery unveils new E0X platform to develop EVs
    Chery Automobile has unveiled its E0X platform through which it plans to launch 24 hybrid and 15 high-end electric models across its Exeed, Jetour and iCAR marques within two years. According to a report by China Daily on Oct. 18, Chery also announced plans of investing more than 100 billion Chinese yuan (about $13.67 billion) in research and development (R&D) over the next five years. At an event in which the Chinese carmaker was participating, Chery showcased cutting-edge technologies o...
    Schaeffler eyes formidable position in e-mobility solutions market
    On October 9, 2023, Schaeffler came up with voluntary public tender offer of $3.8 billion to buy Vitesco Technologies Group AG. As per Schaeffler, its decision to buy Vitesco is to strengthen its offerings in the electrification field. Vitesco was spun out of Continental in April 2021 with the aim to focus on electrification, e-mobility and electronics and quickly address the shift towards electric mobility. On October 17, Vitesco said its Executive Board and Special Committee would evaluate the...
    India’s Ola Electric raises $385 million in latest funding round
    Indian electric-vehicle maker Ola Electric has raised about $385 million in its latest funding round, which included about $240 million in debt, according to a news report published by TechCrunch on October 26. The report said that the new financing round values the Bengaluru, India-headquartered EV startup at about $5.4 billion. The funding round was led by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Temasek, while India’s largest bank, the State Bank of India (SBI), provided the debt facility, th...
    German EV maker Next.e.Go Mobile to build microfactories in Europe, US
    German electric-vehicle maker Next.e.GO Mobile plans to build three new microfactories in Europe and US over the next few years as it looks to expand the production footprint of its small electric cars, according to a news report published by Reuters on October 20. The report cited company CEO Ali Vezvaei, who spoke to Reuters in an interview ahead of its public listing on October 20. Next.e.GO Mobile already has a manufacturing plant in Germany and an upcoming factory that is slated to comme...
    GKN Automotive unveils a plug-and-play modular electric drive unit concept
    Leading supplier of drive systems, GKN Automotive, has unveiled a new plug-and-play electric drive concept designed to meet the growing demand among niche electric vehicle players and EV conversion companies for modular electric drive technology, the company said October 26. The new electric drive unit (EDU) concept, which it calls as a new eCrate concept, is developed to create a cost-effective modular electric drive system with optimal efficiency and performance, and market-proven technolog...
    Renault, Valeo jointly develop an innovative electric motor E7A, to debut in 2027
    French carmaker Renault and component supplier Valeo have jointly developed a new generation of rare-earth-free electric motor, according to an announcement made by Renault on October 26. The company said that while it harnessed its expertise in wound-rotor motors, Valeo contributed to the project with its expertise in stators to develop a more powerful, more compact and cleaner electric motor called the E7A. The E7A is still at the prototype stage currently and is expected to debut in 202...
    AutoTechInsight Weekly – 30 October 2023
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    Jaguar Land Rover’s car factory in Slovakia to produce EVs
    British luxury-car marquee Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plans to produce electric vehicles at its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Nitra, Slovakia, as part of the company’s Reimagine Strategy that will see the launch of at least nine new EVs by 2030, the company confirmed October 26. The plan was disclosed by JLR’s Executive Director of Industrial Operations Barbara Bergmeier on the sidelines of the fifth anniversary of the company’s plant in Slovakia on October 26. Notably, JLR has c...
    Rheinmetall secures order for eco-friendly vehicle plain bearings
    Rheinmetall has secured an order for plain bearings to be used in an environmentally friendly vehicle powered by an electric motor, it said in a press release dated October 26. The order comes from an international automaker with a focus on e-mobility. The order is valued at several hundred thousand euros and will be delivered starting in January 2024. Rheinmetall's plain bearings offer high-quality materials, damping and smooth-running characteristics, and the company expects to receive furt...
    Renault plans €3 billion investment to launch eight new models outside Europe
    In an aggressive goal, French automaker Renault aims to emerge as a key global player in the new-energy vehicle market over the next five years. The company announced a significant investment of €3 billion to launch as many as eight new models to achieve its ambitious goal of selling one vehicle out of three in an electric or hybrid version by 2027, according to a press release on October 25. Fabrice Cambolive, CEO of the Renault brand, said, “As our product renewal is bearing fruit in Eu...
    Stellantis invests €1.5 billion in Leapmotor for a 20% stake
    Stellantis and Leapmotor have formed a strategic global partnership to create a highly competitive and efficient electric vehicle mobility powerhouse in China and globally, said a company press release on October 26. It added that this will be an industry-first global EV relationship between a leading automaker and a Chinese pure-play, new-energy vehicle original equipment manufacturer. Stellantis will invest €1.5 billion to acquire a 20% stake in Leapmotor, making it a significant sharehol...
