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☆ Continental prepares for asset sales, tightens 2023 targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of German tyre company Continental, pictured before the company's annual news conference in Hanover, Germany, March 7, 2019. Continental said in November it would cut thousands of jobs in the automotive division worldwide and reduce the number of business areas within the division from six to five. "The automotive business is with us, it stays with us," Setzer said at a media briefing. Its 2023 outlook forecasts an adjusted EBIT margin of 5.5-6.5% on sales of 41 billion to 43 billion euros. It expected an adjusted earnings margin close to 7% at ContiTech, at or above 13% in the tyres division and near 2% in the automotive division, CFO Katja Garcia Vila said.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Nikolai Setzer, " Setzer, Katja Garcia Vila, Victoria Waldersee, Matthias Williams, Louise Heavens Organizations: Continental, REUTERS, BERLIN, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany, Continental, ContiTech

☆ UBS to expand presence in U.S. market - Swiss paper
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A UBS logo is seen next to Credit Suisse at the Bahnhofstrasse before a news conference of Swiss bank UBS in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 3 (Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS (UBSG.S) plans to expand its presence in the U.S. market as part of its strategy to hit $150 billion in net new money, or inflow of new funds, per year, an executive told Swiss newspaper NZZ Am Sonntag in an interview published on Sunday. The fourth-largest asset manager in the United States plans to invest heavily over the next three years, Iqbal Kahn, head of its asset management division, told the paper. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Paul Arnold Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, NZZ, Iqbal Kahn, Victoria Waldersee, Paul Arnold, Bernadette Baum Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Zurich Switzerland, Swiss, U.S, United States

☆ Munich flights, long-distance trains cancelled due to snow
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Dec 2 (Reuters) - Long-distance trains and hundreds of flights in and out of the German city of Munich were cancelled on Saturday because of heavy snowfall, according to statements by Deutsche Bahn and Munich Airport. Flights were not scheduled to depart or arrive at Munich airport until at least 6 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Sunday according to a statement on its website. Trains could not arrive at Munich's central train station, Deutsche Bahn said on its website. The halt was expected to last all day, it added, advising travellers to rebook their trips. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Elke Ahlswede; Editing by Alison Williams and Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Victoria Waldersee, Elke Ahlswede, Alison Williams, Toby Chopra Organizations: Deutsche Bahn, Munich, Thomson Locations: German, Munich, Munich's

☆ Mercedes-Benz and BMW to establish JV for high-power charging network in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Mercedes-Benz is seen outside a Mercedes-Benz car dealer in Brussels, Belgium June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - German automaker Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) said on Thursday it had reached an agreement with BMW (BMWG.DE) to establish a joint venture for operating a high-power charging network in China. At least 1,000 high-power charging stations with around 7,000 charging piles in the country are expected to be installed by the end of 2026, the company said in the statement, adding the deal was subject to regulatory approval. Mercedes-Benz announced earlier this year that it would invest billions of euros in building its own charging network of 10,000 fast-charging points in North America, Europe and China by 2030. Reporting by Ozan Ergenay, Editing by Victoria WalderseeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yves Herman, Ozan Ergenay, Victoria Waldersee Organizations: Mercedes, Benz, REUTERS, BMW, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, China, North America, Europe

☆ Volkswagen to reduce headcount at 'no longer competitive' VW brand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. "With many of our pre-existing structures, processes and high costs, we are no longer competitive as the Volkswagen brand," Schaefer told a staff meeting at the carmaker's headquarters in Wolfsburg, according to a post on the company's intranet site and seen by Reuters. The company had previously said it planned to take advantage of the "demographic curve" to reduce its workforce, having pledged that it would not carry out dismissals until 2029. In Monday's meeting, human resources board member Gunnar Kilian said this would be achieved through agreements on partial or early retirement. ($1 = 0.9168 euros)Reporting by Victoria Waldersee Writing by Matthias Williams Editing by Miranda Murray and David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Thomas Schaefer, Schaefer, Gunnar Kilian, Kilian, Victoria Waldersee, Matthias Williams, Miranda Murray, David Goodman Organizations: New York, REUTERS, BERLIN, VW, Volkswagen, Reuters, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Wolfsburg

