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☆ Elon Musk met with Chinese Vice Premier Ding in Beijing -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Julie Zhu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk walks next to Tesla's Senior Vice President Tom Zhu and Vice President Grace Tao as he leaves a hotel in Beijing, China May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoHONG KONG, June 1 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk met with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday afternoon in Beijing, a source familiar with the matter said. It was not immediately clear if Musk met Li Qiang during the trip. Tesla had previously sought a meeting for Musk with Li, Reuters reported in March. Musk left Shanghai on Thursday morning, wrapping up a two-day trip to China in which he also met a key battery supplier and visited Tesla's Shanghai factory.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tom Zhu, Grace Tao, Tingshu Wang, Ding Xuexiang, Tesla, Ding, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Musk, Li, Julie Zhu, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Sophie Yu, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Tesla, Tesla's, REUTERS, Tesla Inc, State, Information Office, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, HONG KONG, Shanghai, Tesla's Shanghai

☆ Elon Musk wraps up whirlwind China trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, June 1 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Elon Musk departed Shanghai Thursday morning, wrapping up a two-day trip to China in which he met government ministers, a key battery supplier and visited the automaker's biggest production hub. Photos of Musk's visit to Tesla's Shanghai factory late Wednesday showed him holding up a "Giga Shanghai" sign, flanked by hundreds of staff including head of global manufacturing Tom Zhu. "A very rewarding day!," Grace Tao, Tesla's China-based public affairs chief, said in a social media post with the photos. Earlier in the trip, Musk met with China's foreign, commerce and industry ministers in Beijing where he also dined with the chairman of battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) (300750.SZ). The industry ministry only said Musk and its head exchanged views about development of electric vehicles and connected cars; the commerce ministry announced he discussed Tesla's development in China with its minister.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tom Zhu, Grace Tao, Musk, Brenda Goh, Zhang Yan, Nicoco Chan, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Tesla Inc, Amperex Technology Co, U.S ., Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, Shanghai, China, Beijing, U.S, Shanghai's Hongqiao, Austin , Texas

☆ Elon Musk's private jet scheduled to leave China on Thursday -flight tracking data
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk walks next to Tesla's Senior Vice President Tom Zhu and Vice President Grace Tao as he leaves a hotel in Beijing, China May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu WangSHANGHAI, June 1 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's private jet is scheduled to leave Shanghai on Thursday morning and head to Austin, Texas, data from flight tracking provider Variflight show. The Tesla (TSLA.O) CEO arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night and visited the U.S. automaker's plant in the financial hub and met with workers, according to photos posted by Tesla's China-based public affairs chief Grace Tao on her Weibo account. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Musk's planned departure. Reporting by Brenda Goh and Zhang Yan; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tom Zhu, Grace Tao, Wang, Elon, Tesla, Musk's, Brenda Goh, Zhang Yan, Tom Hogue Organizations: Tesla, Tesla's, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Wang SHANGHAI, Shanghai, Austin , Texas, Tesla's China

☆ US agency closes investigation into Tesla game feature
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shortly after NHTSA opened its investigation into Tesla's "Passenger Play" in December 2021, Tesla agreed to stop allowing video games to be played on vehicle screens while its cars are moving. NHTSA said that a month after Tesla voluntarily disabled Passenger Play capability with an over-the-air software update it reported a 97% completion rate. NHTSA's investigation covered Tesla vehicles sold since 2017 that had the feature. NHTSA has an ongoing investigation into 830,000 Tesla vehicles with driver assistance system Autopilot and involving crashes with parked emergency vehicles. NHTSA said Tuesday in the Autopilot investigation it aims "to better understand human factors with respect to Tesla interfaces and the dynamic driving task."

