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☆ China Tightens Its Chokehold on Graphite Needed for EV Batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Wenxin Fan | Sha Hua | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Graphite has uses in strategic markets ranging from energy storage to nuclear power. Photo: FABIAN BIMMER/REUTERSHONG KONG—China is strengthening restrictions on exports of graphite, a key mineral needed for the production of electric-vehicle batteries and fuel cells, the latest move in an intensifying global tussle over the building blocks of critical technologies. Citing national-security concerns, China’s Commerce Ministry said Friday that exports of several categories of natural and synthetic graphite materials would require permits under a system used to control trade in items with dual civilian and military uses starting Dec. 1.

Persons: FABIAN BIMMER Organizations: REUTERS, China’s Commerce Locations: REUTERS HONG KONG — China

☆ Ukraine lures Western weapons makers to transform defence industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Olena Harmash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Ukraine is in such a phase of the defence marathon when it is very important, critical to go forward without retreating. Results from the frontline are needed daily," Zelenskiy told executives representing more than 250 Western weapons producers. Executives from weapons producers from over 30 countries attended the forum. Ukrainian officials see the development of domestic defence production as a boost to the economy, which has shrunk by about a third last year due to the war. Several leading Western producers like Germany's weapon production giant Rheinmetall and Britain-based BAE Systems have already announced plans to team up with Ukrainian producers.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Olena Harmash, William Maclean Organizations: Puma, Rheinmetall, REUTERS, Rights, BAE Systems, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Thomson Locations: Unterluess, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Britain, Czech, Turkish

☆ German inflation falls to lowest level since start of Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Sept 28 (Reuters) - German inflation fell in September to its lowest level since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, signalling what could be the beginning of the end for the high inflation that has weighed heavily on Europe's largest economy. Germany's core inflation rate, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, fell to 4.6% year-on-year from 5.5% in August. Meanwhile, five economic institutes predict Germany's economy will shrink by 0.6% this year, as rising interest rates take their toll on investment and still high inflation depresses consumption. The ECB is keeping a close eye on euro zone inflation data, with September's reading due to be published on Friday. Spain earlier reported a 3.2% harmonised inflation rate for September.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Ralph Solveen, ING's Carsten Brzeski, Brzeski, Maria Martinez, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine, Kirsten Donovan, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, Reuters, ECB, Central, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Russia, Ukraine, Spain

☆ Q+A What is known about the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Nerijus Adomaitis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

This is what we know so far:WHAT ARE NORD STREAM PIPELINES? The multibillion-dollar infrastructure project was built by Russia's Gazprom (GAZP.MM) in two stages - Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. Gazprom owns 51% of Nord Stream 1, while Germany's E.ON (EONGn.DE) and Wintershall Dea (WINT.UL) have 15.5% each, while French Engie (ENGIE.PA) and Dutch Gasunie (GSUNI.UL) hold 9% each in Nord Stream 1. Nord Stream 2, fully owned by Gazprom and operated by Nord Stream 2 AG, was completed in September 2021 at a cost of $11 billion, but was never put into operation because Germany had cancelled Nord Stream 2's certification days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The Nord Stream pipelines have been a flashpoint in an energy dispute between Europe and Moscow since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Pipes, Fabian Bimmer, Wintershall, OMV, Peter Frank, Die, Seymour Hersh, Mats Ljungqvist, Der Spiegel, Der Siegel, BfV, Nerijus Adomaitis, Christoph Steitz, Nina Chestney, Ros Russell Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Gazprom, Nord, E.ON, Shell, . Security, WHO, Washington Post, Die Welt, . Security Council, Reuters, Street, ZDF, Kyiv, CIA, NDR, WDR, German Federal Intelligence Service, Thomson Locations: Baltic, Mukran, Germany, Rights OSLO, Russia, Swedish, Bornholm, Sweden, Denmark, Nord, Ukraine, Uniper, Washington, NATO, Moscow, Kaliningrad, Russian, Britain ., U.S, Norway, China, Brazil, Rostock, Wiek, Rugen, Danish, Christianso, Kolobrzeg, Poland, Europe, United States, Oslo, Frankfurt

