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☆ 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 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 'We are ready to engage': Europe's biggest carmakers brace for China's EV challenge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse speaks during the presentation of the new BMW "New Class" during an event ahead of the IAA motor show in Munich. Europe's dominant position in the automotive sector was established over many decades through its capacity to build superior combustion engines. The German behemoth has already created automotive software company CARIAD, as well as partnering with Chinese EV startup Xpeng, joint venture partner SAIC and autonomous driving company Horizon Robotics. watch nowHe added that Volkswagen has established "huge cost initiatives" and sees big opportunities to scale up its EV production while reducing battery production costs by 50%. Our electricity costs compared to China or North America are too high," Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer told CNBC on Monday.

Persons: Oliver Zipse, Christophe Périllat, Luca De Meo, Ampere, De Meo, CNBC's Annette Weisbach, Oliver Blume, " Blume, Blume, Klaus Zellmer, Joe Biden's, BEV, Zellmer Organizations: BMW, IAA, Getty, CNBC, Volkswagen, Renault, IAA Mobility, SAIC, Horizon Robotics, Volkswagen Group, CRU Group, Skoda Locations: Munich, China, Europe, North America, U.S, Canada, Spain, Germany

☆ Stocks stage a comeback, while two Club tech names report — and what's on tap for next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

All three major U.S. stock indices rebounded this past week following a lackluster August, delivering their best one-week performances since July. Here's a quick update on the past week: The August ADP employment report numbers came in lower than expected. Earnings : No Club companies report next week. Over 99% of S & P 500 companies have now reported earnings results for the second-quarter season, according to FactSet. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

Persons: Nonfarm payrolls, Dow Jones, Buster's, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Michael M Organizations: Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Labor, U.S . Labor Department, ISM Manufacturing, Broadcom, VMware, PMI, Photonics, Akoustis Tech, GameStop, Eagle Outfitters, SAIC, Brands, ABM Industries, Kroger, KR, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Traders, New York Stock Exchange, Santiago, Getty Locations: U.S, Asana, ASAN, New York City

India's EV market is small, with Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) dominating sales that made up less than 2% of all cars sold last fiscal year. All sources declined to be identified as the talks are still ongoing and a final decision has not been made. Founded in 2015, Leapmotor has less than 2% share of China's fragmented EV market, where it sells four mass market electric models. This has also forced MG Motor India to find local investors like JSW so it can raise equity. Leapmotor also has been in partnership talks with other major automakers, including Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), according to media reports.

Persons: JSW, Leapmotor, Sajjan Jindal, Aditi Shah, Zhang Yan, Neha Arora, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, DELHI, HK, MG Motor India, China's SAIC Motor Corp, EV, Tata Motors, MG Motor, Ford, JSW, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China, India, EVs, New Delhi, Shanghai

☆ India is warming up to a cooling China
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A screening policy that dramatically slowed investments into India looks ripe for some fine-tuning. India appears to be warming up to a larger Chinese presence in its businesses three years since it introduced an approval regime for investments from countries sharing a land border. Modi has made a deepening financial relationship with China dependent on a warming political one. India is “open” to investments from China, the former’s Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar told Financial Times in an interview published in July. Shein is set to re-enter India through a partnership with Reliance Retail, The Wall Street Journal reported in May.

Persons: Narendra Modi’s, Xi Jinping, hamstrung, Sajjan, Modi, Narendra Modi, BYD, Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Sajjan Jindal, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Indian, pharma, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Authorities, Apple, Reliance Industries, Wall Street, SAIC, Motor India, Economic Times, State, Electronics, Technology, Times, India’s, MG Motor India, Reliance Retail, Street, Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, South Africa, India, New Delhi, China, Johannesburg, Shanghai

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

Western automakers are rattled, with Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Peugeot-to-Fiat carmaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI), warning last month of an "invasion" of cheap Chinese EVs in Europe. But Chinese brands are likely to struggle to sell cars in Europe as cheaply as at home. CONSUMER TRUSTWhile some Chinese brands, such as MG, are well known in Europe, others like XPeng (9868.HK) and Nio need to build trust. Surveys indicate most potential EV buyers in Europe do not recognise Chinese brands. But among those aware of Chinese brands, 1% or fewer would consider buying one.