☆ VW struggling with S.Africa costs as group targets savings - executive
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Joe Bavier | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Thomas Schaefer, Volkswagen's CEO of the VW Passenger Cars Brand speaks with Reuters about the future of VW production in Africa, in Johannesburg, South Africa, November 24, 2023. The German automaker has been in South Africa for nearly 80 years. Factors like competitive labour costs once placed it among the company's higher-ranking bases globally, VW brand chief Thomas Schaefer said during a visit to the country. Schaefer said there were no current plans to introduce EV manufacturing in South Africa, since electric cars are currently priced out of the reach of most domestic consumers. "There's a realistic chance that South Africa, with enough focus, with all the raw materials in the neighbourhood, they could be a champion," Schaefer said.

Persons: Thomas Schaefer, Volkswagen's, Sumaya Hisham, Schaefer, We're, " Schaefer, Victoria Waldersee, Mark Potter Organizations: VW, Reuters, REUTERS, Volkswagen, Polo, European Union, Thomson Locations: Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, JOHANNESBURG, Uitenhage, Britain, Berlin

☆ Volkswagen to launch China-specific entry level electric platform
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Volkswagen electric ID car is seen during a construction completion event of SAIC Volkswagen MEB electric vehicle plant in Shanghai, China November 8, 2019. Chinese new car buyers are younger, tech savvy and like a immersive digital experience from their cars, he added. China was a very “price-sensitive” market and Volkswagen needed to optimise costs, Brandstaetter said. Volkswagen in July struck a deal with Chinese EV maker Xpeng Inc (9868.HK) to boost its EV line up. It has two new models under development as part of that partnership that will target mid-level consumers and be produced on an older generation Xpeng platform.

Persons: Aly, Ralf Brandstaetter, Brandstaetter, “, Luehrmann, Volkswagen's, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Victoria Waldersee, Kim Coghill Organizations: Volkswagen, SAIC Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen Group China Technology Company, SAIC, FAW, JAC Motors, Xpeng, HK, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights HEFEI, BERLIN, Hefei, BYD, Germany

☆ Swedish union blocks Tesla components as dispute intensifies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Around 50 workers that make specialized Tesla components at Hydro Extrusions, a subsidiary of Norwegian aluminium and energy company Hydro, will either stay at home or be given other tasks from Friday until further notice, the IF Metall union said. IF Metall, Sweden's biggest manufacturing union, is locked in a fight with Tesla to get a collective bargaining agreement for its 130 mechanics in Sweden. The U.S. carmaker has a policy to not sign collective bargaining agreements and says its employees have as good or better terms than what the Swedish union is demanding. The union says it is vital to the Swedish labour market model that all companies have collective agreements. Around 90% of all employees in Sweden are covered by collective bargaining agreements, which regulates wages, vacation, overtime pay and other conditions.

Persons: Veli, Pekka Saikkala, Tesla, Metall, Saikkala, carmaker, Torbjorn Johansson, Elon, Johansson, Johan Ahlander, Marie, Victoria Waldersee, Susan Fenton Organizations: Tesla, Hydro Extrusions, Hydro, IF Metall, Metall, LO, Marie Mannes, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Europe, Sweden, U.S, Stockholm, Victoria

