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☆ Bolivia seals $1.4 billion lithium deals with Russia's Rosatom, China's Guoan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Daniel Ramos | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LA PAZ, June 29 (Reuters) - Bolivia has signed lithium agreements with Russian state nuclear firm Rosatom and China's Citic Guoan Group, the South American country's government said on Thursday, as it looks to develop its huge but largely untapped resources of the battery metal. Bolivia's iconic salt flats are home to the world's largest lithium resources at 21 million tons, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, but the country has long struggled to ramp up industrial production or develop commercially viable reserves. Russia's Rosatom, which bid via its Uranium One Group unit, confirmed the news, saying it would invest $600 million in the project, its first large-scale lithium venture overseas, with planned annual capacity of 25,000 tons of lithium carbonate. The deal with Uranium One Group was for feasibility and pre-investment studies, he said, adding multiple tests with Russian technology on the salt flats had shown a lithium recovery rate over 80%, with a purity of around 99.5%. Reporting by Daniel Ramos; Additional reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Writing by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Energy Franklin Molina, Molina, Russia's, Rosatom's, Kirill Komarov, Citic, Daniel Ramos, Maxim Rodionov, Adam Jourdan, Richard Chang Organizations: LA, Guoan, American, Energy, . Geological Survey, Tesla, BMW, Uranium, Thomson Locations: LA PAZ, Bolivia, United States, America, La Paz, Pasto Grande, Uyuni Norte

LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) - Zeekr, Geely Automobile's (0175.HK) electric brand, said on Wednesday that two of its all-electric luxury cars are available for pre-order in the Netherlands and Sweden, joining a growing number of Chinese EV makers launching vehicles in Europe. Deliveries for the Zeekr 001 estate and the Zeekr X SUV are set to begin in the autumn, the company said. Pricing for the Zeekr 01 starts at 59,490 euros ($65,076) including taxes, while the Zeekr X starts 44,990 euros. "Our plan is that through 2026 we will cover the majority of western Europe," he told Reuters. Other Chinese EV makers including BYD, Xpeng and Aiways have all launched sales in Europe, seeking to gain market share while many consumers are still new to EVs.

Persons: Geely Automobile's, Spiros Fotinos, Europe's, Fotinos, Nick Carey, Johan Ahlander, Sameer Manekar, Janane Venkatraman, David Evans Organizations: HK, EV, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Sweden, Europe, Gothenburg, Spiros, Denmark, Germany, France, Norway, China, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Bengaluru

☆ Lucid CEO says Aston Martin EV tech deal is just the beginning
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"This (deal) really kicks off that wing of the Lucid Group's business," CEO Peter Rawlinson told Reuters. Lucid's initial focus will be on providing high-performance, ultra-high voltage technology that would not be suitable for the mass-market, reflected in the Aston deal, Rawlinson said. However, he continued, its business licensing out parts should grow as the company moves to more mass-market models. Aston and Lucid share a common shareholder in Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), but Rawlinson said the Saudi wealth fund played no role in the deal. "Aston Martin had options and they chose quite independently what they felt is the best technology available on the planet," he added.

Persons: Aston Martin, Peter Rawlinson, Rawlinson, Tesla, I'm, Aston, Nick Carey, Emma Rumney Organizations: EV, Aston, Reuters, Tesla's, Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: U.S, Arizona, Croatian, Aston, Saudi

☆ Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy and sues Taiwan's Foxconn
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Lordstown Motors filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday, put itself up for sale, and announced a lawsuit against Foxconn, accusing its biggest shareholder and former partner of setting out to “destroy” its business. Officially called Hon Hai Technology Group, Foxconn is best known for making iPhones for Apple (AAPL), but has recently made moves toward building electric vehicles. In 2021, it purchased an Ohio factory that Lordstown Motors had itself bought from General Motors in 2019. Lordstown Motors headquarters seen in Lordstown, Ohio in 2021. As of December, Lordstown Motors had just a fraction of that headcount, with 260 full-time employees, according to its latest annual report.