☆ Two Club stocks get Wall Street upgrades, sending shares higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. Watch Constellation Brands Roth MKM on Tuesday upgraded Club holding Constellation Brands (STZ) to buy, from neutral, while increasing its price target to $270 per share, up from $216. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

☆ Ford signs battery material supply deals to charge up EV output
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 22 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) on Monday unveiled three deals for the supply of lithium products, including lithium hydroxide, as the automaker ramps up electric vehicle (EV) production to 2 million units by the end of 2026. The deals come as North American automakers race to secure supplies of battery materials to boost EV output and catch up with market leader Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) amid surging demand for environment-friendly vehicles. The long-term deal with Canada's Nemaska Lithium is for the supply of up to 13,000 tons of lithium hydroxide every year, while the contract with EnergySource Minerals will help Ford receive lithium hydroxide from the Imperial Valley, California site, expected to be operational in 2025. Ford also disclosed a five-year agreement with Albemarle Corp (ALB.N) to supply more than 100,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide for about 3 million future Ford EV batteries. The lithium hydroxide produced by Nemaska should help qualify Ford vehicles for consumer tax benefits under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, the automaker said.

☆ Tesla vs. BYD: Here's why one fund manager prefers the Buffett-backed automaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In an era defined by the need to tackle climate change, electric vehicles are seen as an increasingly important part of the solution. For Philip Ripman, portfolio manager at Storebrand Asset Management, one global EV automaker stands out: China's BYD — not Elon Musk's Tesla . Public transport operator Nobina already operates over 300 BYD electric buses across multiple Nordic cities. Affordable and high-end vehicles Another reason Ripman favors BYD over Tesla is the former's broader range of vehicles. On Tesla, Ripman expressed some concern over CEO Musk's distractions and their potential impact on the automaker's stock price.

DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford Motor is making its case to Wall Street at an investor event Monday, sharing details of its plan to profitably build millions of EVs while growing its traditional operations. Ford CEO Jim Farley kicked off the day discussing the company's growth plans for its gas-powered, fleet, and electric business units. The company's traditional car business earned $2.6 billion, and the automaker's fleet operations reported $1.4 billion in earnings. Galhotra said while the company expects its sales of traditional vehicles to begin declining after 2025 in exchange for EVs, vehicles with internal combustion engines will be around "well into" the next decade, he said. Profitably balancing the shift from traditional vehicles with engines to EVs is an increasingly difficult challenge for traditional automakers such as Ford.

☆ Monday is Ford's chance to convince Wall Street skeptics of its EV plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DETROIT — Ford Motor on Monday will attempt to turn skeptics of its electric vehicle growth plans, which some Wall Street analysts have called "ambitious" and "crazy high," into believers. The automaker's CEO described the capital markets day as an opportunity to demonstrate how the strategy is "coming to life." The company is expected to run through its profit walks for its traditional "Ford Blue" and "Ford Pro" commercial businesses in addition to its "Model e" electric vehicle unit. Ford also is expected to preview its second-generation battery products and technology, which the company has said will be crucial to achieving that 8% EBIT margin. The EV business is expected to lose about $3 billion this year.

☆ Ford, GM and Toyota push into midsize pickup trucks, the latest battleground for U.S. automakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Midsize pickup trucks are following the lead of their larger, full-size counterparts such as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra. While the Detroit automakers dominate large pickup truck sales, Toyota Motor is the clear leader in midsize pickup truck sales with its Tacoma. Toyota has commanded a roughly 40% share of the American midsize pickup truck segment since 2019, when Ford and Jeep reentered the market, Edmunds reports. Edmunds reports the Detroit automaker's share of the U.S. midsize pickup segment last year was about 19%, followed by Stellantis ' Jeep Gladiator at 12.8% and the Nissan Frontier at 12.5%. Varying strategiesAutomakers' sales volumes speak to their diverging strategies in the midsize pickup truck segment.

☆ Toyota redesigns bestselling Tacoma pickup amid increased midsize competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Tacoma has led the midsize pickup segment in sales for nearly 20 years, as competitors such as Ford, Jeep and Chevrolet have come, gone and returned to the segment. Midsize pickup trucks represented 4.4% of total U.S. vehicle sales in 2022, according to auto research firm Edmunds. Toyota has commanded a roughly 40% share of the American midsize pickup truck segment since 2019 when Ford Motor and Jeep reentered market, according to Edmunds. 2024 Toyota Tacoma Limited ToyotaTrailing Toyota is General Motors , which sells the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. Tacoma is available in SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off Road, Limited, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter.