Their options include drawing up a supplementary budget for 2023 and suspending Germany's self-imposed debt brake before reinstating it for next year. "Our goal is to discuss the budget quickly but with due care," said a joint statement of ruling party lawmakers. The delay has heightened uncertainty about spending in all areas of the German economy and meant the 2024 budget might not be concluded before the end of the year. "I firmly assume that the commitments for Intel and TSMC will remain," a government source said, adding: "This is very important to the chancellor, as well as to the economy minister." This will happen in the course of next early 2024 and we will see how far hydrogen is available," CEO Miguel Lopez said.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Christian Lindner, Robert Habeck, Olaf Scholz's, Scholz's, Siegfried Russwurm, TSMC, Scholz, Miguel Lopez, Holger Hansen, Christian Kraemer, Victoria Waldersee, Andreas Rinke, Madeline Chambers, Matthias Williams, Miranda Murray, Alex Richardson, Christina Fincher Organizations: Finance, Climate, Government, Ukraine Industry, Intel, TSMC, Wednesday, Social Democrat, Greens, Free Democrats, Fund, Eurasia Group, U.S, BMW, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: TSMC BERLIN, Germany's, Ukraine, EU, Saxony, Anhalt, Berlin, Germany

☆ German industrial projects in steel, chips, batteries at risk from court ruling -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Steel coils are waiting for delivery at the storage and distribution facility of German steel maker ThyssenKrupp in Duisburg, Germany, November 16, 2023. That put numerous projects in key areas for Germany's industrial competitiveness at risk, the sources, who declined to be named, warned. In the steel industry, businesses planned to invest 6 billion euros ($6.54 billion) in decarbonised steel production, directly and indirectly employing around 20,000 people. Investments in microelectronics were bundled into the KTF, totalling 31 projects relying on an estimated 4 billion euros in government funding. Numerous projects along the battery supply chain were submitted as outlines for funding applications, the sources said, with an investment volume of around 20 billion euros.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Markus Wacket, Victoria Waldersee, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Transformation, Investments, RIC, Infineon, Intel, Thomson Locations: Duisburg, Germany, Dresden, Magdeburg

A Volkswagen logo is seen on a Volkswagen ID.5 electric car on display at a showroom of a car dealer in Reze near Nantes, France, November 13, 2023. The main lever to reduce prices of electric cars is reducing battery costs, Blume said at the Sueddeutsche Zeitung Wirtschaftsgipfel conference in Berlin, pointing to the company's plans to produce a unified battery cell that it says will reduce battery costs by half. The company had said at the time it was working on a 20,000-euro vehicle, but did not provide further information. "We have a responsibility to bring the right products at the right price onto the market," Blume said. The pressure of inflation, a lack of charging infrastructure and the removal of subsidies were also holding back electric car demand, Blume said.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Oliver Blume, Blume, Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Reze, Nantes, France, Berlin

☆ Tesla faces pressure in Sweden as workers at supplier to strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla has no manufacturing plant in Sweden but its electric cars are serviced at workshops across the country, where around 130 mechanics affiliated with Swedish union IF Metall began a strike on Oct. 27. Hydro Extrusions's Vetlanda plant makes aluminium profiles - aluminium alloys transformed into shapes, and is the first Tesla supplier in Sweden to down tools in support of the mechanics' strike. The carmaker told IF Metall on Nov. 6 it did not want to sign a collective agreement, the union said. "We want Tesla Sweden to sign a collective agreement... We want this conflict to be as brief and short as possible," IF Metall spokesperson Jesper Pettersson said. German unions have pressured the carmaker to implement a similar agreement for its 11,000 workers in Gruenheide, near Berlin.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Tesla, Jesper Pettersson, Marie Mannes, Victoria Waldersee, Johan Ahlander, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Tesla, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Swedish, IF Metall, dockworkers, Hydro Extrusions, Hydro, IF, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Rights STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Vetlanda, Gruenheide, Berlin