Persons: CNN —, Foxconn, Edward Hightower, Lordstown, ” Foxconn, ”, “ Foxconn, Lordstown’s, Dustin Franz, It’s Organizations: CNN, CNN — Lordstown Motors, Foxconn, Hai Technology, Apple, Lordstown Motors, General Motors, Bloomberg, Getty, GM Locations: Delaware, Taipei, Ohio, Lordstown , Ohio, California, North America

☆ US new vehicle sales set to gain in June - S&P Global Mobility
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 26 (Reuters) - Sales of new vehicles in the United States are set to gain in June, helped by sustained demand for personal mobility, a study showed on Monday. "Signs of green shoots within the auto demand environment continue to emerge as June US auto sales are expected to follow-up on the solid volume levels of the preceding two months," S&P Global Mobility said in its report. According to the report, new light vehicle sales volume in June are expected to touch 1.38 million units, up 17% year over year. "There are signs that manufacturers are working to preserve their strong pricing power at the expense of building back inventory levels at an excessive pace," said Joe Langley, associate director at S&P Global Mobility. S&P Global Mobility said it expects sales of battery-electric vehicles to reach 7% on June's sales.

Persons: Joe Langley, Nathan Gomes, Maju Samuel Organizations: P Global Mobility, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

☆ Carmakers owe compensation for emissions cheating devices, German court rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 26 (Reuters) - Carmakers must pay compensation for diesel vehicles fitted with illegal emissions controlling devices, Germany's highest federal court ruled on Monday, in a case that could potentially cost Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and others millions of euros. The judge overturned previous dismissals by courts of such claims and referred them back to courts of appeal. It was up to carmakers to prove that their so-called defeat devices were functional and not illegal, she said. Carmakers argue the devices, which are only switched on at certain temperatures, are needed to protect the motor and are in line with the law. Reporting by Ursula Knapp, Victoria Waldersee, Ilona Wissenbach; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ursula Knapp, Victoria Waldersee, Ilona Wissenbach, Maria Sheahan, Mark Potter Organizations: Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, Audi, Court, Justice, Thomson

[1/3] A Lucid Air electric vehicle is displayed in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S., September 27, 2021. REUTERS/Hyunjoo Jin/File PhotoJune 26 (Reuters) - British luxury carmaker Aston Martin (AML.L) has reached a deal that will give U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker Lucid Group (LCID.O) a 3.7% stake in the company in return for access to its "high performance" technology, Aston Martin said on Monday. Subject to shareholder approval, Aston Martin will issue about 28.4 million new ordinary shares to Lucid Group. Smaller carmakers such as Aston Martin are more reliant on partnerships to make the transition. Lucid and Aston Martin have a common shareholder in Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Persons: Hyunjoo Jin, Aston Martin, Lucid, Aston Martin's, PIF, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Rashmi Aich, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Lucid, Mercedes, Benz, Aston, Public Investment Fund, U.S, Tesla Inc, Thomson Locations: Scottsdale , Arizona, U.S, Aston Martin, Saudi, Bengaluru

☆ Car prices aren't going down. Automakers are just finally building something other than expensive trucks.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Individual vehicle prices aren't going down, but the average car price is overall. Combined with incentives improving, average transaction prices could fall 7% by 2025. Car prices could fall by about 7% by 2025, providing some much-needed relief for car shoppers after years of jacked-up prices, according to consultancy AlixPartners. There might also be more options than simply luxury or higher-end vehicles, resulting in a blanket drop in average auto-buying prices. Car companies learned they could sell more expensive vehicles and vehicles at higher prices overall, especially during the vehicle supply-and-demand scare brought on by the pandemic.

Persons: Mark Wakefield, they've, aren't, AlixPartners, carmakers Organizations: AlixPartners, Morning Locations: AlixPartners ., AlixPartners

An array of startups offers second-life energy storage using old EV batteries. The second-life energy storage idea is in theory simple. The problem is a lack of old EV batteries that shows no sign of easing. He has just sold the car for $3,000 to pay down credit card debt, but wants another used EV. Commercial vehicles provide the best hope thus far for second-life batteries, industry officials said.