Persons: Annegret, Carlos Tavares, Chen Shihua, ” Shihua, Spiros Fotinos, Alexander Klose, BYD, Geely’s Lynk, Tesla, Aiways, Zeekr's Fotinos, ” Fotinos, Klose, Victoria Waldersee, Zhang Yan, Gilles Gillaume, Giulio Piovaccari, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Allianz . Western, Peugeot, Fiat, EV, New Energy Vehicle, Jato Dynamics, Logistics, Geely, South Korean, YouGov, GAC, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Europe, BERLIN, China, Beijing, Munich, Milan

☆ China is on course to overtake Japan and become the world's No.1 car exporter
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China, automobile, vehicles Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesChina is on course to overtake Japan as the world's top auto exporter by the end of 2023, according to Moody's Analytics. "At this pace, China is on track to overtake Japan by the end of the year," Moody's economists wrote, a global ranking which Japan has claimed since 2019. According to Moody's projections, China produces more than half the world's lithium supply, thanks to its low labor costs compared to rivals Japan and South Korea. Moody's AnalyticsAs a result, some of the world's largest auto companies have set up production facilities in China, including Tesla and BMW . The Asia-Pacific region, which is home to some of the world's largest auto exporting powerhouses such as South Korea, China and Japan, has seen a mixed recovery in auto exports, Moody's highlighted.

Persons: Moody's Organizations: Visual China, Getty, Japan, EV, Tesla, BMW, Chery, SAIC Locations: China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Thailand, Asia, Pacific

☆ Infineon boosts Malaysia investment as Q3 revenue above forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

For the full year, Infineon expects investments amounting to approximately 3 billion euros. The planned expansion of the Kulim fab is backed by customer commitments covering about 5 billion euros and about 1 billion euros in pre-payments, said Infineon, which said it would invest up to an additional 5 billion euros over the next five years. The company expects the expanded facility - together with its plant in Villach, Austria - to generate annual revenues of 7 billion euros. The company on Thursday confirmed its revenue outlook of around 16.2 billion euros, which it had raised in May. Infineon's third-quarter adjusted, or "segment", result was down 10% from the previous quarter at 1.067 billion euros, while its margin came in slightly lower than expected, at 26.1%.

Persons: Robert Habeck, Annalena Baerbock's, Annegret, Schwarz, Jochen Hanebeck, Ford, China's Cherry, Infineon's, Miranda Murray, Christina Amann, Friederike Heine, William Mallard Organizations: Infineon Technologies, REUTERS, Infineon, Lang, Semiconductor, SAIC, Thomson Locations: Dresden, Germany, Malaysia, BERLIN, electromobility, Villach, Austria

☆ Infineon shares slump on Q4 warning, eyes Malaysia expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Infineon forecast revenue of around 4 billion euros ($4.37 billion) in the fourth quarter, below expectations of 4.14 billion euros, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. The company, however, confirmed its revenue outlook of around 16.2 billion euros, which it had raised in May. Infineon's third-quarter adjusted result was down 10% from the previous quarter at 1.067 billion euros, while its margin came in slightly lower than expected, at 26.1%. MALAYSIA FACTORYInfineon said it will invest 5 billion euros over the next five years to build a power chip plant in Malaysia, on top of the 2 billion euros investment it had planned last year. For the full year, Infineon expects investments amounting to approximately 3 billion euros.

Persons: Robert Habeck, Annalena Baerbock's, Annegret, Gartner, Jochen Hanebeck, Infineon's, China's Cherry, Miranda Murray, Christina Amann, Friederike Heine, William Mallard, Kim Coghill Organizations: Infineon Technologies, REUTERS, Infineon, AMD, Qualcomm, JPMorgan, Semiconductor, MALAYSIA, Ford, SAIC, Thomson Locations: Dresden, Germany, Malaysia, Refinitiv, Infineon's, Villach, Austria, German

☆ Volkswagen Seeks to Regain Edge in China as It Cuts Delivery Forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Melissa Eddy | More About Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

But overall revenue increased 18.2 percent as the company stemmed some of its losses in China, where deliveries were down 1.2 percent. Western Europe provided the company with its strongest business, with 1.65 million vehicles ordered in the first half of the year, and 200,000 of them — or 12 percent — were electric vehicles, the company said. Volkswagen hopes that its investment in XPeng will help advance the German automaker’s electric vehicle software to the standards produced by Chinese manufacturers. Some analysts interpreted the move as a concession that Volkswagen was unable to compete with Chinese companies on the latest technology. But Oliver Blume, Volkswagen’s chief executive, expressed confidence that VW customers, including those in China, want more variety in their vehicles.

