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☆ How the Azores islands went from whale hunting to whale watching
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Anne Pinto | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Soon, factories processing whale oil, meat and bones sprung up on the islands. After crude oil was discovered in 1859, the demand for whale oil decreased dramatically in the following decades. In 1990, French national Serge Viallele set up the first whale watching company in the archipelago, on Pico island. The number of whale watching boats is strictly limited by a license system, which issues a maximum number per island – or per zone for the smaller islands. For now, whale watching remains a major draw for visitors to the islands.

Persons: ”, Rui de Souza Martins, Azorean, they’d, De Agostini, –, – didn’t, José Carlos Garcia, São Miguel, Pedro Madruga, wasn’t, Francois Gohier, Serge Viallele, “ Viallele, Miguel Cravinho, Francisco Garcia, ” de Souza Martins, you’ll, Martin Zwick, Jean, Michel Cousteau, Luís Silva, Garcia, “ Organizations: CNN, University of, Whaling, Whalers, Netflix, International Whaling Commission, IWC, Azul, World Cetacean Alliance, Centre for Research Locations: Azores, Lisbon, Azoreans, Portugal, United States, Nantucket and New Bedford , Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Pico, Francois, Terra Azul, Miguel, Europe

☆ Volkswagen, Umicore venture picks Poland for first car battery parts plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Volkswagen vehicle is parked during a news conference to announce details on the construction of a gigafactory for electric vehicle battery production by Volkswagen Group's battery company PowerCo SE in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada April 21, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 7 (Reuters) - The auto battery parts joint venture between Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) PowerCo and Belgian materials firm Umicore (UMI.BR) has chosen Poland as the site for its first factory, PowerCo said on Saturday. Ionway wants to build up its annual production capacity by the end of the decade to around 160 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year - enough for 2.2 million electric vehicles. Ionway is intended to supply PowerCo's European battery cell factories with key battery materials and to cover a large portion of PowerCo's needs in the European Union. In return, Umicore receives secured access to an important part of Europe's demand for cathode materials for electric vehicles.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, PowerCo, Ionway, Umicore, Sabine Wollrab, Sarah Marsh, David Holmes 私 Organizations: Volkswagen, Volkswagen Group's, REUTERS, Rights, VW, European Union Locations: St, Thomas , Ontario, Canada, Volkswagen's, Poland, Nysa, Ontario

☆ Tesla's new, cheaper Model Y is one of the best deals you can get on an EV right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tesla launched a new, cheaper version of its popular Model Y SUV. The rear-wheel-drive Model Y costs $43,990. Elon Musk's carmaker quietly launched a new base model of its popular Model Y SUV — and it's instantly one of the best deals on the US electric-vehicle market. A new rear-wheel-drive Model Y appeared on Tesla's website on Monday with a price of $43,990. The next cheapest Model Y costs $50,490.

Persons: Tesla, —, Elon Musk's carmaker, it's, Kelley, Bolt, Kia Niro, Kia haven't Organizations: Service, Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan, RWD, Kia, Hyundai Kona EV, VW, Hyundai

☆ Volkswagen's Trinity model to be built in Zwickau, Handelsblatt reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Buzz, a fresh take on the iconic vehicle of the Volkswagen brand, during its world premiere in Paris, France, March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Volkswagen AG FollowSept 29 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) plans to build its Trinity electric vehicles (EV) at its factory in Zwickau, the German daily Handelsblatt reported on Friday, citing several company sources. The decision on the location for the prestige EV will be discussed at the Volkswagen supervisory board meeting on Friday, Handelsblatt reported. A spokesperson for the German carmaker declined to comment on the report. The Trinity electric car, which is to be based on the new SSP platform, was supposed to be launched in 2026.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Handelsblatt, Oliver Blume, Christina Amann, Amir Orusov, Miranda Murray, Rachel More Organizations: VW, Volkswagen, REUTERS, Trinity, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Zwickau, Wolfsburg

