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☆ Volkswagen joins China price war as new emissions rule looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Guangzhou Automobile Group, the Chinese partner of both Honda Motor Co Ltd and Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), has also offered subsidies running from March 15 to March 31. Chinese passenger vehicle sales fell 20% in January-February, industry data showed, even as some manufacturers offered reduced prices to stimulate demand. Sales of new energy vehicles, which include all-battery and plug-in battery-petrol hybrid vehicles, grew faster than the overall market, accounting for over 30% in February. In the same month, Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD Co Ltd (002594.SZ) outsold Volkswagen-branded cars for the second month in four. ($1 = 6.8923 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ SAIC-Volkswagen offers $537 mln in subsidies through April 30
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Guangzhou Automobile Group, the Chinese partner of both Honda Motor Co Ltd and Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), has also offered subsidies running from March 15 to March 31. Chinese passenger vehicle sales fell 20% in January-February, industry data showed, even as some manufacturers offered reduced prices to stimulate demand. Sales of new energy vehicles, which include all-battery and plug-in battery-petrol hybrid vehicles, grew faster than the overall market, accounting for over 30% in February. In the same month, Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD Co Ltd (002594.SZ) outsold Volkswagen-branded cars for the second month in four. ($1 = 6.8923 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Zoey Zhang and Brenda Goh; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volkswagen beats Elon Musk in the race to cheap EVs, revealing a car it plans to sell for $26,600
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Tim Levin | Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

2all concept car won't ever make its way to the US. 2all concept: a small, battery-powered hatchback that it plans to sell for 25,000 euros ($26,600) or less when it goes into production in 2026. The Volkswagen ID. Volkswagen AGMusk's complicated, yearslong journey with the $25,000 EVIn 2020, Musk promised a fully autonomous, $25,000 vehicle as battery costs came down. At Tesla's first-ever Investor Day earlier this month, which many anticipated would bring news about a sub-$30,000 model, Musk mentioned almost nothing of the sort.

☆ Volkswagen lays out details of planned affordable electric car
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] German carmaker Volkswagen presents its new electric ID. 2all model, an electric vehicle that costs less than 25,000 euros, in Hamburg, Germany, March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Fabian BimmerBERLIN, March 15 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) laid out on Wednesday the details of a planned all-electric car costing under 25,000 euros ($26,790), part of the German carmaker's push to derive 80% of VW passenger brand sales in Europe from all-electric vehicles by 2030. "We are implementing the transformation at pace to bring electric mobility to the masses," VW brand chief Thomas Schaefer said in a statement. The car maker is also working on another electric car available for under 20,000 euros, it said, without providing further details.

☆ Volkswagen Plans $192 Billion Investment Focusing on EVs, New Tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( William Boston | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A Volkswagen ID.4 at the company’s headquarters and auto-plant complex in Wolfsburg, Germany. BERLIN— Volkswagen AG is planning a $192 billion spending spree over the next five years to fix its struggling business in China and try to hoist the German car maker out of its niche as an also-ran in the U.S., the company said Tuesday. VW said it would target two-thirds of that investment, or about $127 billion, on the development of electric vehicles and new technology, with a particular focus on the expansion of its business in China and the U.S.

☆ Volkswagen invests in batteries, raw materials in race for affordable EV
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Over two-thirds of the company's five-year investment budget announced on Tuesday is allocated to electrification and digitalisation, including up to 15 billion for batteries and raw materials. Volkswagen, Europe's top carmaker, is striving to close a gap with electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Tesla (TSLA.O) by expanding its slice of the growing market for battery-powered cars. Buzz EV car, on the day of the annual news conference of the Volkswagen Group at DRIVE.Volkswagen Group Forum, in Berlin, Germany March 14, 2023. Volkswagen met analysts' expectations in 2022 on revenues but missed the consensus estimate for earnings before interest and taxes by 3%. The most likely actual stock market candidate is battery unit PowerCo.

☆ Volkswagen to invest $193 billion over 5 years to hit EV target
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The logo of carmaker Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is pictured at the IAA Transportation fair, which opened its doors to the public on September 20, 2022, in Hanover, Germany, September 19, 2022. The investments come as Volkswagen, Europe's top carmaker, tries to close a gap with electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Tesla (TSLA.O) by expanding its slice of the growing market for battery-powered cars. In the latest investment plan, up to 15 billion euros is ringfenced for battery plants and raw materials. VW outperforms EU rivalsThe investment decisions are targeted towards fulfilling a 10-point plan developed by Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume after he took the helm in September. The most likely actual stock market candidate is battery unit PowerCo.