Persons: ”, Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, Oliver Blume, Mr, Blume, “ Organizations: Volkswagen, Volkswagen Group Rus, China, BYD, Audi, SAIC, British, Center for Automotive Research, “, Tesla, Volkswagen Group, Porsche, Lamborghini, VW Locations: China, Western Europe, Russia, Avilon, Moscow, XPeng, Duisburg, Germany

Delivering affordable electric vehicles (EVs) has become a priority for car makers worldwide as the shift to cleaner driving has come with high prices, due largely to battery costs. In 2022, Chinese car makers had a 9% share of Europe's EV market, nearly double the previous year's figure, according to forecasts by consultancy Inovev. Tavares said Western car makers needed to use "the same weapons" as their Chinese rivals, sourcing parts in lower cost countries and striking partnerships with battery suppliers that offer the best combination of energy, cost and weight. Once-dominant Western automakers are also striving to regain ground in China itself, the world's largest car market, after losing share to local manufacturers. Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) said on Thursday it was sticking to its strategy and would not engage in a price war to "buy" market share in China.

Persons: France's, Thierry Pieton, Luca de Meo, Tesla, Carlos Tavares, Tavares, Mercedes, Ola Kaellenius, Kaellenius, Victoria Waldersee, Silvia Aloisi, Mark Potter Organizations: Western, France's Renault, Finance, Renault, SAIC, Inovev, Jato, Tesla, Peugeot, Fiat, Benz, Mercedes, Thomson Locations: Europe, U.S, Western, China, Berlin

☆ Global automakers scramble to reset China strategies as sales slow
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Global automakers, who for years have dominated the market along with their Chinese state-run partners, have been slow to pivot to the fast-growing market for EVs with competitive offerings. "This major collaboration between Volkswagen and Xpeng is a milestone for our electrification strategy 'in China for China'," said Ralf Brandstatter, a VW board member on his social media account. Their deeper pockets give established foreign automakers who are determined to fight for share in China, the ability to play a long game. Kia (000270.KS) is to enter China's EV market with its first EV, the EV6 crossover, via imports in August. "The German brands benefit from significant global scale," said He Lei, CEO of Chinese EV trading platform xChuxing.

Persons: Aly, Yale Zhang, Ralf Brandstatter, We've, Mary Barra, Tu Le, Yang Honghai, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen's Audi, Lei, It's, Bill Russo, Automobility, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Kevin Krolicki Organizations: Audi, Volkswagen, Auto, REUTERS, General Motors, Toyota, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Global, BMW, Mitsubishi, Automotive Foresight, GM, Reuters Graphics Volkswagen, BYD, China's Xpeng, HK, SAIC, VW, Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, CHINA EV INC, Tesla, China EV Inc, Volkswagen's, EV, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Ford, Renault, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, SHANGHAI, CHINA, Kia China, KS

☆ Volkswagen invests $700 million in Chinese EV maker Xpeng to boost sluggish sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The German group’s Audi subsidiary will also work more closely with its existing partner, SAIC Motor, China’s biggest car maker. Shares in Xpeng jumped more than 30% Thursday in Hong Kong, leading a broad rally in Chinese EV stocks. China is the single largest market for Volkswagen, accounting for about 40% of its global sales and half of its profits. In the first quarter of 2023, BYD, the Chinese EV maker backed by Warren Buffett, surpassed Volkswagen to become the largest brand by sales in China, according to official car insurance registration data. The German car maker said it would strengthen its strategic position in China, including beefing up its capacity for e-mobility, digitalization and autonomous driving.