☆ Volkswagen to cut administrative personnel costs 20% in savings drive -Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) plans to cut administrative personnel costs by a fifth as part of a cost-cutting package to save 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) by 2026, the Handelsblatt daily reported on Monday, citing an internal company podcast. Gunnar Kilian, Volkswagen's board member for human resources, said in conversation with VW brand chief Thomas Schaefer that the cuts would focus on cost reduction rather than headcount, according to the Handelsblatt report. The specific details of the drive at Volkswagen's passenger car brand, announced in June and currently being defined in talks between management and the workers council, are due to be set by December. Volkswagen has signed an agreement with the workers council to secure jobs until 2029, and the council has repeatedly said it will not allow changes to that agreement. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann; Writing by Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray; Editing by Stephen Coates and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Gunnar Kilian, Volkswagen's, Thomas Schaefer, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Miranda Murray, Stephen Coates, Bernadette Baum Organizations: VW, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wolfsburg, Germany

☆ Continental plans thousands of job cuts in auto division
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A car wheel with a badge showing the logo of German tyre company Continental, pictured before the company's annual news conference in Hanover, Germany, March 7, 2019. The exact number of job cuts was not immediately clear, but it will amount to the "mid-four-digit range", the company said. The news comes amid ongoing reports that Continental plans a restructuring and potential sell-offs, with CEO Nikolai Setzer saying in September he was considering a change in ownership of the company's ContiTech division. Continental will provide a full strategy update at its capital markets day on Dec. 4, the statement said. Last week the company reported that the automotive business returned to profit in the third quarter and predicted a strong quarter ahead.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Nikolai Setzer, Andrey Sychev, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Miranda Murray, Susan Fenton, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Continental, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Smart, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany

[1/2] A Tesla electric vehicle is plugged to a charger in a parking lot in Teia, north of Barcelona, Spain, October 31, 2023. High interest rates and a subdued market are putting customers off, they warned, with Volkswagen's EV order intake half what it was last year. Reuters GraphicsFALLING BEHINDCritics have long warned that a lack of affordable EVs would eventually stall the steep sales growth boosted by early adopters and corporate fleets. A weaker performance in September, consumer sentiment surveys and bleak commentary from carmakers and dealers indicates that low growth era may have arrived. "We call it the valley of death, which we will be going through in 2024 to 2027: low residual values, high supply, and low demand," Nothard added.

Persons: Albert Gea, EVs, Thomas Niedermayer, Flavia Garcia, Tom Carvell, Martina, AutoTrader, Garcia, We'll, Critics, Felipe Munoz, Alistair Bedwell, Langston, Ben DuCharme, Philip Nothard, Nothard, Victoria Waldersee, Nick Carey, Giulio Piovaccari, Paul Lienert, Sumanta Sen, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Tesla, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, Reuters Graphics Dealers, Toyota, HK, Reuters Graphics, Ford, GM, United Auto Worker, JATO Dynamics, Langston, Cox Automotive, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, LONDON, Europe, Germany, Italy, Bavarian, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, BYD, Nio, U.S, Rome, Detroit

☆ Fisker in talks with five carmakers for production capacity partnership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Christina Amann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 9 (Reuters) - U.S. electric vehicle startup Fisker (FSR.N) is negotiating with five carmakers over a partnership to secure additional production capacity for its vehicles, its Chief Executive Henrik Fisker said on Thursday. We can bring them to market fast - we just need the capacity," Fisker said, speaking to Reuters in Berlin. The CEO told Reuters in May he was exploring partnerships with everyone from suppliers to tech companies to scale up production. The SUV, called PEAR, will be built with Foxconn in Ohio, but further capacity is needed for both models. Still, it cut its annual production target in August and adjusted pricing in October as it grappled with a slowdown in electric-vehicle demand.