☆ The world needs cheap electric cars. That spells trouble for Big Auto
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The world needs affordable EVs more than ever as electric cars will play a big role in hcelping countries cut planet-heating pollution. “When legacy [carmakers] talk about catching up to Tesla or catching up to the leading Chinese automakers, it’s difficult. It is by far the world’s biggest EV battery manufacturer and dominant in the supply and processing of many critical components needed to make the batteries. Global automakers have had little choice but to enter into joint ventures with Chinese EV and battery manufacturers. EU lawmakers have voiced concerns that government subsidies allow Chinese EV makers to keep prices artificially low, creating unfair competition for European rivals.

Persons: Henry Ford’s, carmaking, Jeff Kowalsky, ”, Gene Munster, Tesla, — Tesla, —, Patrick Hummel, Krisztian Bocsi, Ford, “ It’s, ” Dan Ives, Bill Pugliano, Daniel Röska, Bernstein, China …, Marco Rubio, “ They’re, Bill Ford, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Organizations: London CNN —, Ford Motor Company, Toyota, Volkswagen, United, Getty, Deepwater Asset Management, Volkswagen Group, Audi, Porsche, Chrysler, Jeep, Ford, General Motors, International Energy Agency, Honda, Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Kia, Benz, BMW —, Investment, UBS, EV, Atlas Public, VW, Bloomberg, Reuters, Twitter, Stellantis, Wedbush Securities, CNN, United Auto Workers, Refining, Global, Republican, European Union, EU, Jato Dynamics Locations: Europe, United States, Dearborn , Michigan, AFP, China, Japan, South Korea, Asia, US, Germany, ” Munster, Munster, Lansing , Michigan, Michigan, Beijing, America

☆ Volkswagen restarts production after suffering major IT outage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Christoph Steitz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen during the press day at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 17, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) on Thursday said that a major IT outage, which had caused most of its German plants to halt production, was resolved overnight and its global production network was up and running again. "The IT infrastructure problems in the Volkswagen network were resolved during the course of the night and the network is stable again," Volkswagen said, without providing details on the impact or cause of the incident. The global production network is up and running, and production is expected to proceed as planned," it said, adding individual systems may still be affected during a transitional phase. "We need safety systems here that work," Wissing told broadcaster RTL/n-tv.

Persons: Mike Blake, Volker Wissing, Wissing, Christoph Steitz, Miranda Murray, Kim Coghill, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Rights, VW, Volkswagen, Porsche AG, Audi, Toyota, RTL, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Wolfsburg, Emden, Osnabrueck, Hanover, Dresden, Zwickau, Braunschweig, Kassel, Chemnitz, Salzgitter

☆ Exclusive: China's Nio explores investment, tech alliances with Mercedes - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Nio, when contacted, denied it talked to Mercedes on a collaboration, calling it "untrue", without elaborating. Mercedes said in a separate response that there were no collaboration plans with Nio at the moment. Chinese EV companies may also be able to navigate potential trade barriers better by forging such tie-ups. Nio, whose investors include Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings (0700.HK), has publicly called for more such tie-ups with established automakers. ($1 = 7.3127 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Additional reporting by Ilona Wissenbach in Frankfurt; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Li, Ola Kaellenius, Nio, Mercedes, Leapmotor, Elon Musk, Tesla, Nio's Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Ilona Wissenbach, Muralikumar Organizations: HK, Mercedes, Benz, Nio, EV, Volkswagen, SAIC, Audi, VW's, Tencent Holdings, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Tesla, Frankfurt

☆ EU trade chief says the outcome of China EV probe cannot be prejudged
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

About two weeks ago, the European Commission announced an investigation into government subsidies for EV makers in China. watch nowChina's electric car exports have surged in recent months. Homegrown Chinese electric car companies Nio , Xpeng and BYD are among those that have started to expand to Europe, but in relatively small numbers so far. More than two-thirds of China's electric car exports to Europe were from Tesla and other international brands manufacturing in China, according to HSBC. China's Ministry of Commerce was quick to criticize the EU investigation and called it a "blatantly protectionist act" that would distort the global auto industry.