Persons: Steven Meersman, Nick Carey LONDON, Hans Eric Melin, Melin, EVs, Elmar Zimmerling, Thomas Becker, Antoni Tong, Jonathan Rivera, Rivera, —, Asad Hussain, Zenobe, Nick Carey, Paul Lienert, Daniel Leussink, Ben Klayman, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Global, Nissan, Energy, EV, Mercedes, P Global Mobility, CES, Tesla, BMW, International Energy Agency, Leaf, Mobility Impact Partners, Victoria Waldersee, Thomson Locations: Portsmouth, Britain, recyclers, U.S, Leipzig, 16GWh, Paris, Europe, Coeur d'Alene , Idaho, London, Australia, New Zealand, Detroit, Berlin, Tokyo

☆ Ron Baron says Tesla shares will hit $500 in 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Tesla shares will hit $500 in 2025, longtime investor Ron Baron predicted Friday. TSLA 5Y mountain Tesla's 5-year performance Baron Capital now holds 17.5 million shares of Tesla, accounting for slightly less than 10% of the portfolio, he said. Tesla shares have been on a tear, rallying more than 114% so far in 2023. That runup led longtime Tesla bull Adam Jonas, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, to downgrade the stock to equal weight from overweight Thursday. Tesla shares sank 65% last year.

Persons: Tesla, Ron Baron, Baron, runup, Adam Jonas, Morgan Stanley, he's Organizations: Ford, General Motors, Tesla, Baron Capital

☆ 10 Things in Tech: Google tells employees not to give AI chatbots confidential information, the rise of the ‘anti-work girlboss,’ and 31 rising stars of Los Angeles investing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook's first ever Meta Store Facebook/Meta1. The first "Meta Store" opened last year in Northern California and was designed to increase interest in Meta's VR headsets. Although a second store was in the works, someone familiar with the matter said that those plans faltered after slowed revenue. Google tells employees not to put confidential info into AI chatbots — including its own Bard. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said subreddit mods have too much power.

Persons: I'm, Siu, Zers, haven't, Jordan Hart, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's, Martin Gilliard, hasn't, Kali Hays, chatbots, Steve Huffman, Mudassir Sheikha, Ron DeSantis, Thiep Van Nguyen, Lionel Richie, Diamond Naga Siu, Alistair Barr, Hallam Bullock Organizations: Meta, VR, Big Tech, Google, Tech, Tesla, Gov, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Navy, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, VMWare, Dallas Cowboys, Mitsubishi Locations: Sacramento, Northern California, Angeles, Florida, Connecticut, USS Connecticut, Dublin, Ireland, Melbourne, Australia, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, London

☆ Analyst says this automaker could be next in line for a Tesla supercharger deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

TSLA GM,F 1M line General Motors also struck a similar deal with Tesla earlier this month. "By opening the charging infrastructure, that alleviates the main concern in the U.S., which is range anxiety. The de facto plug standard Narayan also said that such collaborations with Tesla could set a new standard in the automobile industry. Analysts have also suggested that any costs incurred by the carmakers for transitioning to Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug standard will likely be immaterial, given the stakes. Since Nov. 2021, Tesla has opened its supercharger network in Europe, Australia, and China to non-Tesla vehicles.

Persons: Tesla, Tom Narayan, Ford, they're, Narayan, it's, Alex Vrabel, Mercedes Organizations: Chrysler, Peugeot, Maserati, RBC, Ford, General Motors, Detroit, GM, Motors, Tesla, CNBC, Toyota, Honda Civic, of, Global, BMW, Volkswagen Locations: U.S, United States, Europe, Australia, China