SummarySummary Companies Move comes shortly after Scout plant announcementPlant in Canada can also qualify for IRA subsidiesBASF also picked Canada for EV battery materials plantWOLFSBURG, Germany, March 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) chose Canada to build its first battery cell plant outside Europe, granting its cars access to both Canadian and U.S. subsidies as it works to localise electric vehicle production chain in the region. Canada, home to a large mining sector for minerals including lithium, nickel and cobalt, is trying to woo companies involved in all levels of the EV supply chain via a multi-billion-dollar green technology fund as the world seeks to cut carbon emissions. The Canadian federal innovation minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne, called the VW battery plant a "home run for Canada" and said it was "the largest single investment in the auto sector in the history of Canada", without giving details. "I think all the big manufacturers understand that if you need to green the supply chain, Canada is the place to do that," said Champagne. Chemicals giant BASF (BASFn.DE) a year ago also secured land in Canada for a planned battery materials facility to better serve electric vehicle markets in the U.S. and Mexico.

SummarySummary Companies Move comes shortly after Scout plant announcementPlant in Canada can also qualify for IRA subsidiesBASF also picked Canada for EV battery materials plantWOLFSBURG, March 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) chose Canada to build its first battery cell plant outside Europe, granting its cars access to both Canadian and U.S. subsidies as it works to localise electric vehicle production chain in the region. He said Volkswagen would be making "the largest single investment in the auto sector in the history of Canada" but did not give details. The plant will be based in the city of St. Thomas, around 195 km (120 miles) northeast of Detroit. "I think all the big manufacturers understand that if you need to green the supply chain, Canada is the place to do that," said Champagne. Chemicals giant BASF (BASFn.DE) a year ago also secured land in Canada for a planned battery materials facility to better serve electric vehicle markets in the U.S. and Mexico.

☆ Volkswagen to build first North American battery cell plant in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WOLFSBURG, March 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) said on Monday it will build its first North American battery cell plant in Canada, granting its cars access to both Canadian and U.S. subsidies as it works to localise its electric vehicle production chain in the region. VW's Monday's announcement did not specify the size of the investment or the capacity of the new plant, but board member Thomas Schmall said in August the company was targeting 20 gigawatt hours of capacity at its first North American site. Volkswagen has long said it is working towards setting up regional supply chains in Europe, North America and China for EV production in light of high transport and logistic costs, supply chain risks and geopolitical tensions. It announced last week its Scout brand would build a $2 billion manufacturing plant near Columbia, South Carolina for trucks and SUVs, with production to start in 2026. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee and Jan Schwartz, Editing by Angus MacSwan, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Xi adds oversight risk to China EV battery growth plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Three battery industry executives - including two at CATL - and two people close to regulators working with the industry told Reuters they understood Xi’s remarks as a warning to both the company and the wider battery industry. Consultant Rystad Energy estimates that battery production capacity in China will reach 1,338 gigawatt hours (GWh) by year end, up 23%. But EV sales in China have started to slow, prompting CATL to offer discounts to smaller EV makers in China in February in exchange for locking in future orders. EXCESS CAPACITY RISKZeng told investors in May that the recent wave of investment worth billions of dollars in battery production could leave excess capacity as technology evolves. CATL told investors that the partnership, which it said was based on "commercial considerations" has been moving ahead.

☆ Volkswagen focuses on productivity in challenging year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Volkswagen AG FollowMarch 8 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) needs to focus on productivity at its mass-market brands to cope with a step up in competition this year as supply chains improve, car production rises and consumers remain under pressure, executives said on Wednesday. "2023 must be the year of productivity," finance chief Arno Antlitz told staff newspaper 360 Grad (360 Degrees). Antlitz and VW brand chief Thomas Schaeffer said supply chain snags would continue to affect output this year, but Antlitz said chip supply was improving. Volkswagen said last week it expected sales to rise by up to 331 billion euros ($350 billion) this year and forecast a 14% increase in vehicle deliveries from 2022. ($1 = 0.9454 euros)Reporting by Jan Schwartz and Victoria Waldersee Editing by Riham Alkousaa and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bank of America sees this chipmaker rallying more than 25% as electric vehicle demand grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

On Semiconductor is a top chip stock for autos that could jump more than 25%, Bank of America said. This was in addition to news that On Semiconductor signed a long-term electric vehicle supply deal with BMW. "This win complements ON's other notable wins at Tesla, Mercedes, Jaguar Land Rover, VW, Hyundai, and Nio," Arya wrote in a Tuesday note. On Semiconductor shares are more than 26% higher in 2023, after also outperforming last year in spite of an 8% drop. "We expect ON to maintain/expand its 25-30% CY23E SiC device mkt share, while also benefitting from its leadership in image sensors for advanced driver assist systems," Arya wrote.