Persons: Dombrovskis, Cui Dongshu, Wan Gang Organizations: BEIJING —, European, European Commission, EV, EU, World Trade Organization, Moody's, HSBC, Volkswagen, VW, China's Ministry of Commerce, China Passenger Car Association, Audi, Wan, Science, Technology, Ministry of Finance Locations: BEIJING, BEIJING — Europe, China, Beijing, Europe

☆ The UAW strike and the inexorable math of electric vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

EVs have fewer parts than gas-powered vehicles. This means fewer jobs in the industry. That means fewer jobs because EVs are much simpler and therefore easier to assemble. Higgins wrote a book about Tesla, called Power Play, that expertly explains how the company developed a more efficient vehicle manufacturing process. The Tesla Giga Press is a giant machine that uses aluminum die casting to make much larger vehicle parts.

Persons: Stellantis, Tesla, I've, Jim Farley, Carl Court, Elon Musk, Tim Higgins, Higgins Organizations: GM, Ford, EV, Service, Bloomberg, Congressional Research Service, Labor, Auto, Financial Times, UAW, Street, Tesla, Shanghai, Giga, Tesla Giga Press, Toyota, Hyundai, Reuters Locations: Wall, Silicon, Dagenham , England

☆ EU to investigate 'flood' of Chinese electric cars, weighing tariffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"Global markets are now flooded with cheaper electric cars. It is also unusual in that it is brought by the European Commission itself, rather than in response to an industry complaint. GRINDING GEARSThe influx of cheaper Chinese electric vehicles has already prompted some European carmakers to take action. At the same time Von der Leyen stressed the importance of electric vehicles to the EU's ambitious environmental objectives. The founder of Nio warned in April that Chinese EV makers should brace for the possibility that foreign governments would impose protectionist policies.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, BYD, EVs, Nio, Mercedes Benz, Stellantis, France's, Tesla, VDA, Von der Leyen, Simone Tagliapietra, Kingsmill Bond, Foo Yun Chee, Philip Blenkinsop, Kim Miyoung, Brenda Goh, Anne Marie Roantree, Nick Carey, Kate Abnett, Gabriela Baczynska, Louise Heavens Organizations: EU, Investigation, European EV, European Commission, European Union, Renault, BMW, HK, China Passenger Car Association, Dynamics, Volvo, EV, VW, France's Renault, Japan, Rocky Mountain Institute, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, China, Moscow, Ukraine, Germany, France, Europe, U.S

☆ UBS loves these electric vehicle stocks — and says one offers China's 'answer to Tesla Model 3'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

UBS named electric vehicle stocks it likes in China and described one car as a "Chinese answer to Tesla Model 3." It enjoyed some edge not only over foreign incumbents, but also Chinese EV startups," UBS analysts led by Paul Gong wrote in a Sept. 1 research note. UBS described the Seal model as having a large interior space, with 5G connectivity and a rotating cockpit screen. "The result is a decent alternative to Tesla Model 3 at 10-20% lower selling price," the analysts wrote. Chinese EV stocks Alongside BYD, the bank is buy-rated on Great Wall Motor , which has several EV models.

Persons: BYD, Paul Gong, — CNBC's Michael Bloom, Ganesh Rao Organizations: UBS, Tesla, China EV, Hong, Toyota, BYD, Li, Amperex Technology, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, VW, Renault Locations: China, Europe, Hong Kong

☆ China's auto workers bear the brunt of price war as fallout widens
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Millions of auto workers and suppliers in China are feeling the heat as an electric vehicle price war forces carmakers to shave costs anywhere they can. State-run China Automotive News estimates there are over 100,000 auto suppliers in the country. Suppliers typically negotiate prices once a year, but many have been pressed to lower prices on a quarterly basis in 2023, two senior executives at auto suppliers said. And in June, a group of small suppliers wrote to state-owned Changan Automobile to push back against 10% price reductions. Three months later, he told Reuters that price cuts had been more aggressive in 2023 than in previous years.