☆ UK startup Helixx leans on Siemens to design EV 'factory in a box'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - UK startup Helixx said on Monday it will use Siemens' (SIEGn.DE) open digital platform to help design a highly-automated 'factory in a box' that can be built anywhere to assemble smaller, low-cost electric vehicles (EVs), initially for large Asian cities. The 'digital twin' technology provided by the Siemens Xcelerator will help Helixx design the factory and plan supply chain requirements, Helixx and Siemens said. Some EV startups have turned to contract manufacturers, as Fisker has done with Magna and Foxconn, but the concept of providing a factory and "white label" EV designs for clients is new. "We have reimagined the way the vehicles go together so you can get a factory producing vehicles anywhere in the world, just like a McDonald's franchise," Pegg said. So far Helixx has raised about 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) and Pegg said building its prototype fleet will require around 3 million pounds.

Persons: Steve Pegg, Pegg, Helixx, Nick Carey, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Siemens, Reuters, EV, Magna, Thomson Locations: United Kingdom, Britain, Singapore

☆ Polestar partners with Geely's Meizu to build Chinese operating system
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Marie Mannes | Thomson Reuters | Stockholm-Based Company News Correspondent Who Mainly Covers Anything To Do With Retail | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 19 (Reuters) - Swedish electric vehicle (EV) maker Polestar said on Monday it had formed a joint venture with Xingji Meizu to build an operating system for Polestar cars sold in China that will offer the latest smart technologies in its vehicles. The venture represents a further push by the Geely group (GEELY.UL) to adapt cars specifically for Chinese consumers. The Swedish group said it would own 49% of the JV and Xingji Meizu 51%, providing $98 million and $102 million in funding respectively. Xingji Meizu has grown over the last decade in its attempt to become a Chinese rival to Android, but holds a marginal market share. Traditional carmakers have come under pressure from Chinese EV makers offering lower prices and smart consumer-facing technologies.

Persons: Polestar, Xingji, Li Shufu, Thomas Ingenlath, Xingji Meizu, Ingenlath, Marie Mannes, Elaine Hardcastle, Jan Harvey Organizations: Volvo, JV, Reuters, Google, EV, Thomson Locations: Swedish, China, U.S

Electric vehicles drove that change. In the first quarter of 2023, Russians purchased more Chinese cars than Lada, the beloved Soviet-era marque. That helps Chinese manufacturers churn out an electric vehicle for around 10,000 euros less than European competitors, according to Grant Thornton. Among the growing list of unwelcoming policies, the European Commission’s trade defence unit is considering ways to stem the tide of Chinese electric vehicle imports, according to Politico. How far China’s carmakers can make inroads further West will be decided by much more than assessments of their competency.

Persons: Bill Russo, Nio, Grant Thornton, Bernstein, Emmanuel Macron, CATL, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, HK, Volkswagen, World Trade Organization, International Energy Agency, Global Times, Beijing, Lada, Chery, Amperex Technology, Politico, Ford Motor, Toyota, Nissan, Twitter, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, BYD, People’s Republic, Europe, China, Shanghai, Hong Kong, New York, Japan, London ., European, United States, North America, France, Thailand, West

☆ JLR taps Everstream Analytics' AI to dodge supply chain problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - JLR said on Monday it has partnered with supply chain mapping and risk analytics firm Everstream Analytics, which will embed artificial intelligence into the British luxury carmaker's system to help avert future global supply issues. The new AI technology, JLR said, will allow it to monitor its supply chain in real-time and protect the production of its current models and next generation of electric vehicles (EVs). JLR, a unit of India's Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) said Everstream's technology has already enabled it to avoid disruption at global freight ports to deliver vehicles to clients. In a post-pandemic world full of supply chain snarls, a growing group of startups and established logistics firms have created a multi-billion dollar industry to apply AI and machine learning to help businesses minimise disruption. JLR was hit particularly hard by a global shortage of semiconductor chips that forced major carmakers to curtail production of certain models.

