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☆ Jeep, Dodge maker Stellantis to invest $1.6 billion in Chinese EV startup Leapmotor
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Arjun Kharpal | CNBCStellantis on Thursday said it will invest 1.5 billion euros ($1.58 billion) in Chinese electric vehicle startup Leapmotor , as traditional automakers look for a way to compete in China's cutthroat market. The companies will form the Leapmotor International joint venture, aiming to boost sales of the Chinese brand's electric cars overseas. China, the world's biggest electric vehicle market, is dominated by domestic company BYD , as well as U.S. automaker Tesla . Traditional vehicle companies have been seen to be too slow to transition to manufacturing electric vehicles, hampering potential growth in the Chinese market. Stellantis eyes China boostThe deal could boost Stellantis' efforts in China, by having a local partner lead the way.

Persons: Arjun Kharpal, Li Auto, Stellantis, Abhik Mukherjee, Carlos Tavares, Leapmotor, Zhu Jiangming, Counterpoint's Mukherjee, Bill Russo Organizations: Leapmotor, CNBC, International, JV, Chrysler, Maserati, Tesla, Huawei, Counterpoint Research, EV, IAA, Guangzhou Automobile Company Locations: Leapmotor . China, China, Hangzhou, Munich, Greater China, Europe, Stellantis, China's Xpeng

☆ Ford’s electric drive is going the wrong way
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Rebecca Cook Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Ford Motor (F.N) may have dealt with its labor problem. While the ebb and flow of fossil-fueled fortunes is nothing new, Ford’s electric-car pivot is printing more red ink than ever. But Ford is trying to scale to profitable sales and right now, things are going the wrong way. The company’s electric division recorded a nearly $37,000 operating loss per battery-powered ride sold this quarter, 51% worse than last year. With once sky-high electric prices now free-falling, Ford faces the brass-tacks problem of simply grinding down costs.

Persons: Jim Farley, Rebecca Cook, can’t, nix, Ford, Jonathan Guilford, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Ford Motor, North American, REUTERS, Reuters, Ford, General Motors, Cox, X, Unilever, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S, Detroit

The company on Thursday reported a 12.4% adjusted return on sales in its cars division in the third quarter. Mercedes-Benz described the market environment as "subdued", but Wilhelm said "we are beyond the worst" when it comes to inflation and energy pricing. Mercedes-Benz earlier this month reported a 4% drop in overall third-quarter sales, with top-end sales down 11%, partly caused by model changeovers and a shortage in 48-volt systems supplied by Bosch. Car revenue dipped 3.8% due to the fall in deliveries, but the average selling price remained stable, the company said. ($1 = 0.9485 euros)Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Rachel More, Jacqueline Wong and Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Issei Kato, BEV, Harald Wilhelm, Wilhelm, Mercedes, Tesla, Victoria Waldersee, Rachel More, Jacqueline Wong, Jan Harvey Organizations: Mercedes, Benz, Japan, REUTERS, EV, BMW, VW, Ford, Porsche, Bosch, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, BERLIN, Germany, United States, China, stoke

☆ Tesla gets $100 mln US ultra-fast charger order from BP EV charging unit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - BP's (BP.L) electric vehicle charger unit is ordering $100 million worth of Tesla (TSLA.O) ultra-fast chargers for rollout in the United States, the first deployment of Tesla's chargers on an independent network, the companies said on Thursday. "Selling our fast-charging hardware is a new step for us, and one we're looking to expand," Tesla's senior director for charging infrastructure Rebecca Tinucci said in a statement. "(This) is a major step forward in our ambitions for high speed, open access charging infrastructure in the U.S.," BP Pulse global CEO Richard Bartlett said. The 250 kilowatt BP Pulse-branded chargers will be compatible with both Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) and Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors enabling the charging of EV models from other carmakers. Automakers have been moving to adopt Tesla's NACS, taking the Elon Musk-led company's superchargers closer to becoming the industry standard at the expense of the rival CCS.