Persons: Aly, Mike Chen, Chen, carmakers, Tesla, George Magnus, Elon Musk, Mike Chen's, Li Auto, Liu, Changan Automobile's, Chen Yudong, They've, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Kripa Jayaram, Marius Zaharia, David Clarke Organizations: SAIC Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai, SAIC, Volkswagen, VW, Oxford University's China, China Passenger Car Association, Tesla, GM, HK, Changan Automobile, Mitsubishi Motors, Toyota, Hyundai, China Automotive, Automobile, EV, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, China's, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hefei, Chongqing, Chery's, Qingdao

☆ China's Leapmotor looks to sell EV tech as it targets export growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"For us, to survive, we have to achieve at least 500,000 to 1 million units of annual sales globally. The top 10 automakers in the world all have annual sales of more than 4 million units. Leapmotor had sales of almost 111,000 EVs in China in 2022, up from just over 44,000 in 2021. With European automakers scrambling to take a larger share of an EV boom in China that has largely left them behind, several have been looking at or licensing EV technology developed in China. Reporting by Zhang Yan in Munich, writing by Kevin Krolicki; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Zhu Jiangming, Leonhard Simon, Leapmotor, ” Zhu, Xpeng, Zhu, Zhang Yan, Kevin Krolicki, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HK, Reuters, Volkswagen, Toyota, Audi, SAIC Motor Corp, VW, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, China, Europe, Australia, New Zealand

☆ 'Most at risk': UBS downgrades 2 major automakers over China EVs threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

UBS has downgraded both Volkswagen and Renault over mounting competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. 1 automaker, the company is at risk of being marginalized as Chinese companies, such as Warren Buffet-backed BYD , take market share. 1 automaker in Europe, Volkswagen also faces intensifying competition as higher numbers of cheaper Chinese electric vehicles are imported into the continent. With about 70% of sales in Europe and a 10% market share, the investment bank said Renault is highly exposed to competition from Chinese automakers and Tesla. We estimate Renault's European market share of c10% today will reduce towards 7% by 2030," said UBS analysts led by David Lesne in a separate note to clients.

Persons: Warren Buffet, Patrick Hummel, France's Renault, David Lesne, Benz, Tesla's EVs Organizations: UBS, Volkswagen, Renault, VW, Tesla, Benz, BMW, IAA Mobility, Mercedes Locations: Europe, Munich

☆ Chinese car companies are coming for Europe. VW and Mercedes should be nervous.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Chinese auto industry has been booming in recent years. Chinese EV companies are expected to outsell foreign brands there, including Ford, GM, and others, for the first time this year. This is worrying executives at some major legacy auto companies, according to several reports out of the Munich auto show. Consulting firm KPMG estimates Chinese companies could account for 15% of market share in Europe within just two years. Chinese EV companies also have an edge against rivals in producing EVs at bigger scale and lower costs, a crucial measure of any electric car companies' future success.

Persons: Hildegard Mueller, Oliver Zipse, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, BMW, Ford, GM, Service, EV, German Association of, Automotive Industry, KPMG Locations: Wall, Silicon, Europe, China, Munich, XPeng, Germany

☆ The Fed likely won’t raise rates this month — but November is another matter
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington, DC CNN —Last week’s economic data increasingly gave investors hope that the Federal Reserve could hold interest rates steady this month, following a hike in July that brought rates to their highest level in 22 years. It’s hard to say definitively if or when the central bank will hike interest rates again this year. The Fed could hold rates steady for the rest of the year if both the job market and the broader economy continue to slow, helping bring down inflation. Higher for longer means keeping interest rates elevated for a prolonged period. China’s National Bureau of Statistics releases August inflation data.