    Tata Motors unveils state-of-the-art facilities for hydrogen-fueled propulsion system development
    Indian automaker Tata Motors has unveiled two state-of-the-art facilities in Pune, India, to develop hydrogen-fueled, zero-emission propulsion systems. The facilities include an engine test cell for developing hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICEs) and necessary infrastructure for storing and dispensing hydrogen fuel for fuel cells and hydrogen ICE vehicles, according to a press release dated October 23.   Girish Wagh, executive director of Tata Motors, said that the compa...
    CATL to supply batteries for EVs developed by Geely-Baidu JV Jiyue
    The world’s largest battery-maker CATL has signed a strategic partnership with Geely and Baidu-backed electric-vehicle maker Jiyue on promoting joint research and development (R&D) of new-energy vehicle (NEV) products and mass production, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on October 23. The report cited a press note issued by CATL on October 23. CATL is supplying high-performance power batteries and associated services for Jiyue’s EV — the Jiyue 01, it said, adding...
    Jaguar Land Rover unveils a £250 million EV testing facility in Coventry, UK
    Tata Motors-owned British luxury-car brand Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has unveiled an all-new £250 million state-of-the-art electric vehicle testing facility — Future Energy Lab — at JLR's Whitley Engineering Center in Coventry, UK, the company announced October 23. The new facility, which is spread over an area of 30,000 square meters, is home to more than £40 million worth of technological innovation, the company said, adding that the Future Energy Lab will help JLR in paving the way for...
    AutoTechInsight Weekly – 23 October 2023
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    Toyota to showcase Land Cruiser BEV, electric pickup concepts at Japan Mobility Show 2023
    Toyota Motor Corp. announced October 21 that it plans to showcase an all-electric concept of its popular sport utility vehicle (SUV) Land Cruiser — the Land Cruiser Se, an electric midsize pickup truck concept, along with a few more innovative technologies at the upcoming Japan Mobility Show 2023. The event is scheduled to be organized between October 26 and November 5 in Tokyo by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). According to Toyota, the Land Cruiser Se is developed...
    Chinese automaker Changan to invest $242 million on building an EV factory in Thailand
    As part of its global expansion plans, Chinese automaker Changan Automobile plans to invest close to $242 million on building a new car manufacturing factory in Thailand, according to a news report published by Yicai Global on October 19. The report stated that the planned battery-electric vehicle (BEV) plant is expected to come up in the WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Thailand’s Rayong province. The news report cited an announcement made by the Chongqing, China-based company on ...
    BMW, Allegro MicroSystems collaborate on traction inverters for BEVs
    Allegro MicroSystems, a leading supplier of power and sensing semiconductor technology for motion control and energy-efficient systems, announced October 17 that German luxury-car maker BMW Group has selected Allegro as the sole current-sensor integrated circuits (ICs) supplier for its traction inverter systems used across the company’s entire fleet of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). The IC’s built-in overcurrent detection and self-diagnostics will enable BMW to meet the highest level o...
    Toyoda Gosei armrest with heater and hot-stamped grille with no top coating on new Lexus LM
    Japanese supplier Toyoda Gosei Co. announced the launch of a front grille produced using newly developed hot-stamping technology, used on the new model Lexus LM from Toyota Motor. With the improvement of the foil that is transferred to the grille, this new technology eliminates the need for the top coat to prevent deterioration from weathering and ultraviolet rays, the company said in a press release on October 20. In developing this new grill, the company has leveraged its knowledge of plast...
    General Motors, Honda plan to introduce self-driving vehicle service in Japan by 2026
    General Motors, Cruise and Honda have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to set up a new joint venture company to launch a driverless ride-hail service in Japan starting in early 2026, GM announced October 18. According to the press note, the opportunity for the ride-hail service in Japan is massive as the country has the potential to be one of the largest driverless ride-hail markets in the world. Moreover, the region also has a growing need for new forms of transportation, with ongo...
    Toyota to showcase a compact electric utility vehicle concept at Japan Mobility Show 2023
    Toyota Motor Corp. plans to unveil a battery-electric utility vehicle concept at the upcoming Japan Mobility Show 2023, which will be organized in Tokyo between October 26 and November 5, the company announced October 17. Calling its concept battery-electric vehicle (BEV) as the Kayoibako, Toyota said that the concept will represent the future of mobility, offering applications ranging from personal to business. According to the company, the word "Kayoibako" refers to configurable s...
    Stellantis plans to invest in Chinese EV startup Leapmotor
    Italian-American carmaker Stellantis is close to concluding an investment deal with Chinese electric vehicle startup Leapmotor, according to a news report published by the news portal CarNewsChina on October 16. Citing three unnamed sources aware of the matter, the report mentioned that on the back of the investment deal with Leapmotor, Stellantis aims to get licensed access to the former’s Leap 3.0 platform. Leapmotor, also known as Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology, had launched its new EV...