☆ German export sentiment drops to three-year low - Ifo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

In its fifth consecutive month of decline, the institute's export expectations indicator fell to minus 11.3 points in September, from minus 6.5 points in August. "Germany's export economy is going through a weak phase," Klaus Wohlrabe, head of surveys at Ifo, said. "It's likely that export demand won't pick up again significantly until next year," he added. Wohlrabe said higher interest rates were dampening demand for German goods. Last month's hopes for growth in the German chemical industry did not materialize in September, according to the survey.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Klaus Wohlrabe, Wohlrabe, Amir Orusov, Rene Wagner, Rachel More Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Bremerhaven, Germany, Ifo

Pipes for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, which are not used, are seen in the harbour of Mukran, Germany, on September 30, 2022. Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Nord Stream 1 pipeline had accounted for 15% of Europe's gas imports in 2021, according to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. A second Nord Stream 2 link was planned but never operated. "Our biggest risk was that Russia can manipulate our energy markets," EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told Reuters. Across the EU, gas storage caverns are now 95% full, Gas Infrastructure Europe data show.

Persons: Pipes, Fabian Bimmer, Kadri Simson, SEB, Ole Hvalbye, Tom Marzec, Wood Mackenzie, Gergely Molnar, Jacob Mandel, Kate Abnett, Julia Payne, Nora Buli, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Reuters Graphics, EU Energy, Reuters, EU, SEB Commodities, Gas Infrastructure, International Energy Agency, Aurora Energy Research, Thomson Locations: Baltic, Mukran, Germany, Russia, BRUSSELS, OSLO, Europe, Ukraine, RUSSIA, Norway, United States, Russian, Greece, Poland, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, France, Reuters Graphics Germany, Belgium, Britain, Portugal, Spain, Paris, Brussels, Oslo

☆ Germany's Scholz targets green jet fuel role, Airbus investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Transport Minister Volker Wissing attend the third national aviation conference at Lufthansa Technik, in Hamburg, Germany, September 25, 2023. Airbus (AIR.PA) is considering joining the consortium to use the fuel, HH2E said. Scholz also said Germany was targeting investment for a potential new plane to replace the Airbus single-aisle A320. "We would like to see further investment in aviation - not just in Hamburg, but throughout Germany, as part of the successor to the Airbus A320," he said. In July, Airbus expanded production of the same series in Toulouse, France, to meet rising demand.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Volker Wissing, Fabian Bimmer, HH2E, Scholz, Carsten Spohr, planemaker, Andreas Rinke, Tim Hepher, Rachel More, Friederike Heine, Barbara Lewis, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Lufthansa Technik, REUTERS, Rights, Airbus, DHL, National Aviation Conference, EU, Industry, Lufthansa, SAF, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Germany, Europe, France, German, Toulouse

☆ Nikola expands dealer network into Canada for its electric trucks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Nikola Corp FollowSept 15 (Reuters) - Nikola (NKLA.O) said on Friday it would expand its dealer network into Canada for heavy-duty truck sales in a partnership with trailer manufacturer ITD Industries, sending the electric-truck maker's shares up 5% in morning trading. Nikola, which makes battery electric and fuel cell electric Class 8 trucks, has been facing issues, including two fires within a week in September involving its vehicles. Earlier in August, the company said it was recalling all the battery-powered electric trucks that it had delivered till date after an investigation revealed coolant leaks inside a battery pack. Nikola's CEO Steve Girsky, however, told investors on Wednesday that the battery electric truck recall would not affect the production or deliveries of its fuel cell electric vehicles since they use a different battery pack from a different supplier. The company plans to begin deliveries of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in late September and early October, he added.