Persons: hasn’t, ” Leslie Thompson, Thompson, Jerome Powell, Powell, Susan Collins, Powell’s Jackson, there’s, Raphael Bostic, Olesya Dmitracova, ” Patrick Hummel, David Lesne, Juan Perez, Carrascosa, Barnes & Noble Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, DC CNN, Federal, Financial, Spectrum Wealth Management, CNN, Fed, Kansas City, Boston, Yahoo, Finance, Atlanta Fed, Volkswagen, Renault, UBS, French, Swiss, Barnes &, The Reserve Bank of Australia, US Commerce Department, Eagle, Express, P Global, Institute for Supply Management, Bank of Canada, US Labor Department, Kroger, China’s National Bureau of Statistics Locations: Washington, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, Cape Town , South Africa, Europe

☆ Where to Find a Deal on Mercedes and BMW
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Stephen Wilmot | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/mercedes-bmw-vw-stocks-german-car-companies-ba4e9a73

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: mercedes, bmw, vw

☆ Volkswagen, Renault shares hit by rare ‘sell’ rating as Chinese competition grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Shares in Europe’s largest carmaker Volkswagen and its French rival Renault dropped sharply Friday after UBS analysts recommended investors dump the stocks, citing the growing threat to their business from Chinese competitors. Volkswagen was down 4.4% in late afternoon trade in Europe and Renault 5.6% lower, while the benchmark STOXX Europe 600 index was flat. China is the biggest single market for Volkswagen but its sales there have been declining in the face of pressure from local competitors. In their note, the UBS analysts highlighted the threat to the carmaker from “highly competitive” Chinese EVs. Volkswagen, Renault and other global players have been teaming up with Chinese companies, too.

Persons: ” Patrick Hummel, David Lesne, Juan Perez, Carrascosa, BYD, Warren Buffett, ”, “, —, Geely Organizations: London CNN —, Volkswagen, French, Renault, UBS, Swiss, “ Renault, China Passenger Car Association . Vehicles Locations: Europe, China

Mercedes will also offer a lithium-iron-phosphate, or LFP, battery in the new CLA model lineup due to hit showrooms in early 2025, a first for any Mercedes EV, the CEO said in an interview. Mercedes will preview the future electric CLA with a prototype to be unveiled at the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany on Sunday. Getting more driving range using less energy from the battery is the key target for the German automaker's future EV development, Kaellenius said. Driving range remains a critical competitive benchmark in the EV market. Mercedes engineers have been testing ways to improve EV efficiency using long road trips in a prototype vehicle called the Vision EQXX.

Persons: Ola Kaellenius, Mercedes, Tesla, Kaellenius, Joe White, Susan Fenton Organizations: DETROIT, Benz, Reuters, EV, Tesla, Sunday, VW, Consumers, Thomson Locations: China, Munich, Germany, Europe, United States

☆ Chinese EV startup Xpeng shares soar 13% after announcing $744 million deal with Didi
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Chinese electric car company Xpeng said Monday it is buying Didi's smart electric car development business in an exchange of shares worth $744 million. watch nowThe startup's deal with Didi comes as many companies look for ways to grab a slice of China's growing but highly competitive electric car market. Still operating at a lossThe deals come as traditional auto giants have the cash that electric car startups lack. The Didi electric car business — held by a subsidiary called Da Vinci Auto Co. — has also racked up losses. The unit had net assets of 937 million yuan as of June 30.