Persons: Tesla, Rebecca Tinucci, BP, Richard Bartlett, Tesla's, Elon, company's superchargers, Nick Carey, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: BP, EV, Travel Centers of America, Amoco, Hertz, CCS, Thomson Locations: United States, Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, U.S

Expectations for persistently higher interest rates has led companies to alter plans as they eye 2024 warily. "EV demand next year could be lower than expectations," Lee Chang-sil, chief financial officer at South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) said on Wednesday, due to global economic uncertainty. GM on Tuesday said it would focus near-term EV efforts on meeting demand rather than hitting specific volume targets. If interest rates remain high or if they go even higher, it's that much harder for people to buy the car." Like many other industrial firms, carmakers hedge against commodity price swings, and with EV demand slowing, raw material prices have softened, including those used heavily in batteries.

Persons: Tesla, Aly, Lee Chang, Mary Barra, Elon Musk, Nidec, China's CATL, Ben Klayman, David Gaffen, Eric Onstad, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Honda, EV, sil, South, LG Energy, General Motors, GM, Investors, Tech, Cox Automotive, European Union, Volkswagen, Fastmarkets, CME, U.S, Ford, EVs, Victoria Waldersee, Thomson Locations: Tesla China, Shanghai, China, KS, United States, Mexico, Detroit, New York, London, Berlin

☆ Stellantis nears deal to buy 20% of Chinese EV maker Leapmotor - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A flag with the logo of Stellantis is seen at the company's corporate office building in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines near Paris, France, May 5, 2021. The partnership would also give Stellantis access to the EV maker's parts and certain technologies, according to the report. Stellantis, whose brands include Fiat and Peugeot, has only a very small presence in China, the world's largest auto market. The group and rivals such as Renault (RENA.PA) are concerned about growing competition from cheap Chinese electric cars in Europe. The companies are hammering out the final details of a transaction and an announcement could be made in the coming days, Bloomberg said.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Stellantis, Leapmotor, Akanksha, Gilles Guillaume, Giulio Piovaccari, Zhang Yan, Keith Weir, Shilpi Majumdar, Shweta Agarwal, Mike Harrison, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Stellantis, Bloomberg, Zhejiang, HK, Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, Hong Kong, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Thomson Locations: Saint, Yvelines, Paris, France, China, Europe, Hong Kong, Bengaluru, Milan, Shanghai

☆ GM earnings give its restive workers an inch
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

On Tuesday, GM reported strong earnings that will embolden staff who have walked out at all three of the big Detroit firms. GM beat analysts’ expectations for third-quarter profit despite a $200 million hit from the strikes that started in September. That said, the firm run by Mary Barra also ditched its official forecast as it wrestles with the $200 million weekly costs from labor disruptions. Fortunately for GM, talks with its union seem to have narrowed in from earlier demands that would have vaporized the industry’s operating profit. Ongoing strikes by the United Auto Workers union, which represents GM employees, cost the company $200 million in the third quarter.

Persons: walkouts, Mary Barra, Shawn Fain, Tesla, Elon, Fain, John Foley, Sharon Lam Organizations: General Motors Company, Reuters, United Auto Workers, General Motors, Ford Motor, GM, Cox Automotive, UAW, Elon Musk’s, United Auto Workers union, Detroit, Thomson Locations: Queens , New York, U.S, Detroit, Wells, GM’s Arlington

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Feeling of uncertainty is hard to shrug off for investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Asia-Pacific markets started the week lower ahead of inflation readings from across the region, while gold hit a three-month high and gained for the second straight week amid fears of heightening conflict in the Middle East. The carmakers will be under the radar this week amid ongoing strikes and contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers union. X to launch new subscription tiersOwner Elon Musk said X, the social media service formerly known as Twitter, will launch two new tiers of subscriptions for users.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk Organizations: CNBC, Dow Jones, Treasury, Microsoft, Meta, General Motors, Ford, United Auto Workers, Twitter Locations: Asia, Pacific, U.S, China

☆ Insider Today: You should buy a house now
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementIn today's big story, we're looking at why it's a good time to buy a house. RichLegg/Getty ImagesIt's a pretty terrible time to buy a house these days, which is why it's a good time to buy a house. AdvertisementAdvertisementInsider's Jennifer Sor detailed why it's a good time to buy a house. Part of the issue is that mortgage rates won't magically drop overnight. The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, senior editor and anchor, in New York City.