Persons: Nikola, Fabian Bimmer, NKLA.O, Steve Girsky, Zaheer Kachwala, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: IAA Transportation, REUTERS, Nikola, ITD Industries, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany, Canada, Bengaluru

Containers are seen at a terminal in the port of Hamburg, Germany November 14, 2019. Under a deal between MSC and the city of Hamburg, MSC will make a cash offer of 16.75 euros ($17.99) per share to acquire all listed class A stock in HHLA. The city of Hamburg, which owns 69% of HHLA's A shares and all of its unlisted S-shares, would retain control of Hamburg port with a 50.1% stake via the S-shares. A source familiar with the deal gave an enterprise value of 2.6 billion euros, including 1.4 billion euros in debt. HHLA said its management board would review the MSC offer.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Klaus, Michael Kuehne, Lloyd, Kuehne, Marc Zeck, Stifel, Nikolas Mauder, Kepler Cheuvreux, HHLA, Andrey Sychev, Sabine Wollrab, Rachel More, Emelia Sithole, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Kuehne, Reuters, MSC, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Germany, BERLIN, Hapag, HHLA, Germany's, Gdansk, Frankfurt

Containers are seen at a terminal in the port of Hamburg, Germany November 14, 2019. Under the deal between Switzerland-based MSC and the city of Hamburg, MSC will make a cash offer of 16.75 euros ($17.99) per share to acquire all listed class A stock in HHLA. The city of Hamburg, which currently owns 69% of HHLA's A shares and all of its unlisted S-shares, would retain control of Hamburg port with a 50.1% stake via the S-shares. A source familiar with the deal gave an enterprise value of 2.6 billion euros, including 1.4 billion euros in debt. HHLA said its management board would review MSC offer.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Klaus, Michael Kuehne, Hapag, Lloyd, Marc Zeck, Nikolas Mauder, Kepler Cheuvreux, Robert Habeck, HHLA, Andrey Sychev, Sabine Wollrab, Rachel More, Jason Neely, Mark Potter, Emelia Organizations: REUTERS, MSC, Reuters, Belgian, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Germany, BERLIN, Switzerland, HHLA, Germany's, Swiss, China, Berlin, Gdansk, Frankfurt

Germany, Italy and the Netherlands all reported sharp reductions in gas consumption in June and July compared with the pre-invasion average. Most energy-intensive industrial users require uninterrupted supplies, buy gas on contracts linked to longer-term averages, and hedge their costs forward to lock in profit margins. Prices for gas to be delivered throughout 2024 are still double the inflation-adjusted average for the five years between 2017 and 2021. But the region has paid a high price in terms of reduced manufacturing activity, which could lead to permanent deindustrialisation unless gas prices are reduced significantly within the next couple of years. Related columns:- Europe’s gas storage must peak early this autumn (September 8, 2023)- High prices keep lid on Europe's industrial gas use (July 11, 2023)- Europe’s gas storage space is filling too fast (July 6, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, TJ, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Eurostat, TJ, Energy, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Netherlands, Germany, Embsen, Ukraine, Italy, Europe, Australia

☆ Nikola semi-truck catches fire in second incident in a week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Nikola Corp FollowSept 8 (Reuters) - A Nikola (NKLA.O) electric semi-truck caught fire near the company's Phoenix headquarters in Arizona, it said on Friday, the second such incident this week involving the firm's vehicle. Earlier this week, another of its Tre battery-electric truck caught fire in Tempe, Arizona, which affected one battery pack. The company had suspected foul play when it started an investigation in June after trucks at its headquarters caught fire. However, last month Nikola cited a coolant leak inside a battery pack as the cause following the investigation. A total of 209 battery-powered electric trucks were in the marketplace between dealers and customers at the time of the recall.