Persons: Didi, Xpeng, MONA, Li Auto, — Organizations: Visual China, Getty, Volkswagen, VW, Xpeng, Li, Vinci Locations: Shanghai, BEIJING, Xpeng, Hong Kong, China

☆ Xpeng’s Didi deal is smart shortcut to growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Xpeng P5 electric vehicle (EV) is seen displayed during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 19, 2021. It’s buying compatriot Didi’s smart EV unit and paying $744 million, or 3.25% of its own stock. For its part, Didi seems to have given up its ambition to break into capital-intensive EV manufacturing, and that’s probably a smart move for a company stuck in listing limbo. It’s unclear if the deal with Didi will dilute VW’s shareholding but Xpeng’s worth is at least rising. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Aly, Didi, that’s, Li Auto, BYD, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Auto Shanghai, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, HK, Volkswagen, EV maker’s, X, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China

☆ The evolution of the Volkswagen bus — from Type 2 to the electric ID Buzz
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Sydney Boyo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Volkswagen Type 2 bus, known for its split windows, rear engine and distinctive colors, is making a comeback. In 2024, Volkswagen will deliver its electric ID Buzz line to North America . From 1950 to 2003, four generations of the Type 2 bus were sold in the U.S., with nearly 1 million total deliveries, according to VW. "After the Eurovan, the minivan segment was sort of on the decline," said Jeffrey Lear, product manager of electric vehicles for Volkswagen of America. It is the bus segment."

Persons: Damon Ristau, Jeffrey Lear, Lear, We'll Organizations: Volkswagen, VW, America Locations: North America, U.S, America, Europe, American

☆ Volkswagen strikes direct supply deals for chips to avoid global shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Volkswagen's factory is seen in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo state, Brazil June 28, 2023. Demand for chips has risen dramatically in the car industry in line with electric vehicle production and the need for increasingly complex software. Volkswagen and Franco-Italian chipmaker STMicroelectronics (STMPA.PA) announced plans last July to co-develop a new semiconductor, marking VW's first direct relationship with a second- and third-rank semiconductor supplier. Volkswagen has not struck a direct supply relationship with TSMC - the world's biggest contract manufacturer of semiconductors - but meets with them every few weeks to communicate its demand situation, Schnake said. The carmaker also plans to reduce the variety of chips required in its vehicles to simplify the supply chain, which will also help simplify its software offering, Schnake added.

Persons: Campo, Leonardo Benassatto, chipmakers, Karsten Schnake, Dirk Grosse, Taiwan's TSMC, Schnake, Victoria Waldersee, Jan Schwartz, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, NXP Semiconductors, Infineon Technologies, Renesas Electronics, Volkswagen, Intel, Thomson Locations: Sao Bernardo, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, Berlin, Germany

HONG KONG, Aug 23 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Volkswagen’s (VOWG_p.DE) China shortcut sets a tricky roadmap for its western rivals. An increasingly competitive Chinese market means others may also need to plot a new route. VW’s western peers may feel they do not need to follow in its tracks. Second, VW’s Xpeng deal highlights how companies need to adapt quickly to stay relevant in China. Both partnerships will see the companies jointly develop intelligent, connected electric vehicles for the Chinese market.

Persons: China’s, that’s, Bernstein, Alix, Elon Musk’s, VW’s, Auto, Neil Unmack, Pranav Kiran, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, HK, FAW, SAIC, VW, BMW, upstarts, Alix Partners, Elon, Mercedes, Benz, Nissan, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volkswagen’s Audi, Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology, Jetta, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Xpeng, Kingdom, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Zhejiang

☆ Bank of America says this Chinese EV stock can rally nearly 50% thanks to a partnership with Volkswagen
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bank of America thinks XPeng's partnership with Volkswagen is enough to significantly improve the company's outlook. The firm upgraded the Chinese electric vehicle maker to buy from neutral on Monday with a $22 per share price target. The analyst added that she also expects XPeng to turn a profit 2025, compared to a previous forecast which called for a loss. XPEV YTD mountain XPeng has climbed more than 50% from the start of the year. To be sure, the stock dropped more than 4% after XPeng reported a larger-than-expected net loss for the second quarter .

Persons: Ming Hsun Lee, XPeng, Lee, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: of America, Volkswagen, VW

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