Seventy percent of Million Dollar Baby's demand is on the U.S. East Coast, executives said. During the first three months of 2023, West Coast ports handled 40% of U.S. container import volume. Extrapolating that first-quarter data over 12 months would show that more than 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) moved away from the West Coast ports annually, starting in 2021, said Chris Jones, an executive vice president at Descartes Systems Group. Colgate-Palmolive (CL.N) routed 25% of containers away from West Coast ports and has already begun reversing some of that, said Francisco Rodriguez, Colgate toothpaste maker's director of global logistics. Importing to Mexico opens a legal loophole that enables Million Dollar Baby to sell those products to U.S. customers without a 25% tariff.

☆ Here's our Monthly Meeting rapid-fire update on all 34 stocks in the Club's portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | In Kevinstankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Here's a rapid-fire update on all 34 stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio we use for the CNBC Investing Club. Ford (F): CEO Jim Farley did a fantastic job delivering in the automaker's latest quarter, and we like his decision to scale back Ford's business in China . As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. Here's a rapid-fire update on all 34 stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio we use for the CNBC Investing Club.

☆ Elon Musk predicts a 'ChatGPT moment' for Tesla, warns of banking woes, and expects a tough year ahead. Here are his 15 best quotes this week.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Elon Musk predicts a "ChatGPT moment" for Tesla, and warns investors have a tough 12 months ahead. The Tesla, Twitter, and SpaceX chief spoke during his automaker's shareholder meeting and a CNBC interview on Tuesday. "I think Tesla will have a ChatGPT moment, maybe if not this year, I'd say no later than next year." And I think that's just generally true for the economy." And now I think they're going to be slow to lower them."

☆ We’re pleased to see Ford rethink its China strategy as it accelerates EV business
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Ford's business has been struggling in China. Ford's internal combustion engine (ICE) business is profitable in China, and its luxury brand Lincoln is what Ford calls the "profit pillar" for the region. But China does not represent a huge business for Ford, which generates roughly 1% of total revenue from mainland China. While Ford does not have plans to exit China, the CEO is taking a closer look at its strategy there. Like for Tesla, China is key for Ford because it's the biggest EV market in the world.

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Tesla, Wynn, Walmart, Alphabet, Western Alliance & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Bernstein reiterates Tesla as underperform Bernstein said after the automaker's shareholder meeting that it sees trouble ahead. Bank of America upgrades AppLovin to buy from neutral Bank of America said it sees accelerating revenue growth for the mobile tech company. Stephens reiterates Walmart as overweight Stephens said it's standing by its overweight rating heading into Walmart earnings Thursday. Bank of America reiterates ServiceNow as buy Bank of America said the software company is well positioned for AI. " Stephens reiterates Western Alliance as overweight Stephens said it's standing by its overweight rating on the regional bank.

☆ Musk tells Tesla staff he must approve all hiring- memo
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

According to the email, Musk told executives to send him a list of hiring requests on a weekly basis, while also cautioning them to "think carefully" before submitting such requests. "No one can join Tesla, even as a contractor, until you receive my email approval", Musk said in the email on Monday. Musk named former NBCUniversal advertising chief Linda Yaccarino as Twitter's new CEO last week. He said on Friday that hiring Yaccarino would allow him to spend more time to run Tesla. The billionaire is expected to address Tesla shareholders on Tuesday at the automaker's annual meeting at its headquarters in Austin, Texas.

☆ Musk tells Tesla staff he must approve all hiring - the Information
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Tesla Inc FollowMay 15 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Elon Musk has said that the company can make no new hires unless he personally approves them, including contractors, the Information reported on Monday, citing an email to staff. According to the report, Musk told executives to send him a list of hiring requests on a weekly basis, while also cautioning them to "think carefully" before submitting such requests. Musk named former NBCUniversal advertising chief Linda Yaccarino as Twitter's new CEO last week. He said on Friday that hiring Yaccarino would allow him to spend more time to run Tesla. The billionaire is expected to address Tesla shareholders on Tuesday at the automaker's annual meeting at its headquarters in Austin, Texas.