Persons: ”, Ralf Brandstätter, Xpeng, Warren Buffett, It’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Volkswagen, VW, Audi, SAIC, China’s, “ Volkswagen Locations: Hong Kong, German, Xpeng, China, Xinjiang, Germany, BYD, Europe, Hefei, Anhui, Hefei city

☆ Volkswagen buys stake in Xpeng, will jointly develop two new EVs with the Chinese automaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( John Rosevear | In Jrosevear | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Volkswagen and Xpeng will jointly develop two new VW-brand EVs for China based on Xpeng's electric G9. Volkswagen said Wednesday that it has signed a deal to jointly develop two new electric vehicles for China with Chinese EV maker Xpeng . As part of the deal, Volkswagen will invest about $700 million in Xpeng, taking a 4.99% stake. In a separate statement confirming the deal, Xpeng said the two new vehicles will also incorporate its advanced driver-assist software. Volkswagen also confirmed that its Audi subsidiary has signed a separate deal with its longtime Chinese joint venture partner, Shanghai-based SAIC Motor , to jointly develop new Audi-branded EVs for the Chinese market.

Persons: Xpeng, Ralf Brandstätter Organizations: Xpeng, VW, Volkswagen, Chinese, EV, Audi, SAIC Locations: China, Xpeng, U.S, Shanghai

☆ Explainer: What's behind China's failed 'truce' in EV price war?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle (EV) is displayed at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. Toyota (7203.T) offered a discount on its bZ4X EV, and Nissan (7201.T) offered an incentive on its Ariya EV. Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) joint ventures with SAIC and FAW also announced price cuts in China on their ID-series EVs on Friday. AlixPartners said while China's EV market will continue to grow rapidly, intensifying competition and excess capacity will also drive a shakeout. In one example, Chinese automakers have invested $1.4 billion in Thailand since 2020, now dominating the Thai EV market after taking share from the Japanese brands that have long operated there.

Persons: Florence Lo, Tesla, CAAM, Li Auto, Liu Xu, furloughs, AlixPartners, Zhang Yan, Kevin Krolicki, Tom Hogue Organizations: Tesla, Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, China Association of Auto Manufacturers, stoke, HK, Volvo, Chery Automobile, Global, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, EV, General Motors, Honda, Consultancy, Consumers, SAIC, GAC, Dongfeng, FAW Group, China's Ministry of Industry, Information Technology, FAW, National Strategy Institute of Tsinghua University, International, Hyundai, Thai EV, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Shanghai, Europe, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Singapore

[1/2] The BYD Atto 3 EV car is displayed at the 39 Thailand International Motor Expo, in Bangkok, Thailand, November 30, 2022. Siam Motors is in talks with several Chinese automakers about potential partnerships, particularly for high-end electric vehicles, vice president Sebastien Dupuy said in an interview, referring to previously unreported discussions. Thailand is Southeast Asia's largest car producer and exporter, and its second-largest sales market after Indonesia. Japanese automakers are so dominant that for decades they have treated it almost as an extension of their home market. Thailand's pitch to Chinese EV makers has been its existing supply base – built largely for Japanese automakers – and readiness to provide incentives.

Persons: Athit, Sebastien Dupuy, Pasit Chantharojwong, Wall's Ora, Tesla, Isuzu, Hajime Yamamoto, Yamamoto, Goldman Sachs, General Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Narong Sritalayon, BEV, Chayut, Daniel Leussink, Kevin Krolicki, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Siam Motors, Nissan Motors, EV, Reuters Graphics CHINA, JAPAN, Toyota Corolla, China's SAIC, Toyota, Honda, Nomura Research, Reuters, Thailand's, of Investment, Wall, Thomson Locations: Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand BANGKOK, Siam, BYD, China, Thai, Southeast, Indonesia, Japan, Europe, JAPAN Bangkok, Tokyo

☆ Chinese electric vehicle investment plans in Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

July 10 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are pouring into Thailand, having committed to invest $1.44 billion in production facilities in Southeast Asia's biggest automaking hub that has long been dominated by Japanese companies. IN THE PIPELINESeveral deals are also in the pipeline, according to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), which has been pursuing Chinese automakers. Chongqing Changan, GAC and Chery did not respond to requests for comment on their plans for Thailand. RISING POPULARITYThe influx of Chinese models appears to be helping to boost the popularity of EVs in Thailand, the second-largest car market in Southeast Asia. On Toyota's (7203.T) Thailand website, the Corolla Altis is priced at 894,000 baht and the Yaris Ativ at 549,000 baht.

