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Volkswagen has said that cost-cutting plans would include focusing on fewer high-volume models as well as streamlining production of VW passenger cars, SEAT/CUPRA and Skoda. The Volkswagen brand has the company's highest sales volume by far, but margins traditionally lag behind luxury Audi and Porsche vehicles. A Volkswagen brand spokesperson confirmed that talks began with workers in early October and that it would not comment further on the timeline or content of discussions. Labour representatives, including the head of Volkswagen works council Daniela Cavallo, make up half of the company's supervisory board per German corporate governance law for large firms. A works council spokesperson confirmed a first meeting had taken place but declined to comment further on the timeline.

Persons: Matthias Rietschel, carmaker, Arno Antlitz, Brand, Thomas Schaefer, Daniela Cavallo, Cavallo, Victoria Waldersee, Christoph Steitz, Rod Nickel Organizations: Volkswagen Group, REUTERS, BERLIN, Volkswagen, VW, SEAT, Skoda, Porsche, Labour, Thomson Locations: Zwickau, Germany

☆ Tesla to offer German workers pay rise this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) said on Thursday it will offer a pay rise to workers at its German plant, where unions have said they earn below the industry average. The U.S. electric vehicle maker said it will inform staff in November of the level of the pay rise, adding it raised wages by 6% last year. Under last year's agreement, workers at Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) and BMW (BMWG.DE) were offered a 5.2% pay rise in June 2023 and a 3.3% pay rise in 2024 as well as an inflation premium for full-time workers of 3,000 euros ($3,160). German union IG Metall has previously said that Tesla wages were around 20% below those offered under the collective bargaining agreement. IG Metall said Tesla told workers of the upcoming raise at a series of meetings held at the plant this week.

Persons: Annegret, Tesla, Metall, Victoria Waldersee, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, BMW, Metall's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Brandenburg, Gruenheide, Germany, U.S

☆ Tesla rejects union claims, reports of health and safety issues at German plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Tesla Inc FollowBERLIN, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) on Tuesday rejected claims by a German union and recent media reports that health and safety provisions at its gigafactory near Berlin were inadequate, stating that protecting workers' health was a top priority. On Monday, German union IG Metall said its membership numbers from Tesla workers were rising steeply amid concerns over health and safety as well as overwork. In a written statement, Tesla said workers received training on necessary safety measures, as well as protective clothing. The plant was subject to regular checks by local authorities that safety measures were being respected, it added. The company did not address the specific claims of the union or media reports regarding the number of accidents or workers off sick at the plant.

Persons: Metall, Tesla, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Tesla, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Berlin, U.S, Brandenburg

☆ Daimler Truck premieres new eActros 600 in step towards all-electric shift
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz Trucks, the European division of commercial vehicle maker Daimler Truck (DTGGe.DE), premiered its battery-electric long-haul truck eActros 600 on Tuesday, with series production planned for the end of 2024. It will be produced on Mercedes-Benz Trucks' existing assembly line in Woerth am Rhein, Germany, in parallel to diesel vehicles. The company is currently building a fleet of around 50 prototype vehicles to be tested with customers, it said. The eActros 600 purchase price is 2.5 times its diesel equivalent. Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, Victoria Waldersee Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daimler Trucks, Ilona Wissenbach, Miranda Murray Organizations: Benz, Daimler, Mercedes, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Woerth, Rhein, Germany, Europe

☆ China market hard going for BMW and Mercedes in third quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mercedes-Benz's supply issues affected its global sales, which fell 4% year-on-year in July-September, although the company said it was still on track to meet its full-year guidance for flat sales growth. BMW fared better, reporting a 5.8% rise in its global retail sales to 621,699 vehicles in July-September, but said retail sales in China of BMW and Mini models dropped 1.8%. BMW said that year-to-date sales in China were up 1.7% despite the drag on sales in the third quarter, while Mercedes-Benz nine-month wholesale figures in the country were at the previous year's level. It does not disclose detailed retailed sales but a spokesperson said they were positive in the third quarter and on a nine-month basis. BMW said its global retail sales were up 5.1% so far this year.