Persons: Nikola, Fabian Bimmer, Akash Sriram, Sriraj Organizations: IAA Transportation, REUTERS, Nikola, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany, Arizona, Tempe , Arizona, Bengaluru

☆ German industrial output falls more than expected in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Continental employee works at a tyre retreating station before the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Hanover, Germany April 17, 2023. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Sept 7 (Reuters) - German industrial production fell by slightly more than expected in July, the federal statistics office said on Thursday, underlining the challenges faced by the sector after a winter downturn in Europe's largest economy. Production fell by 0.8% in July compared to the previous month. In the less volatile three-month comparison, production between May and July was 1.9% lower than the previous three months, the data showed. Jens-Oliver Niklasch of LBBW said Thursday's data underscored "the continued crumbling of the economy" and predicted the third quarter would bring a decline in economic output.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Fabian Bimmer, Alexander Krueger, Hauck Aushaeuser Lampe, Jens, Oliver Niklasch, LBBW, Friederike Heine, Maria Sheahan, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany

☆ Cummins, Daimler, PACCAR form joint venture for US battery cell production
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - Accelera, a zero-emissions business unit of Cummins (CMI.N), Daimler Trucks & Buses US Holding and PACCAR (PCAR.O) said on Wednesday they formed a joint venture to advance battery cell production in the United States. Daimler Truck, Accelera and PACCAR will each own 30% of the joint venture, which will initially focus on LFP battery technology family for commercial battery-electric trucks. "This planned joint venture enables economies of scale beyond Daimler Truck," said Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck. LFP battery-cell maker EVE Energy (300014.SZ) will also serve as the technology partner in the joint venture with a 10% ownership. LFP battery cells were developed in the United States, but Chinese companies such as BYD (002594.SZ) and CATL (300750.SZ) currently dominate global production.

Persons: Daimler, Fabian Bimmer, Martin Daum, Nathan Gomes, Krishna Chandra Organizations: IAA Transportation, REUTERS, Cummins, Daimler Trucks, Toyota, Ford Motor, Hyundai, Daimler, EVE Energy, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany, United States, Bengaluru

☆ Continental considering sale of ContiTech's car division - manager magazin
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The name of German tire maker Continental is pictured on a wheel at the IAA truck show in Hanover, September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Continental AG FollowContiTech AG FollowBERLIN, Aug 21 (Reuters) - German auto parts supplier Continental (CONG.DE) is considering the sale of the car division bundled within ContiTech, manager magazin reported on Monday, citing company sources. Supervisory board chairman Wolfgang Reitzle and the executive board around chief executive Nikolai Setzer are considering a reorganization of the corporation, the business publication added, citing the sources. As part of the reorganization, ContiTech's car division, which specializes in belts and sealing systems, will be put up for sale first, said the report. Philip Nelles, who is in charge of the ContiTech division, told Reuters in February that the company's activities in the car sector would be bundled into their own unit with a stronger focus on electromobility.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Wolfgang Reitzle, Nikolai Setzer, Philip Nelles, Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray, Rachel More Organizations: IAA, REUTERS, Continental, BERLIN, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hanover

☆ Continental considers sell-off of ContiTech car business - manager magazin
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The name of German tire maker Continental is pictured on a wheel at the IAA truck show in Hanover, September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Continental AG FollowContiTech AG FollowBERLIN, Aug 21 (Reuters) - German auto parts supplier Continental (CONG.DE) is considering the sale of the car division currently bundled within ContiTech, manager magazin reported on Monday, citing company sources. According to manager magazin, that unit - specialised in belts and sealing systems with a turnover of more than 2 billion euros - is due to be separated from the business within two years. The highly profitable tyres business and non-automotive part of ContiTech will be retained as the future core, it said, quoting an unnamed top manager who warned of the threat of a workforce rift if the tyres business continued financing the cars business. The company said in May that ContiTech would be realigned with the aim of enhancing its impact and efficiency, without providing further details.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Wolfgang Reitzle, Nikolai Setzer, ContiTech, Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray, Rachel More, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: IAA, REUTERS, Continental, BERLIN, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific

☆ Daimler Truck starts search for new CFO after sudden death
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Members of the media stand beside an electric driven Actros truck at the booth of German truckmaker Daimler Truck at the IAA Transportation fair, which will open its doors to the public on September 20, 2022, in Hanover, Germany, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian BimmerBERLIN, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Daimler Truck (DTGGe.DE) on Monday said that management board chairman Martin Daum would take over as chief financial officer on an interim basis after the sudden death of Jochen Goetz. The company added that the search for a new CFO had been initiated by the supervisory board. Daimler Truck had announced earlier this month that Goetz died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 52. Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Rachel MoreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daimler, Fabian Bimmer BERLIN, Martin Daum, Jochen Goetz, Goetz, Miranda Murray, Rachel More Organizations: IAA Transportation, REUTERS, Daimler, Daimler Truck, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany

☆ Nikola recalls all battery-electric trucks, halts sales after fire probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Mrinmay Dey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Logo of U.S. truckmaker Nikola is pictured at the IAA Transportation fair in Hanover, Germany, September 19, 2022. The company had said it suspected foul play when it started an investigation in June after trucks at its Phoenix, Arizona, headquarters caught fire. Struggling with supply chain bottlenecks and weaker demand, Nikola decided to make battery electric trucks only to order and focus on hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Nikola on Aug. 4 appointed Chairman Stephen Girsky, a former General Motors executive, as its chief executive, its fourth in four years. On Friday, Nikola asked customers and dealers of its Tre battery electric trucks to take certain immediate safety measures, including considering parking them outside.

Persons: Nikola, Fabian Bimmer, NKLA.O, Stephen Girsky, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Mrinmay Dey, Abhirup Roy, Sandra Maler, William Mallard, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: IAA Transportation, REUTERS, Reuters, General Motors, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany, Phoenix , Arizona, Bengaluru, San Francisco

☆ Nikola recalls 209 Class 8 battery-electric trucks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Logo of U.S. truckmaker Nikola is pictured at the IAA Transportation fair in Hanover, Germany, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File PhotoCompanies Nikola Corp FollowAug 11 (Reuters) - Nikola (NKLA.O) on Friday said it is recalling about 209 of its Class 8 Tre battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) as a precautionary measure. Nikola is currently in the process of filing this voluntary recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is placing a temporary hold on new BEV sales until a resolution is in place, the company said. The company said in a statement that a third-party investigator had found a coolant leak inside a single battery pack to be the probable cause of a truck fire at the company's headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 23, 2023. Reporting by Shubhendu Deshmukh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nikola, Fabian Bimmer, BEV, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Sandra Maler Organizations: IAA Transportation, REUTERS, Companies Nikola, National, Traffic Safety Administration, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany, Phoenix , Arizona, Bengaluru

The findings come as support for Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his coalition slumps and the AfD capitalises on voter insecurity. German inflation has been on a downward trend, but is still much higher than the European Union's 2% target. Low and middle income households have been generally hit harder by inflation, Florian Dorn, a researcher at Ifo told Reuters. Although higher energy import prices initially drove inflation in Europe and Germany, companies were also putting up prices beyond their cost inflation, WSI analysis showed. Companies' profit inflation rose by 7% in 2022 compared to an only 3.3% rise in labour costs.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Florian Dorn, Ulrich Schneider, Der, Riham, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: REUTERS, Kantar Public, Ifo, Reuters, Workers, Companies, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Europe's, Europe

☆ Continental bets on higher pricing as tyre replacement flat
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Logo of German tyre company Continental is pictured before the annual news conference in Hanover, Germany, March 9, 2021. The autos supplier expects sales of 14-15 billion euros ($31.82 billion) in the tyres segment from 14.5-15.5 billion previously, citing a declining market for tyre replacement in Europe and North America. But the rise in costs on wages, salaries, logistics, energy and materials would be lower than previously forecast at 1.4 billion euros from 1.7 billion. It was negotiating inflation-related price increases with customers for the second quarter, it added. Preliminary figures showed global passenger car and light commercial vehicle production grew by around 16% in the second quarter compared to last year, it added.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Victoria Waldersee, Friederike Heine, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Continental, REUTERS, Fabian Bimmer Companies, BERLIN, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany, Europe, North America