Persons: JLR, Barbara Bergmeier, Nick Carey, Barbara Lewis Organizations: India's Tata Motors, Everstream, Thomson

Sinochem was not immediately available for comment, while Pirelli declined to comment. Sources had previously told Reuters that the government was concerned about Sinochem's growing influence on Pirelli, as the proposed pact would have allowed the Chinese group to appoint more board members and potentially choose Pirelli's future CEOs. Founded in 1872, Pirelli is one of Italy's most storied companies. CHANGES NEEDEDMeloni's government refrained from imposing even tougher conditions on Sinochem, including blocking its voting rights in Pirelli. The Chinese group earlier this year confirmed its plans to remain a long-term investor in Pirelli.

Persons: China's Sinochem, Marco Tronchetti Provera, Giorgia, Sinochem, Rome, Camfin, Giorgio Bruno, Tronchetti Provera, Alvise Armellini, Giuseppe Fonte, Giulio Piovaccari, Sandra Maler Organizations: Beijing, tyremaker Pirelli, Camfin, Pirelli, Reuters, Big, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Formula, Initiative, Thomson Locations: Beijing ROME, China, Beijing, Italy, Europe, Rome, Milan

☆ Automakers are replacing decades of know-how with strategies from Tesla's playbook
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Auto companies need EV battery supply more than ever, but the costs are adding up. Prices and a push to use local materials have carmakers investing in in-house battery supply. That means car companies are seeking an alternative and racing to secure their battery supply in the US. But the pandemic — and other disruptions, like natural disasters — shed a light on just how vulnerable that can also make auto companies. It's complicated and time-consuming, but may ultimately be the best way car companies can get closer to lowering the cost of new EVs.

Persons: Tesla, they've, They've, Peter Maithel, Julian Stratenschulte, There's, We've, Matt Sculnick, Nomura, Rivian, —, Alvarez, Tony Lynch, Kelley Organizations: Auto, EV, Morning, Infor, Volkswagen, Getty, Marsal, GM, Ford Locations: Europe, Asia, China, Illinois

☆ Stellantis to unveil Citroën e-C3, first affordable European-made EV
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Gilles Guillaume | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - The world's No.3 carmaker Stellantis will unveil its first European-made affordable electric car in mid-October, the new Citroën e-C3, as it gears up to counter the arrival of lower-cost Chinese brands in the European market. Electric vehicles (EVs) are more expensive than their fossil-fuel counterparts and European carmakers plan cheaper models encouraged by government subsidies. That EV subsidy should be unveiled in October for cars to be delivered in 2024, a government source told Reuters. The need for more affordable European models has been driven by Chinese EV brands, which are seen as a threat to European carmakers as they can offer cheaper models. Built on Stellantis' "smart car" architecture introduced in India and Latin America, the vehicle will be assembled in Slovakia and will launch early in 2024, Koskas said.

Persons: Thierry Koskas, Koskas, Gilles Guillaume, Nick Carey, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, EV, Renault Dacia Spring, Renault, Citroen, Thomson Locations: France, Europe, India, Latin America, Slovakia, China

☆ Audi chief sets sights on China in electric car catch-up
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Cristina Amann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"And we are also looking more intensively at how this is done in China," Duesmann said. "In 2030, the BEV share of the premium car market should already be between 60 and 70%, depending on the region," Duesmann said. That shift could happen even sooner in China, but Audi's sales performance in the world's biggest car market has fallen short of expectations. The new Q6 e-tron has been delayed by behind-schedule software development. Hoping to offset any disappointment in China, Duesmann said the carmaker wanted to strengthen its business in North America, tapping into a strong U.S. car market and Washington's generous subsidies programme.