Persons: Leonhard Simon, carmakers Mercedes, Mercedes, Carmakers, Benz, Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine, Susan Fenton Organizations: Mercedes, Benz, REUTERS, Rights, BMW, GLC, Thomson Locations: German, Munich, Germany, China

Companies Tesla Inc FollowGRUENHEIDE, Germany, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) workers at the carmaker's Brandenburg plant are joining the IG Metall union in rising numbers over concerns around health, safety and overwork, the union said on Monday. Reuters was not able to independently verify the union's claims and Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Union representatives met workers at the factory gates, on the platforms of nearby stations and inside the factory on Monday handing out stickers stating "Together for safe and fair work at Tesla". "The law gives all workers the right to organise in a union and stand openly for that at their workplace. That counts at Tesla in Brandenburg as well," Dirk Schulze of IG Metall said.

Persons: Tesla, IG, Dirk Schulze, IG Metall, Victoria Waldersee, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Tesla, IG, Reuters, IG Metall, Thomson Locations: Germany, carmaker's Brandenburg, Brandenburg, Poland

☆ Vitesco shares soar on 3.64 bln euro Schaeffler deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Ozan Ergenay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Vitesco (VTSCn.DE) shares rose 19.8% on Monday morning on news that its largest shareholder Schaeffler AG (SHA_p.DE) will launch a tender offer valuing the powertrain supplier at 3.64 billion euros ($3.83 billion). EV components maker Schaeffler AG, controlled by Germany's billionaire Schaeffler family, already holds 49.9% of Vitesco, which has seen its shares rise 39% this year. Schaeffler shares were down 6.6% at 0713 GMT. Schaeffler said it would offer remaining shareholders 91 euros ($95.83) per share, a fifth above last week's closing price. Listed preference shares are to be converted into ordinary shares, and the remaining shareholders will be on an equal footing with the family holding ordinary shares.

Persons: Schaeffler, Vitesco, Ozan Ergenay, Christina Amann, Victoria Waldersee, Friederike Heine, Kim Coghill, Louise Heavens Organizations: Schaeffler AG, EV, Schaeffler, Thomson

"The backlash, like a boomerang, can be bigger than what one imagined," he said, referring to potential retaliation by China on European carmakers. While 90% of BMW cars sold in China are produced locally, some materials are shipped from Europe to China, Mertl said. China has condemned the EU investigation, which formally began on Thursday, as out of line with World Trade Organization rules and detrimental to the global growth of EV sales. Asked whether the premium carmaker was seeing dampened demand for EVs reported by Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) in recent weeks, Mertl said EV sales were rising and the company was on track to hit its goal of 15% fully-electric sales for the year. Some supply chain problems in logistics and transport persisted and could carry on for the next six months, he added.

Persons: Angelika Warmuth, Walter Mertl, Mertl, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Friederike Heine, Mark Potter Organizations: BMW, REUTERS, Rights, World Trade Organization, Volkswagen Locations: Munich, Germany, China, Europe, Beijing, European

☆ Mercedes-Benz threatened with recalls of Euro 6 cars over defeat devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Mercedes-Benz is seen outside a Mercedes-Benz car dealer in Brussels, Belgium June 1, 2023. In the letter published on DUH's website, the KBA referred to three devices found in cars produced under the Euro 6 standard, the most recent and stringent limits for harmful tailpipe emissions from petrol or diesel-powered vehicles. Mercedes-Benz was obliged to take remedial measures or face an order to remove the cars from the road, it said, based on a ruling by the European Court of Justice that deemed such devices illegal in certain driving conditions. In a statement, Mercedes-Benz said it was co-operating fully with the KBA and that it believed it had already developed the technology required to tackle the issue via software updates. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Rachel More and Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yves Herman, Benz, carmaker, Victoria Waldersee, Rachel More, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Mercedes, Benz, REUTERS, Companies Mercedes Benz Group, Deutsche, European Court of Justice, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium

☆ German carmaker stocks dip amid China-EV probe dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Alternatively, punitive tariffs on imports from China could accelerate Chinese EV makers' plans to build in Europe, analysts said, raising competition for domestic carmakers. "Volkswagen could gain from lower mass-market competition, but is the most exposed ... premium OEMs ...face the risk of retaliation and might see their China-export plans sent awry," he added. By 1210 GMT, the STOXX Europe 600 Auto (.SXAP) index was down 1.46%, while the broader market was steady. BMW, which exports the iX3 from China and plans to export the Mini from 2024, fell 2.08%, with Mercedes-Benz down 1.56% and Volkswagen down 1.83%. Stocks of carmakers Renault and Stellantis, which are less exposed to the Chinese market than their German counterparts, saw smaller dips of 1.33% and 0.81% respectively.

Persons: Annegret, Emmanuel Macron, Daniel Roeska, Bernstein, Danilo Masoni, Victoria Waldersee, Josephine Mason, Thomas Leigh, Michel Rose, Sharon Singleton, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, EV, HK, European Commission, Renault, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, Porsche, carmakers Renault, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Beijing, China, Europe, France

☆ Douglas chooses banks as global coordinators for planned IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DUESSELDORF, Sept 13 (Reuters) - German perfume and cosmetics retailer Douglas, majority owned by CVC Capital Partners, has chosen Goldman Sachs (GS.N), Citi (C.N), Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE), UniCredit (CRDI.MI) and UBS (UBSG.S) as global coordinators for a planned IPO, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Reuters reported in August that the private equity house was working with advisers at Rothschild & Co to prepare the initial public offering (IPO), which could happen as early as next year. The IPO could value Douglas at up to 7 billion euros ($7.68 billion), people close to the matter said at the time. Douglas declined to comment. Reporting by Matthias Inverardi, Writing by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Douglas, Goldman Sachs, Matthias Inverardi, Victoria Waldersee, Chris Reese Organizations: CVC Capital Partners, Citi, Deutsche Bank, UBS, Reuters, Rothschild & Co, Thomson

☆ China's Xpeng says German carmakers ready to tackle crisis as EV race hots up
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUNICH, Sept 6 (Reuters) - German carmakers are ready to tackle their worst crisis, an executive at Chinese EV maker Xpeng said on Wednesday, as China's carmakers expand overseas, putting pressure on Europe in the race to electrify. Globally, China leads EV sales, the latest data from tech industry researcher Counterpoint shows. The U.S. has the fastest growing EV sales with Germany in third place. "The Chinese companies are flooding into overseas markets like mushrooms, deepening their sense of crisis," Gu said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said EV competition from abroad should be a spur, not a worry for German carmakers.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Hildegard Mueller, Markus Soeder, Angelika Warmuth, Xpeng, Brian Gu, Gu, Jia Jianxu, Zheng, Zhang Yan, Victoria Waldersee, Josephine Mason, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: German Association of, Automotive, REUTERS, Rights, HK, IAA, EV, Germany, Reuters, Volkswagen, SAIC, Xuanyuan Academy, Germany's IAA, New Energy Vehicle Congress, Gang, Thomson Locations: Bavarian, Munich, Germany, Europe, Xpeng, China, U.S, Britain, France

☆ China's 'father of EVs' urges cooperation on EV scaleup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang attends the International Forum on Electric Vehicle Pilot Cities and Industrial Development in Beijing, China June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUNICH, Sept 6 (Reuters) - China's industrial policy adviser and "father of EVs" Wan Gang said efficient batteries, better EV architectures and intelligent driving systems were key to scaling up EVs, calling for international collaboration on research and standards. Speaking at China's World New Energy Vehicle Congress taking place in Munich, Wan, a former science minister widely regarded as a key promoter of EVs in China, said hybrid and fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen were an essential part of the transition to low-carbon mobility. "We need to promote the whole supply chain of low-carbon development," he added. Reporting by Zhang Yan, Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Friederike HeineOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Zhang Yan, Victoria Waldersee, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: of Science, Technology Wan Gang, Electric Vehicle, Industrial Development, REUTERS, Rights, Gang, New Energy Vehicle Congress, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Munich, Wan