Persons: OpenAI's Sam Altman, Jennifer Sor, Jacob Zinkula, they're, that's, Gen Zers, who's, it's, Doug Haynes, Haynes, Steve Cohen's Point72, Leon Cooperman isn't, Arantza Pena Popo, carmakers, EVs, Tyler Le, Satya Nadella, Mathias Döpfner, Axel Springer, Jensen Huang, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: FBI, RichLegg, Norias Research, Investments, Ameriprise, Insurance, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Nvidia, ZTE Corp, Philips, NBA Locations: West Palm Beach, Fla, Tokyo, Oklahoma City, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

[1/2] Graphite powder, used for battery paste, is pictured in a Volkswagen pilot line for battery cell production in Salzgitter, Germany, May 18, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - As China moved to control some exports of key battery mineral graphite on Friday, miners elsewhere face a race against time to bring new projects to fruition to secure supplies for the next generation of electric vehicles. To stay ahead in a fast-changing industry, carmakers have been investing directly in mining projects to ensure future supplies of the battery inputs. "We see China's move as a potential catalyst to highlight the urgency of improving domestic graphite supply," said John DeMaio, president of Graphex's graphene division. "We've aligned ourselves with several graphite miners outside of China.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Hugues Jacquemin, China's, John DeMaio, DeMaio, Stefan Bernstein, Graphite's Jacquemin, Shishir Poddar, Nelson Banya, Clara Denina, Divya Rajagopal, Ernest Scheyder, Veronica Brown, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Graphex, HK, EV, GreenRoc, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, China, Warren , Michigan, Greenland, Northern, Tirupati, Madagascar, Mozambique

☆ Low-cost EV maker e.GO eyes European, US expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aachen-based e.GO's microfactories cost around $60 million to build, are highly automated and can make around 30,000 EVs annually, Vezvaei said. The company is going public via a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Athena Consumer Acquisition , which will value the EV maker at around $900 million, plus raise $235 million in cash and $50 million in debt financing. The EV maker currently makes the e.Wave X, a small four-seater EV for 24,990 euros ($26,457) at its plant in Aachen. The company's listing comes a few years after a major wave of SPAC mergers where EV startups raised billions of dollars. "This is not yet just another EV company, but a company that actually makes cars," she said.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Ali Vezvaei, Vezvaei, e.GO, Tesla's, Isabelle Freidheim, Nick Carey, Jason Neely Organizations: e.GO Mobile, REUTERS, Mobile, U.S, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Aachen, Germany, Europe, North Macedonia, U.S

☆ Moscow tells officials to buy Russian Ladas, Chinese cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Alexey Malgavko//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - Russia's government on Friday published a list of domestically-produced cars that state officials should buy, all either Russian or Chinese brands, highlighting Beijing's infiltration of Russia's automobile industry since the Ukraine war. As the West shuns Russia, Russia has shunned Western corporations. The Russian cars listed were five Lada models, produced by Russia's largest carmaker Avtovaz, as well as the UAZ, Aurus and Moskvich brands, and Evolute electric cars. The Moskvich, a revived Soviet-era car, is emblematic of China's growing sway over Russia's car industry. Five models of Chinese carmaker Haval, which has been producing cars at its plant in the Tula region, 200 kilometres from Moscow, since 2019, were listed.

Persons: VAZ, Alexey Malgavko, Vladimir Putin, Sehol, Haval, Gleb Stolyarov, Alexander Marrow, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Lada, REUTERS, Renault, Nissan, West shuns, Kommersant, Apple, Industry and Trade Ministry, Russia's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Soviet, Izhevsk, Russia, Ukraine, West shuns Russia, Moscow, Tula

☆ China’s graphite curbs send green warning shot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Global demand for graphite, seen at 770,000 tonnes this year, is expected to treble by 2033, according to estimates by Fastmarkets graphite analyst Georgi Georgiev. China currently accounts for 64% of the global production of natural graphite and more than half of the artificial equivalent. More importantly, the People’s Republic refines more than 90% of the graphite into high-purity material used in EV batteries. This echoes the approach China used earlier this year to restrict exports of gallium and germanium, two metals used in chips and fibre optic cables, triggering a fall in international shipments. Mining graphite in Europe, which wants to lead in EV adoption, is simply more expensive, says Aiden Lavelle, CEO of miner European Green Metals.