Persons: Markus Duesmann, Duesmann, BEV, Christina Amann, Rachel More, Madeline Chambers, Mark Potter Organizations: Audi, Reuters, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, VW, Thomson Locations: INGOLSTADT, Germany, China, North America, U.S, Mexico, Tennessee

☆ Russia takes over another Western asset with Bosch plant deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NAMI, Russia's Central Automobile and Engine Research and Development Institute, has been snapping up assets from global carmakers that left Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. NAMI has already taken over plants that were previously run by carmakers Renault (RENA.PA), Nissan (7201.T) and Toyota (7203.T). The price of the transaction was not disclosed, but NAMI has picked up other assets for nominal fees. "Previously the company was engaged in the production of steering systems, anti-lock braking systems and electronic stability programme systems," NAMI said in a statement. Reporting by Alexander Marrow and Gleb Stolyarov Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: NAMI, Robert Bosch, carmakers, Alexander Marrow, Gleb Stolyarov, Mark Potter Organizations: Central Automobile, Research, Development Institute, carmakers Renault, Nissan, Toyota, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Samara

☆ Stellantis SPAC deal has suitably decent airbags
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Carmakers are in a race to lock in battery metals like lithium. For shareholders, the risk is that they tie up capital in expensive supply deals, or mines in far-flung locations with poor governance. Stellantis’s (STLAM.MI) investment in a London-based special purpose acquisition company deal looks like a neat fix to those challenges. In a complex deal, halfway between an IPO and a SPAC takeover, it will buy the Serrote and Santa Rita mines in east Brazil for $1.1 billion. Besides the original SPAC investors, the bulk of that will likely come from a public offering, and new anchor investors like Stellantis.

Persons: Nat Rothschild’s Vallar, Artem Volynets, Neil Unmack, Xavier Niel, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Brookfield, Thomson Locations: London, Santa, Brazil, Teck, China

☆ Tesla considering building 4.5 bln euro car factory in Spain - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, June 8 (Reuters) - U.S. electric car manufacturer Tesla (TSLA.O) is in talks with the leaders of the regional government of Valencia in Spain to build a car factory, newspaper Cinco Dias reported on Thursday, citing unidentified sources close to the discussions. The company's total investment in the factory could surpass 4.5 billion euros ($4.83 billion), the newspaper said. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Spain's central government declined to comment. Valencia is also home to a car manufacturing facility for Ford, which plans to start producing electric vehicles there. Spain is Europe's second-largest car producer, and is using European Union COVID pandemic recovery funds to attract carmakers to invest in the manufacture of both batteries and electric vehicles.

Persons: Cinco Dias, Tesla, Volkswagen, Inti Landauro, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus, Aislinn Laing, Jan Harvey, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, Ford, Union, EU, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Valencia, Spain, Sagunto

☆ Carmaker Toyota to invest $328 mln in Mexico hybrid pickup plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, June 8 (Reuters) - Japanese carmaker Toyota (7203.T) will invest a further $328 million in a plant in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, it said on Thursday, as it looks to adapt its production processes for a new hybrid model of its Tacoma pickup truck. "The new version of the 'Mexican pickup' will be hybrid electric, which means Guanajuato will now form part of the company's electrification production strategy," Toyota said in a statement. The funds are set to help adapt manufacturing for the new Tacoma model for a North American market, it added. Toyota has invested close to $1.2 billion in Guanajuato since it announced the plant, it added, saying the factory currently provides more than 2,500 jobs. Reporting by Sarah Morland and Kylie Madry; Editing by Brendan O'BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Diego Sinhue, Tesla, Sarah Morland, Kylie Madry, Brendan O'Boyle Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Toyota, Tacoma, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexican, Guanajuato, American, Japan, Mexico, United States, Nuevo Leon

☆ New York City files lawsuit blaming Hyundai, Kia for 'spiraling epidemic' of car thefts after 'Kia boys' viral TikTok thefts cause spike in stolen cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

New York City joins a growing list of cities and states taking legal action against Kia and Hyundai. New York City has joined a growing list of cities and states to take legal action against Hyundai and Kia. TikTokers have suggested a "hack" to get a Kia or Hyundai car started without the key. In New York City, the suit cited, Kia thefts increased about 241% between 2021 and 2022. Hyundai thefts similarly increased by 179%.

Persons: Kia, Kias, Louis, Hyundais, TikTokers Organizations: Kia, Hyundai, Morning, Progressive, European Union, America, New York Police Department, Mercedes, Apple Locations: York City, New York City, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, Columbus, St, Seattle, New York, Canada

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