The unboxed assembly process is intended to enable Tesla to hit that ambitious price target. Several big questions loom: What sort of impact will Tesla's process have on the auto industry overall? Body panels are painted separately, then joined together toward the end of the assembly process. If everything works as planned, the unboxed process could rewrite the industry's standard playbook and practices. Oba worked previously for the Toyota Production System Support Center, a division that helps the automaker's suppliers and others implement TPS.

☆ Cramer says Club portfolio is positioned to buy market dips. Here's where investors can look
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Matthew J. Belvedere | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

☆ Top shareholder Toyota 'quite positive' on Allkem-Livent tie-up - Allkem
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MELBOURNE, May 11 (Reuters) - Top Allkem Ltd (AKE.AX) shareholder Toyota is "quite positive" about a $10.6 billion tie-up plan with U.S.-based lithium chemicals maker Livent Corp (LTHM.N), Allkem's CEO said on Thursday as shares in his Australian-listed company surged. Allkem Ltd and Livent said on Wednesday they would combine in an all-stock deal to create the world's third-largest producer of lithium, a key metal for electric vehicle batteries. Toyota Tsusho Corp (8015.T), the Japanese automaker's trading arm, holds 6.16% of Allkem's shares. "Toyota is aware of the transaction... it is quite positive, their reaction to the deal," Allkem CEO Martin Pérez de Solay told Reuters. Livent shares ended up 5.2% on the New York Stock Exchange.

A judge said that amount was excessive and ordered a second trial on damages after Diaz rejected a reduced award of $15 million. "There is no other explanation for the extraordinary gap between the first and second jury's damages verdicts," his lawyers wrote. Diaz also renewed a motion for a mistrial on similar grounds, which the judge had denied in the middle of the retrial. The U.S. Supreme Court has said punitive damages should be no more than nine times the amount of other damages. Lawyers for Tesla and Diaz did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

☆ China's BYD cuts starting price for Seal EV; aims to extend lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI, May 10 (Reuters) - BYD Co Ltd (002594.SZ), on Wednesday cut the starting price of its best-selling Seal sedan by 10%, as the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant seeks to extend its lead in the world's largest auto market with lower-priced products. That includes a rear-wheel drive Seal Champion Edition with a 550-km (342-mile) driving range per charge at a starting price of 189,800 yuan ($27,459). BYD, China's best-selling electrified vehicle maker, launched the Seal sedan under its Ocean series in July 2022 with a sporty design style and intelligent features. The EV price war is also drawing sales away from internal combustion engine vehicles as the price gap between the technologies narrows. It has outgrown Germany's Volkswagen as the best-selling passenger vehicle brand in China in the last two quarters.

Toyota's board on Wednesday recommended that shareholders vote against the resolution, to be put to the company's annual general meeting in June. On Wednesday Toyota said it expects a five-fold jump in pure electric vehicle (EV) sales this business year. "We need concrete policy changes and a better annual review drawing on independent data to calm international investors." LONG ENGAGEMENTIt will be the first time that Toyota faces such a climate-related resolution at its annual general meeting, the funds said. It first planned to submit a shareholder proposal in 2021, but withdrew that after it received assurances that Toyota would review its climate lobbying.

☆ Ford reveals redesigned Ranger pickup with new Raptor performance model
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this article F Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT2024 Ford Ranger Raptor FordDETROIT — Ford Motor on Wednesday revealed its redesigned Ranger midsize pickup truck for the U.S., including a new Raptor performance model. 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor FordFord declined to release the current average transaction price of the Ranger. The Ranger Raptor, which is powered by a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, adds to Ford's Raptor lineup that currently includes the F-150 full-size pickup and Bronco SUV. 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Ford"The mission has always been to climb the mountain to No. 2024 Ford Ranger XLT Sport FordThe Ranger fits in between Ford's compact Maverick pickup and the automaker's full-size F-150 and larger F-Series trucks.

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