Persons: Georgi Georgiev, Aiden Lavelle, Carmakers, Una Galani, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, People’s, EV, Shanghai Putailai, Energy Technology, Metals, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Republic, Shanghai, Finland, Sweden, Beijing, Western, Europe, U.S

☆ China restricts exports of graphite as it escalates a global tech war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“At the moment both China and Western countries are engaged in a tit for tat, highlighting how protectionist measures often spread. China, which dominates the world’s production and processing of graphite, says export permits will be needed, starting in December, for synthetic graphite material — including high-purity, high-strength and high-density versions — as well as for natural flake graphite. China was the world’s leading graphite producer last year, accounting for an estimated 65% of global production, it said. Gallium, germanium restrictionsThe export curbs were announced as China faces pressure from multiple governments over its commercial and trade practices. In July, Beijing imposed export restrictions on gallium and germanium, two minerals essential for making semiconductors.

Persons: ”, Stefan Legge, carmakers, Ivan Lam Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Ministry of Commerce, Administration, Customs, “, University of St, Institute for Energy Research, EV, International Energy Agency, Geological Survey, Counterpoint Research, US Department of Energy Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, University of St Gallen, Switzerland, Washington, DC, Europe, Asia, Beijing, Russia, Ukraine

Volkswagen logo is pictured at the 2022 New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Now expects operating profit margin on sales of 7.0%-7.3%Keeps outlook for sales, deliveriesTo publish final Q3 results on Oct. 26FRANKFURT, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) cut its profit margin outlook for the current year on Friday, blaming negative effects from raw materials hedges at the end of the third quarter. Volkswagen kept its outlook for deliveries and sales, still expecting to hand between 9 million and 9.5 million vehicles to clients this year, while sales are forecast to grow by 10% to 15%. The carmaker, which is due to release full quarterly figures on Oct. 26, said third-quarter sales grew 12% to 78.8 billion euros, while operating profit was up around 14% at 4.9 billion. Volkswagen's controlling shareholder, Porsche SE (PSHG_p.DE), specified its 2023 outlook following Volkswagen's warning and now expects group profit after tax in the lower half of the 4.5 billion euro to 6.5 billion euro forecast range.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Bernstein, Christoph Steitz, Ilona Wissenbach, Jan Harvey, Rod Nickel, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Volkswagen, Porsche, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, FRANKFURT, Frankfurt, Slovenia

☆ The auto industry overestimated EV demand this year. Now companies are scrambling.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Nora Naughton | Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The EV segment has enjoyed a long period of exponential growth. AdvertisementAdvertisementCar companies talk a big game about the transition to electric cars. He currently has enough electric cars to last for 100 days across all brands. Though the EV share of some automakers' businesses is small, the EV segment has been enjoying a long period of exponential growth. And without more affordable options, dealers told Insider they are running out of customers to pitch their electric cars to.

Persons: carmakers, EVs, —, Ford, General Motors, it's, It's, Vince Sheehy, " Sheehy, Cameron Johnson, Sheehy, Tesla, Eric Freshee, Stewart Stropp, Power, Stropp, Martin French Organizations: Service, General, Ford, Hyundai, Volkswagen, GMC, Magic City Auto Group, ICE, EV, Tamaroff Locations: Volta, Washington, D.C, Virginia, headwinds, Midwest, EVs

☆ Analyst discusses Tesla's earnings call
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTesla will probably be able to achieve its goal of 1.8 million deliveries by year-end: AnalystYang Wang, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, discusses Tesla's earnings call and says it faces fierce competition from traditional carmakers in the U.S. and Europe and companies in China.