☆ China's Xpeng says German carmakers ready to tackle crisis in EV race
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Globally, China leads EV sales, the latest data from tech industry researcher Counterpoint shows. The U.S. has the fastest growing EV sales with Germany in third place. Chinese companies including Xpeng, BYD and Leapmotor (9863.HK) are seeking the higher margins and faster growth overseas markets can offer, which means they are challenging European companies on their home turf with cheaper models. "The Chinese companies are flooding into overseas markets like mushrooms, deepening their sense of crisis," Gu said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said EV competition from abroad should be a spur, not a worry for German carmakers.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Hildegard Mueller, Markus Soeder, Angelika Warmuth, Xpeng, China's carmakers, Brian Gu, Gu, Mueller, ” Gu, “, ”, Jia Jianxu, Zheng, Zhang Yan, Victoria Waldersee, Josephine Mason, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: German Association of, Automotive, REUTERS, Rights, HK, IAA, Automotive Industry, EV, Germany, Reuters, Volkswagen, SAIC, Xuanyuan Academy, Germany's IAA, New Energy Vehicle Congress, Gang, Thomson Locations: Bavarian, Munich, Germany, Europe, China, U.S, Britain, France

☆ CATL Chairman: we need partnerships to address disparities in EV growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MUNICH, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Chinese battery giant CATL's (300750.SZ) chairman Robin Zeng called for global partners to accelerate electric vehicle development at a Chinese EV forum at the Munich auto show IAA Mobility on Wednesday. Zeng said in a speech addressing an audience including heads of major German suppliers that there was a growing disparity in EV adoption across different regions worldwide due to differences in policies, industrial foundations and technology development. He pointed to higher proportions of electric vehicles among total car sales in China and Europe, with the United States, South East Asia, and Australia lagging behind. Reporting by Zhang Yan, Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Friederike HeineOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Robin Zeng, Zeng, Zhang Yan, Victoria Waldersee, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: Thomson Locations: MUNICH, Munich, China, Europe, United States, South East Asia, Australia

"Chinese manufacturers will adapt vehicles to the European market step by step through user experience and customer orientation," Bosch (ROBG.UL) CEO Stefan Hartung told Reuters at Munich's IAA mobility show. Bosch's Chinese partnerships include developing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for most of Chinese EV maker BYD's (002594.SZ) cars, electric motors for luxury EV maker Human Horizons and is a supplier for Nio (9866.HK). Chinese EV makers including BYD, Nio, Xpeng (9868.HK) and Leapmotor (9863.HK) are all targeting Europe's EV market, where sales soared nearly 55% to about 820,000 vehicles in the first seven months of 2023, making up about 13% of all car sales. "When we talk to our Chinese customers, there are very concrete plans to build plants in Europe," ZF CEO Holger Klein told Reuters. Continental CEO Nikolai Setzer told Reuters the supplier expects "the Chinese to go global and build plants in Europe."

Persons: Leonhard Simon, Bosch, Stefan Hartung, Hartung, Holger Klein, Nikolai Setzer, Setzer, Nick Carey, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Zoey Zhang, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, BYD's, Human, HK, Europe's EV, Jato Dynamics, Friedrichshafen, ZF, Continental, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, China, Europe

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during an event at the 2023 Munich Auto Show IAA Mobility, in Munich, Germany, September 5, 2023. The expansion will make range anxiety a thing of the past for EV drivers, he added. Europe's biggest economy has only 90,000 public charging points but is targeting 1 million by 2030 to boost EV take-up. Addressing the protests, Scholz said at the end of his tour: "Protests are part of public and democratic debate ... but it is a little anachronistic. On competition from China in EV production, Scholz said: "Competition should spur us on, not scare us.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Leonhard Simon, Scholz, Victoria Waldersee, Andreas Rinke, Jan Schwartz, Friederike Heine, Sarah Marsh, Miranda Murray, David Goodman Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, IAA, EV, Sporting, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, HK, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, Rights MUNICH, Europe, China, Japanese, Korea