Persons: Henrik Fisker, Fisker, Christina Amann, Victoria Waldersee, David Evans Organizations: Reuters, Magna International Inc, Thomson Locations: Berlin, California, Austria, Foxconn, Ohio

Logo of German tyre company Continental is pictured before the annual news conference in Hanover, Germany, March 9, 2021. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Continental AG FollowBERLIN, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Continental (CONG.DE) reported earnings in line with consensus on Wednesday as successful price negotiations, lower inventory and stabilised supply chains enabled it to boost the performance of its automotive business and increase free cash flow. "We still have significant ground to gain in the fourth quarter," Chief Financial Officer Katja Garcia Vila, formerly Dürrfeld, said. Its automotive business, which suffered a loss in the second quarter, was back to profit with an adjusted earnings margin of 2.8% largely down to raising prices and stabilising supply chains. Still, negative currency exchange rates prompted it to adjust the cars business sales outlook slightly downwards to 20 billion euros from 21 billion previously.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Katja Garcia Vila, Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray, Miral Organizations: Continental, REUTERS, BERLIN, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany, North America, Europe

The source, who declined to be named, did not say when production would begin. A general view shows the Tesla logo on the Gigafactory in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, August 30, 2022. At the same meeting, he informed staff of plans to build the 25,000-euro vehicle there, the source said. German union IG Metall said in 2022 that Tesla wages were around 20% below those offered under collective bargaining agreements at other carmakers. ($1 = 0.9315 euros)Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Editing by Rachel More, Bernadette Baum and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Musk, Tesla, Annegret, Elon Musk, Europe's, Metall, Victoria Waldersee, Rachel More, Bernadette Baum, Emelia Organizations: Staff, JATO Dynamics, Reuters, Volkswagen, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Berlin, United States, Europe, China, Gruenheide, Germany

☆ Tesla to build 25,000-euro car at German plant - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view shows the Tesla logo on the Gigafactory in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, August 30, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Tesla Inc FollowBERLIN, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) will build a 25,000-euro ($26,837.50) car at its factory near Berlin, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Monday, in a long-awaited development for the electric vehicle maker which is aiming for mass uptake of its cars. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk visited the plant in Gruenheide, near Berlin, on Friday, after attending an artificial intelligence summit in England. The CEO thanked staff at the plant for their hard work, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. At the same meeting, he also informed staff of plans to build the 25,000-euro vehicle there, the source said.

Persons: Annegret, Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk, Victoria Waldersee, Rachel More Organizations: REUTERS, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gruenheide, Berlin, Germany, England

A worker cleans a BMW i7 xDrive60 elecric car while it is charging at a BMW dealership in Sandton, South Africa, October 27, 2023. "We have no interest in sinking prices to gain market share. In a statement, BMW made no mention of high interest rates or inflation weighing on growth, in contrast to competitors such as Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) and Porsche (P911_p.DE). Fully electric sales hit 15.1% of total sales in the third quarter, outstripping BMW's end-year target of 15%. Models from the upper price segment, like the 7 Series, the updated BMW X7, and the BMW X5 and BMW X6 models, are also driving sales growth.

Persons: Siphiwe, Oliver Zipse, That's, Walter Mertl, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Elaine Hardcastle, Mark Potter Organizations: BMW, REUTERS, JV, LSEG, Mercedes, Benz, Porsche, BMW X5, Thomson Locations: Sandton, South Africa, BERLIN, China

☆ Porsche to integrate Google Maps, Assistance into future cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Porsche logo is seen on a vehicle displayed during an event a day ahead of the official opening of the 2023 Munich Auto Show IAA Mobility, in Munich, Germany, September 4, 2023. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Porsche (P911_p.DE) will integrate Google Maps, Google Assistance and other apps from Google Play (GOOGL.O) into its future cars, it said on Monday. Porsche said in January it was considering fully integrating Google software into its car cockpit, following the end of its cooperation with Volkswagen's Cariad unit on software research and development. Carmakers including General Motors, Renault, Nissan and Ford use embedded Google technology in their vehicles via a Google Automotive Services (GAS) package, offering features like Google Maps, Google Assistant and other applications. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; editing by Matthias WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Angelika Warmuth, Porsche, Volkswagen's, Victoria Waldersee, Matthias Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Porsche, Google, General Motors, Renault, Nissan, Ford, Google Automotive Services, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany

☆ Volkswagen says commodity markets still uncertain after Q3 hedge hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Volkswagen AG FollowBERLIN, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Europe's largest automaker Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) on Thursday warned the outlook for commodity markets remained uncertain after confirming it took a major hit to its third-quarter profit from raw materials hedges. Like many other industrial firms, automakers hedge against commodity price swings, potentially leading to non-cash gains or losses, usually at the end of each quarter. This led to a 2.5 billion euro ($2.64 billion) non-cash loss in the third quarter that it will be unable to offset by the end of the year. "The further development of the commodity markets remains unpredictable," Volkswagen said. Volkswagen on Thursday confirmed it posted 78.8 billion euros in third-quarter sales and a 14% rise in operating profit to 4.9 billion euros.

Persons: Angelika Warmuth, Arno Antlitz, Victoria Waldersee, Nick Carey, Rachel More, Jamie Freed Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, BERLIN, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany

The company on Thursday reported a 12.4% adjusted return on sales in its cars division in the third quarter. Mercedes-Benz described the market environment as "subdued", but Wilhelm said "we are beyond the worst" when it comes to inflation and energy pricing. Mercedes-Benz earlier this month reported a 4% drop in overall third-quarter sales, with top-end sales down 11%, partly caused by model changeovers and a shortage in 48-volt systems supplied by Bosch. Car revenue dipped 3.8% due to the fall in deliveries, but the average selling price remained stable, the company said. ($1 = 0.9485 euros)Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Rachel More, Jacqueline Wong and Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Issei Kato, BEV, Harald Wilhelm, Wilhelm, Mercedes, Tesla, Victoria Waldersee, Rachel More, Jacqueline Wong, Jan Harvey Organizations: Mercedes, Benz, Japan, REUTERS, EV, BMW, VW, Ford, Porsche, Bosch, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, BERLIN, Germany, United States, China, stoke

☆ Porsche confirms outlook on strong sales in North America, Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A Porsche Mission X is displayed during an event a day ahead of the official opening of the 2023 Munich Auto Show IAA Mobility, in Munich, Germany, September 4, 2023. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Porsche AG (P911_p.DE) reported nine-month results in line with its annual forecast on Wednesday as strong demand in North America and Europe compensated for lower China sales. The luxury carmaker reported an 18.3% return on sales with operating profit up 9% to 5.5 billion euros ($5.83 billion), even as it faced added costs of preparing for four upcoming product launches next year. Its 2023 forecast expects a 17-19% return on sales of 40 to 42 billion euros, betting on the resilience of luxury demand even amid high inflation and an uncertain global economy. ($1 = 0.9436 euros)Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Editing by Friederike Heine and Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Angelika Warmuth, Victoria Waldersee, Friederike Heine, Miranda Murray Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Porsche AG, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, North America, Europe, China

Expectations for persistently higher interest rates has led companies to alter plans as they eye 2024 warily. "EV demand next year could be lower than expectations," Lee Chang-sil, chief financial officer at South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) said on Wednesday, due to global economic uncertainty. GM on Tuesday said it would focus near-term EV efforts on meeting demand rather than hitting specific volume targets. If interest rates remain high or if they go even higher, it's that much harder for people to buy the car." Like many other industrial firms, carmakers hedge against commodity price swings, and with EV demand slowing, raw material prices have softened, including those used heavily in batteries.

Persons: Tesla, Aly, Lee Chang, Mary Barra, Elon Musk, Nidec, China's CATL, Ben Klayman, David Gaffen, Eric Onstad, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Honda, EV, sil, South, LG Energy, General Motors, GM, Investors, Tech, Cox Automotive, European Union, Volkswagen, Fastmarkets, CME, U.S, Ford, EVs, Victoria Waldersee, Thomson Locations: Tesla China, Shanghai, China, KS, United States, Mexico, Detroit, New York, London, Berlin

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