Persons: Yang Wang Organizations: Counterpoint Research Locations: U.S, Europe, China

☆ Renault sales up 7.6% thanks to higher prices but forex weighs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Gilles Guillaume | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A logo of Renault is seen on a car during the French carmaker Renault's 2022 annual results presentation in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, Feburary 16, 2023. Revenues came in at 10.51 billion euros ($11.07 billion), a touch above an analyst consensus forecast of 10.46 billion euros distributed by the company. Like other European carmakers it is facing strong competition in the EV market from Tesla (TSLA.O) and cheaper Chinese models. Renault confirmed its targets for 2023, adding it now expected a group operating margin closer to 8% for the year from a previous 7-8% forecast. ($1 = 0.9497 euros)Reporting by Gilles Guillaume, editing by Silvia AloisiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christian Hartmann, carmaker, Ampere, Gilles Guillaume, Silvia Aloisi Organizations: Renault, REUTERS, Companies Renault SA, Tesla, carmaker Renault, Turkish, Thomson Locations: Boulogne, Billancourt, Paris, Turkey, Argentina

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition unveiled in July a strategy toward de-risking Germany's economic relationship with China, calling Beijing a "partner, competitor and systemic rival". German investment in Asia excluding China is rising as a share of overall investment. "No company is going to say that it will leave China," said Sandra Ebner, senior economist at Union Investment, Germany's second-largest fund manager. "But what companies are increasingly doing is to produce in China for China and to position themselves around China for the remaining Asian or global market." In July, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck travelled to India with a delegation of executives to discuss opportunities for German companies.

Persons: Thomas Nuernberger, Nuernberger, Olaf Scholz's, Volker Treier, Munk, Ferdinand Munk, Scholz, Angela Merkel's, Martin Brudermueller, Max Zenglein, Juergen Matthes, Markus Horn, Matthias Bianchi, Joe Biden, Wolfgang Niedermark, Jan Roennfeld, Roennfeld, Sandra Ebner, BDI's Niedermark, Robert Habeck, Christoph Steitz, Sarah Marsh, Maria Martinez, Aditya Kalra, Sarita Chaganti Singh, Xinghui, Orathai, Brenda Goh Organizations: Reuters, Commerce and Industry, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, BASF, IW Institute, Big, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Economic Institute, Horn, German Association of, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, Union Investment, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, BERLIN, Berlin, Beijing, China, Taiwan, India, Asia, Germany, Europe, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, South China, European, Thailand, United States, Mexico, Indonesian, Eastern Germany, Malaysia, Frankfurt, New Delhi, Xinghui Kok, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai

☆ Campaigners say Europe's car leasing giants lag shift into electric gear
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But by examining car registration data T&E said that, with the exception of ALD, the leasing companies' claims are false. "Our investigation clearly shows that all leasing companies... are making green leadership claims that are not backed up by evidence," the report says. "In other words, leasing companies are greenwashing." Across the EU as a whole, T&E found EVs made up just over 10% of leasing companies' car purchases, the same share as for the rest of the market. "What remains unclear is whether the major leasing companies will take these steps or remain rooted in the fossil age."

Persons: ZE, Eric Gaillard, Arval, EVs, Nick Carey, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Renault, REUTERS, Transport & Environment, Wednesday, Societe Generale, ALD, BNP, Ford, Nissan, Credit, Financial Services, Thomson Locations: Cagnes, Mer, France

That adds to tech-related tensions between the West and China, which is one of Europe’s biggest trading partners and the world’s biggest auto market. Chinese EV makers are drawn to Europe because auto import tariffs are just 10% versus 27.5% in the U.S., independent auto analyst Matthias Schmidt said. MG — owned by SAIC Motor, China’s biggest automaker — is the largest Chinese EV player in Europe. One reason Chinese companies can offer high-quality cars at affordable prices stems from the rules to enter the Chinese market. Chinese EV makers, meanwhile, are trying to stand out in a crowded field.