☆ Qualcomm to supply BMW and Mercedes with chips for displays, voice features
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Stephen Nellis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAN FRANCISCO/MUNICH, Sept 5 (Reuters) - U.S. semiconductor company Qualcomm (QCOM.O) on Tuesday said it will supply chips to power in-car infotainment systems to luxury automakers Mercedes (MBGn.DE) and BMW (BMWG.DE). Qualcomm is the leading supplier of the chips used in smartphones, a market that has slumped over the past year. Qualcomm said in a statement it will supply BMW with chips that will help power voice commands inside the car. It also said it will supply chips for the next version of the Mercedes E class models, which will be available in the U.S. in 2024. "One of the things we're very focused on the company is to find new areas for growth... automotive is one of those areas," Amon said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Cristiano Amon, Amon, Stephen Nellis, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Rashmi Aich, Kim Coghill Organizations: Qualcomm, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, BMW, Mercedes, Arm Holdings, SoftBank Group Corp, Thomson Locations: MUNICH, U.S, Munich, Britain, San Francisco

☆ Ford pushes back Explorer series production in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Jan Schwartz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People stand near a logo of Ford at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUNICH, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Ford (F.N) will push back series production of its long-awaited SUV Explorer model at its Cologne site by around six months to wait for a new generation of Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) battery technology to be available, its Germany chief said on Monday. The U.S. carmaker sells two all-electric SUVs and an e-Transit van in Europe, but seven new models are in the pipeline by 2024, including two produced in Cologne and one in Romania. Production of the second new model in Cologne, also built on Volkswagen's MEB platform, will start a few weeks after the first, Sander said. Reporting by Jan Schwartz, Writing by Victoria Waldersee Editing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, carmaker, Sander, Ford, Jan Schwartz, Victoria Waldersee, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Ford, Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, IAA, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, Cologne, Germany, Europe, Aachen, U.S, Romania

[1/6] A view shows model TO3 of Leapmotor, a Chinese automobile manufacturer, displayed during an event a day ahead of the official opening of the 2023 Munich Auto Show IAA Mobility, in Munich, Germany, September 4, 2023. Chinese EV makers, including BYD (002594.SZ), Nio (9866.HK) and Xpeng (9868.HK) are all targeting Europe's EV market, where sales soared nearly 55% to about 820,000 vehicles in the first seven months of 2023, making up about 13% of all car sales. The arrival of Chinese EV makers in Europe has raised concerns they could dominate EV sales. Xpeng President Brian Gu said while European carmakers currently lag behind China, they have made a "huge commitment" to EVs with partnerships and large investments in technology. "I would never discount the large (carmakers) trying really hard to come back and focus on this important transition," Gu said.

Persons: Leonhard Simon, Luca de Meo, De Meo, Hildegard Mueller, Oliver Zipse, Oliver Blume, Brian Gu, Gu, Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, Dudenhoeffer, Nick Carey, Victoria Waldersee, Gilles Gillaume Christina Amann, Zoey Zhang, Jan Schwartz, Friederike Heine, Clarence Fernandez, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, China EV, Renault, Reuters, HK, Europe's EV, Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology, EV, German Association of, Automotive Industry, Jato Dynamics, BMW, Benz, Klasse, Volkswagen, Auto, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, China, MUNICH, BYD, Zhejiang, Europe, Asia

REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth Acquire Licensing RightsMUNICH, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) does not expect its sales in Europe to be all-electric by 2030 but will have its line-up ready, Chief Executive Ola Kaellenius said in an interview at the Munich car show. The premium carmaker has long said it is targeting all-electric sales by 2030 "where markets allow", saying customers will ultimately decide what product they want and pointing to the need for infrastructure to support the transition to electric vehicles (EV). Europe's EV market had grown significantly in recent years but likely wouldn't be ready for all-electric sales by 2030, Kaellenius said on the sidelines of the Munich show. "It's not going to be 100% in 2030, obviously... from the whole European market, but probably from the Mercedes side as well," he said. EV sales in Europe grew nearly 55% in the first seven months of 2023, to about 820,000 vehicles, making up about 13% of all car sales.