    Samvardhana Motherson incorporates EV unit in UAE
    Samvardhana Motherson announced that it has incorporated Samvardhana Motherson Electric Vehicles LLC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary, in a press release dated October 13. The newly incorporated company will be responsible in manufacturing and/or assembly operations. MSSL Mideast will own 99% of the wholly owned subsidiary while Motherson Wiring System will own the remaining 1% stake. MSSL Mideast is a wholly owned subsidiary of Samvardhana Mothers...
    Volvo Cars appoints Francesca Gamboni to head procurement and supply chain
    Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars has appointed Francesca Gamboni to head its procurement and supply chain team, starting from October 16, the company had announced via a press note issued on September 13. Gamboni’s appointment comes at a time when the carmaker is aggressively pursuing its goal of transitioning to become fully electric by 2030. The company said that Gamboni will be responsible for further evolving its lean, sustainable and regionalized supply chain, strengthening the backbone of ...
    Comau deploys automation solution to help Nio manufacture next-generation electric drive systems
    Comau, a Stellantis company that develops and delivers factory automation solutions, has designed and deployed a high-performance turnkey solution to automate manufacturing of Shanghai-based electric-vehicle maker Nio’s next-generation electric drive systems (EDS), Comau announced October 11. The company said that the project also ensures fast and reliable coline production for the electric carmaker’s third-gen induction and permanent magnet motors, both of which are integral parts of its...
    Allison Transmission to showcase fuel-saving technologies and fully electric propulsion solutions
    Allison Transmission will present various propulsion solutions including fully automatic transmissions with fuel-saving technologies as well as its expanding eGen Power family of fully electric axles at the Solutrans trade show in Lyon, France, in November, it said in a press release dated October 12. Allison will display the eGen Power 100S electric axle with high electric vehicle propulsion efficiency at the show. This superior efficiency enables increased range capability for the electric ...
    CATL-Changan-Huawei JV commences production of Avatr 12 in China
    Chinese electric-vehicle maker Avatr has commenced production of its anticipated electric sedan — the Avatr 12 — in China, according to a news report published by the news website CarNewsChina on October 12. Citing the EV brand, which is a joint venture of battery manufacturer CATL, automaker Changan, and telecom and electronics giant Huawei, the report stated that Avatr’s all-electric luxury sedan Avatr 12 has officially rolled off the production line in China. The electric c...
    AutoTechInsight Weekly – 16 October 2023
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    Rosmerta targets 10 vehicle scrappage units in India to process up to 300,000 vehicles annually
    Rosmerta Technologies, an automobile technology and automation company, embarked on an investment of 2 billion Indian rupees (about $24.03 million) to set up 10 vehicle scrappage units over the next three years, according to a top company executive. At present, it operates a single vehicle scrapping facility in Manesar, Haryana, India, having a processing capacity of 30,000 vehicles annually. After the capacity addition, the company will be able to process up to 300,000 vehicles annually, the Hi...
    Hyundai to produce EVs for BAIC’s brand Arcfox in China
    South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. plans to manufacture electric vehicles for Arcfox, which is an EV brand owned by China’s BAIC Motor Corp., according to a news report published by The Korea Economic Daily on October 11. Hyundai’s move is being seen as its attempt to revive its ailing business in the world’s largest EV market, the report said. Citing unnamed industry sources, the report stated that Hyundai and BAIC have agreed to produce Arcfox EVs at a plant of Beijing Hyundai...
    UAW’s call to strike at Kentucky Truck Plant is grossly irresponsible: Ford Motor
    In response to the United Auto Workers' (UAW's) decision to expand the strike to Ford Motor’s strategically important manufacturing facility, the Kentucky Truck Plant, the carmaker said that it is a "grossly irresponsible but unsurprising move" by the labor union. In a statement on October 11, Ford said that the move to impact the operations at its Kentucky, US, plant was not surprising as it is known that the labor union’s leadership aims to keep the Detroit Three wounded for...
    Hitachi Astemo to revamp structure for sustainable growth
    Hitachi Astemo will implement organizational changes and executive officer transfers to enhance its strategic business operation structure and promote sustainable growth, it said in a press release on September 29. The company will shift from a five-division structure to a strategic business management structure with three divisions: Electrification Business Management, Chassis & ICE Management and Motorcycle Division. This will enable the company to allocate resources more efficiently an...
    Hitachi Astemo to showcase innovative Automotive technologies at Japan Mobility Show 2023
    Hitachi Astemo will showcase a wide range of innovations at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, it said in a press release dated October 5. The exhibition will feature three main themes: Safety, Environment and Comfort. Under the Safety theme, Hitachi Astemo will display 360-degree sensing technology, steer-by-wire technology, Smart Brake technology and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technology for motorcycles. These advancements aim to reduce traffic accidents and improve vehicle sa...
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