Persons: Laima Springe, Janssen, “, ” Springe, I’m, ”, Matthias Schmidt, John Kirkwood, —, Kirkwood, Warren Buffett, Ursula von der Leyen, Alfa, China’s EVs, Carlos Tavares, we’re, Alexander Klose, ” Klose, Schmidt, Justin Nicholls, Nicholls Organizations: Volvo, Nissan, Skoda, Union, EV, Volkswagen Passat, Kia, MG, SAIC Motor, China’s, —, Lotus, Chinese Commerce Ministry, EU, World Trade Organization, Tesla’s, Peugeot, Citroen, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Global, Wall Motors Locations: Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe, China, West, U.S, British, Western, France, Germany, Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai, Israel

☆ Infineon signs semiconductor supply deal with automakers Hyundai, Kia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Infineon Technologies AG logo is seen during German Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's visit, in Dresden, Germany July 13, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 18 (Reuters) - German chip manufacturer Infineon (IFXGn.DE) said on Wednesday it has signed a multi-year agreement with Hyundai and Kia to supply power semiconductors for the production of electric cars. Infineon will build and reserve manufacturing capacity to supply silicon carbide and silicon power modules and chips to Hyundai and Kia until 2030, with the two carmakers to support the project with financial contributions, Infineon said in a statement. "This partnership not only empowers Hyundai Motor and Kia to stabilise its semiconductor supply but also positions us to solidify our leadership in the global EV (electric vehicle) market," Heung Soo Kim, Hyundai's Executive Vice President, said in a statement. Reporting by Rachel More, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Robert Habeck, Annalena Baerbock's, Annegret, Heung Soo Kim, Rachel More, Louise Heavens Organizations: Infineon, REUTERS, Rights, Hyundai, Kia, Hyundai Motor, Thomson Locations: Dresden, Germany

[1/2] Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 16, 2023. "And if you look at the month-by-month statistics, Chinese investments are still increasing," he told Reuters. "So I see that in the next two or three years, Chinese investments will still increase drastically in Thailand." But a large proportion of the 228 Chinese investments proposals this year have come in the electronics sector, according to the BOI. Chinese investments will likely continue for the next two years, Jareeporn said.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, Tingshu Wang, General Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Srettha, Xiaomi Corp's, Alain Lam, Narit, Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, Jareeporn, Chayut, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Thailand's, Beijing Capital International Airport, Forum, REUTERS, Rights, of Investment, Investment, Reuters, Thai, Initiative, HK, Toyota, Isuzu Motors, WHA, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BANGKOK, Thailand, Singapore, Southeast Asia's, Thailand's, Thai

☆ EU-made EVs would cost $4,100 more in UK under post-Brexit rules - SMMT
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Free2Move Paris electric vehicles by Groupe PSA are displayed outside Paris city hall as the French car maker launches its free-floating car-sharing service in Paris, France, November 29, 2018. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said those same rules will also add 3,600 pounds to the average British-built EV sold in Europe. Automakers and industry groups like the SMMT have called for a three-year delay to implementing the rules of origin. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) has said the rules could cost carmakers up to 4.3 billion euros ($4.53 billion) in tariffs and hit output. In June, Stefan Fuehring, a European Commission official overseeing the post-Brexit EU-UK trade agreement, said the EU rules of origin were "fit for purpose" and that the bloc was not considering changing them.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Mike Hawes, Stellantis, Stefan Fuehring, Nick Carey, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Groupe PSA, REUTERS, The Society of Motor Manufacturers, Traders, EU, European Union, Ford, European Automobile Manufacturers ' Association, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Britain, Europe, British, EU

☆ Citroen targets low-cost Chinese EVs with electric C3 for 23,300 euros
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Gilles Guillaume | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] The new electric Citroen e-C3 SUV is unveiled during a presentation to the media in Meudon near Paris, France, October 17, 2023. It is the same size as the current C3 city car, but less rounded and slightly taller. "This is the most important launch for the Citroen brand in at least 10 years," Citroen General Manager Thierry Koskas told reporters. A European electric car at 23,000 euros? The brand plans a cheaper electric C3 at the beginning of 2025 – starting at 20,000 euros – with a reduced range of 200 km, Koskas said.

Persons: Abdul Saboor, Thierry Koskas, Citroen's Koskas, ”, Koskas, Citroen's, Gilles Guillaume, Nick Carey Organizations: Citroen, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Meudon, Paris, France, Europe, MEUDON, Slovakia, India, China

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