☆ Daimler Truck CFO Jochen Goetz dies in 'tragic accident'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Daimler AG sign is pictured at the IAA truck show in Hanover, Germany, September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo/File Photo/File PhotoFRANKFURT, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Daimler Truck's (DTGGe.DE) Chief Financial Officer Jochen Goetz has died in a "tragic accident," the company said on Sunday. Goetz spent his entire professional career, spanning more than 36 years, in the Daimler Group, and was largely responsible for the successful spin-off of Daimler Truck Holding from what is now the Mercedes-Benz Group (MBGn.DE) in December 2021. "He played a key role in shaping today's Daimler Truck company and, as CFO, consistently worked to ensure that the company is now more economically successful than ever before," Chief Executive Martin Daum said. The company statement said Goetz had been distinguished by "his high level of professionalism as well as his positive, hands-on manner".

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Jochen Goetz, Goetz, Martin Daum, Joe Kaeser, Vera Eckert, Andrew Cawthorne, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Daimler, IAA, REUTERS, Daimler Group, Daimler Truck Holding, Mercedes, Benz Group, Siemens, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany

☆ Analysis: China's importance to German exporters on the wane
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China's emergence as a market economy in the 2000s provided a massive boost to German companies and has proved a big contributor to the overall health of the German economy since. That China is increasingly able to produce goods it previously bought from Germany is weighing on German exports, Brzeski noted. However, the dependence of many companies on the Chinese market will no longer be so visible in export figures, but in their balance sheets," Stamer said. For example, many German carmakers are increasingly producing locally for the Chinese market. Weaker demand from China has had a strong impact on the German manufacturing sector.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Joerg Kraemer, Carsten Brzeski, Brzeski, Vincent Stamer, Stamer, Rene Wagner, Maria Martinez, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, ING, Reuters Graphics Germany, Kiel Institute, PMI, Thomson Locations: Bremerhaven, Germany, China, BERLIN, Berlin, Beijing, U.S, United States

☆ Maersk has ways to grow again despite headwinds
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Container ship "Evelyn Maersk" is loaded during snowfall at a container terminal in a harbour amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Hamburg, Germany, April 6, 2021. Arch rival and privately-owned Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is deploying cash reserves on acquisitions to diversify away from container shipping. Maersk also needs to strengthen its logistics and services unit, where organic revenue fell 19%, dragged down by lower retail demand, particularly in North America. Last year's purchases of Pilot and LF Logistics helped prop up the division, but Maersk needs to invest more. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Evelyn Maersk, Fabian Bimmer, A.P, Moller, Boss Vincent Clerc, EBITDA, Clerc, Pamela Barbaglia, Pierre Briancon, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Fabian Bimmer LONDON, Reuters, Maersk, Walmart, Nike, Unilever, CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company, LF Logistics, Twitter, Adidas, InBev, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Germany, North America

☆ Nikola gets required shareholder votes for share increase proposal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fabian BimmerAug 3 (Reuters) - Electric truck maker Nikola Corp (NKLA.O) said on Thursday it had garnered enough support for a proposal to increase the number of shares it can issue, opening the doors to much-needed capital. To reduce cash burn, Nikola announced layoffs in June and liquidated assets of a recently acquired EV battery maker. But investors have been closely scrutinizing cash reserves at Nikola and other electric-vehicle makers worried about more share disposals to raise funds diluting their stakes. Opposing the vote vocally was Nikola's founder and top shareholder Trevor Milton, who has also called for a change in leadership. Shares of Nikola, which have soared nearly 60% this year to Thursday's close, fell 3.7% in after-hours trading.

Persons: Nikola, Fabian Bimmer, Nikola Corp, Michael Lohscheller, Trevor Milton, Milton, Thursday's, Abhirup Roy, Gerry Doyle, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: IAA Transportation, REUTERS, Nikola, EV, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Germany, San Francisco

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