Persons: Mercedes, Angelika Warmuth, Ola Kaellenius, Kaellenius, It's, Oliver Zipse, Oliver Blume, Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray, Susan Fenton Organizations: Benz, REUTERS, Rights, Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, Europe, China

A Renault wallbox charging station is used by a Renault Captur hybrid car at a dealership in Les Sorinieres, near Nantes, France, October 23, 2020. Chinese EV makers, including BYD (002594.SZ), Nio (9866.HK) and Xpeng (9868.HK) are all targeting Europe's EV market, where sales soared nearly 55% to about 820,000 vehicles in the first seven months of 2023, making up about 13% of all car sales. The arrival of Chinese EV makers in Europe has raised concerns they will undercut local carmakers and dominate EV sales. Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) will present its CLA compact class and BMW (BMWG.DE) its Neue Klasse, both of which target higher range and efficiency, while halving production costs. Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) CEO Oliver Blume told reporters that through its partnerships in China, the carmaker aims to cut battery cell costs by 50%.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Luca de Meo, De Meo, Fabian Brandt, Oliver Wyman, Gilles Le Borgne, Oliver Blume, " Blume, Nick Carey, Victoria Waldersee, Gilles Gillaume, Christina Amann, Friederike Heine, Clarence Fernandez, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Renault, REUTERS, China EV, Reuters, HK, Europe's EV, EV, Jato Dynamics, Benz, BMW, Klasse, Volkswagen, Greenpeace, Protesters, Thomson Locations: Les Sorinieres, Nantes, France, China, MUNICH, BYD, Europe, Munich, Asia

☆ Xpeng says it plans to expand into more European markets next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People visit at the XPeng Motors booth at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China, April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUNICH, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng (9868.HK) plans to expand into more European markets, including Germany, Britain and France in 2024, president Brian Gu told reporters on Monday at the IAA Mobility motor show in Munich. China's EV makers are seeking to expand in the region, aiming for higher margins and faster growth in overseas markets and challenging European companies on their home turf with cheaper models. Chinese EV makers are also struggling with a bruising price war at home that has squeezed their profitability and capped growth. While their EV sales picked up rapidly in South East Asia and South America, the European market has remained difficult for Chinese auto brands.

Persons: Aly, Brian Gu, Gu, ”, Zhang Yan, Victoria Waldersee, Josephine Mason, Jason Neely Organizations: Auto, REUTERS, Rights, HK, IAA Mobility, China's, EV, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, Germany, Britain, France, Munich, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, South East Asia, South America, Europe

☆ Continental integrates Google Cloud into vehicle cockpit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man walks by the logo of German company Continental, one of the world's largest automotive suppliers, at its new plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico March 4, 2021. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUNICH, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Continental (CONG.DE) will integrate Google Cloud services into its vehicle cockpit system, the company said on Monday, enabling drivers to ask the vehicle for assistance such as context on nearby sights or information on the vehicle while driving. Technology companies from Google to Apple and Amazon are in a race to control carmakers' dashboards as software becomes an integral part of car design. Carmakers including General Motors, Renault, Nissan and Ford use embedded Google technology via a Google Automotive Services (GAS) package, offering features like Google Maps, Google Assistant and other applications, while others are integrating only a portion of Google's services into their cars. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; editing by Matthias WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fernando Carranza, Victoria Waldersee, Matthias Williams Organizations: Continental, REUTERS, Rights, Google, IAA, Technology, Apple, General Motors, Renault, Nissan, Ford, Google Automotive Services, Thomson Locations: Aguascalientes, Mexico, Munich, Germany

☆ Volkswagen has set up half of EV fast chargers planned until 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUNICH, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), Europe's largest carmaker, is making progress with the rollout of its network of electric vehicle fast chargers, the group's board member in charge of technology said on Monday. Thomas Schmall told journalists at the IAA car show in Munich that half of the 40,000 fast chargers Volkswagen plans to install until 2025 had already been set up. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Writing by Christoph Steitz; editing by Friederike HeineOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Thomas Schmall, Victoria Waldersee, Christoph Steitz, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Rights, IAA, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Munich

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