Persons: China's, Thailand's, BOI, Geely, Wall's Ora, Devjyot, Jamie Freed Organizations: Asia's, General Motors, EV, Electronics, Auto, SAIC, Charoen, New Energy, Assembly, of Investment, State, Chongqing Changan Automobile, Ford, Mazda, Guangzhou Automobile Group, China's Chery, Chongqing Changan, GAC, Chery, Reuters, Corolla, Thomson Locations: Thailand, EVs, Southeast Asia, Europe, Chongqing, China, BOI, Bangkok

☆ Volkswagen China chief asks China's premier Li for clarity on data transfers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, June 27 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) head of its business in China said on Tuesday that the carmaker needed clarity on cross-border data transfers in a meeting with the country's Premier Li Qiang, asking how China would cooperate with Europe amid rising political tensions. "As a globalized industry, the transformation of the automotive sector highly depends on international exchange of personnel, data and knowledge. We therefore need more clarity on cross-border data transfers," executive Ralf Brandstaetter said, according to a copy of the speech held at a World Economic Forum meeting in Tianjin. "What are the major considerations of China, and how China will cooperate with Europe in this regard?" SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co joined in the price war in March, offering 3.7 billion yuan ($512.52 million) in cash subsidies for car purchases in China.

Persons: Li Qiang, Ralf Brandstaetter, Brandstaetter, Victoria Waldersee, Matthias Williams Organizations: Volkswagen, Qualcomm, Horizon Robotics, Tesla, SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, China, Europe, Tianjin, North America, Italian, Hefei

June 16 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) will face investors hungry for answers at its capital markets day next Wednesday on how it will achieve high cost-cutting targets and whether it will heed their calls for an independent audit of its co-owned Xinjiang plant. "The 21 June CMD is an opportunity to reset a fraught relationship with investors, a challenging exercise," Jefferies wrote in a note on Friday. Investors also demanded that Volkswagen conduct an independent audit of the Urumqi plant, which executives have is only possible with the agreement of joint venture partner SAIC (600104.SS). Alongside targets, investors needed details on how the carmaker expects to make its EV production more cost-effective, Daniel Roeska of Bernstein Research wrote in a note on Thursday. "The risk is that instead we see more punchy earnings and volume targets, with little to support them," he added.

Persons: CMD, Jefferies, carmaker, Oliver Blume, Arno Antlitz, Blume, Daniel Roeska, Jan Schwartz, Victoria Waldersee, Conor Humphries Organizations: Porsche, Volkswagen, Investors, SAIC, Bernstein Research, Thomson Locations: Xinjiang, Urumqi, Germany

☆ China's central bank upbeat on Q2 GDP growth, confident on 2023 targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Some analysts have predicted the central bank may begin to cut key rates as soon as next week after a flurry of weak data highlighted the fragility of China's economic rebound. "It is expected that year-on-year growth of gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter will be relatively high (mainly due to the base effects). The CPI is expected to gradually pick up in the second half of the year and be above 1% year-on-year by December," the PBOC statement quoted Yi as saying. The government has set a modest GDP growth target of around 5% for this year, after badly missing the 2022 goal. Reporting by Ellen Zhang and Ryan Woo; editing by John Stonestreet and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yi Gang, Yi, Ellen Zhang, Ryan Woo, John Stonestreet, Sharon Singleton Organizations: People's Bank of China, Group, SAIC Motor Corp, Citibank, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, United States, Europe, Shanghai, China

☆ VW's China joint venture transforms Shanghai plant for EV production
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Swen Pfoertner/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoSHANGHAI, June 6 (Reuters) - Volkswagen 's Chinese joint venture with SAIC Motor (600104.SS) has transformed one of its plants in Shanghai for production, research and development of electric vehicles (EV), the German automaker said on Tuesday. Production of internal combustion engine models at the main plant of SAIC Volkswagen in Anting of Shanghai will be relocated to other plants, Volkswagen said in an emailed statement to Reuters, which came after comments on social media saying Volkswagen was shutting a plant in Shanghai. The change will not affect the production capacity for individual models, it added. The move underscores Volkswagen's efforts to accelerate its shift to electrification as it has been losing shares in its biggest market where it lags behind Chinese rivals in launching new EV models. Volkswagen-branded cars have been outsold by electrified vehicle maker BYD since November last year, according to data from industrial associations.

Persons: Swen, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Volkswagen, SAIC, SAIC Volkswagen, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wolfsburg, Germany, SHANGHAI, Shanghai, Anting

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