☆ Volkswagen's Scout says to build $2 bln manufacturing plant in South Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] A VW logo is seen in front of the main building of the Volkswagen brand at the Volkswagen headquarters during a media tour to present Volkswagen's so called "Blaue Fabrik" (Blue Factory) environmental program, in Wolfsburg, Germany May 19, 2017. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File PhotoFRANKFURT, March 3 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) Scout Motors Inc. said on Friday it would build a $2 billion manufacturing plant near Columbia, South Carolina, for trucks and SUVs. The investment could potentially create 4,000 or more permanent jobs and more than 200,000 Scout vehicles could be produced annually at the facility, the company added. Reporting by Ludwig Burger, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: As Tesla prepares a Mexico plant, a look at auto plants in Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A general view shows the General Motors assembly plant in Ramos Arizpe, in Coahuila state, Mexico February 11, 2021. REUTERS/Daniel BecerrilFeb 28 (Reuters) - Mexico has long been a manufacturing hub in North America for multiple automakers, and the country is trying to position itself for the wave of electric vehicles (EVs) to come. The auto sector is a driver of Mexico's major manufacturing industry, which is heavily integrated into U.S. and Canadian supply chains. Mexican officials on Tuesday said Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) is the latest automaker with plans to build a plant in Mexico. Here are major automakers with plants in Mexico -General Motors Co (GM.N)Silao Plant in the central city in Guanajuato state, produces Chevrolet and GMC full-size pickup trucksRamos Arizpe Plant in the northern city in Coahuila state, builds the Chevrolet Equinox and Blazer SUVs now and will build the 2024 Blazer EV and Equinox EVSan Luis Potosi Plant in the state capital of the central state of San Luis Potosi, produces the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC TerrainFord Motor Co (F.N)Cuautitlan Assembly plant in the central city of Cuautitlan Izcalli, produces Ford Mustang Mach-EHermosillo Assembly Plant in the state capital of the northern state of Sonora, produces Ford Bronco Sport and Ford MaverickToyota Motor Corp (7203.T)Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California in the northern border city of Tijuana, Baja California, produces the Toyota Tacoma pickupToyota Motor Manufacturing de Guanajuato in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, produces the Toyota TacomaStellantis (STLAM.MI)Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in the state capital of Coahuila, produces Ram light and heavy-duty pickupsSaltillo Van Assembly Plant, makes the Ram ProMaster vanToluca Assembly Plant, produces the Jeep CompassNissan Motor Co (7201.T)Nissan Mexicana (Cuernavaca) in the central city of Jiutepec, produces NP300 pickup truckNissan Mexicana (Aguascalientes 1 Plant) in the central city of Aguascalientes, produces March, Versa, KicksNissan Mexicana (Aguascalientes 2 Plant), produces SentraNissan also has a joint venture plant with Mercedes (MBGn.DE) in Aguascalientes, making the Infinti QX 50 and 55 SUVs, and Mercedes GLB SUVHonda Motor Co (7267.T)Honda de Mexico (HDM) in Celaya, Guanajuato, produces HR-VVolkswagen (VOWG_p.DE)Volkswagen de México in Sanctorum, Puebla, produces Jetta, Tiguan, TaosVW's Audi unit in San José Chiapa, Puebla, produces Audi Q5 premium SUV and plans to start manufacturing EVs by 2027Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T)Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation (MMVO) in Salamanca, Guanajuato, produces Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda CX-30Kia AmericaHyundai Motor Co's (005380.KS) Kia has a plant in Pesqueria, Nuevo Leon, produces Kia Forte, RioBMW AGBMW Plant in San Luis Potosi, produces BMW 3 Series, 2 Series and will produce fully electric "Neue Klasse" modelsSOURCES: Carmakers and Auto Forecast SolutionsCompiled by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volkswagen sees no sign of forced labor at its plant in Xinjiang
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Volkswagen faced a barrage of criticism from campaigners Tuesday after the head of its Chinese business said he saw no sign of forced labor during a visit to the carmaker’s plant in Xinjiang. Activists and an international group of lawmakers said verifying labor standards in the region was impossible. Rights groups have documented human rights abuses in Xinjiang since the 2000s, including mass forced labor in detention camps which the United Nations said could constitute crimes against humanity. Brandstaetter said he saw no signs of forced labor and that workers’ comments matched the reports Volkswagen had received from SAIC about the plant. Reputational riskVolkswagen says it has never found evidence of forced labor among its Xinjiang workforce and its presence is positive for the local population.

1 EV maker worldwide in 2022, but China's BYD (002594.SZ) and others are closing the gap fast, according to a Reuters analysis of global and regional EV sales data provided by EV-volumes.com. In fact, BYD passed Tesla in EV sales last year in the Asia-Pacific region, while the Volkswagen Group (VOWG_p.DE) has been the EV leader in Europe since 2020. Reuters GraphicsThe most significant challenges to Tesla are coming from established automakers and a group of Chinese EV manufacturers. Tesla's vehicles offered features, such as the ability to navigate into a parking space or make rude sounds, that other vehicles lacked. IDRA, the Italian company that builds huge presses to form large one-piece castings that are the building blocks of Tesla vehicles, said it is now getting orders from other automakers.

☆ Factbox: Company reaction to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File PhotoFeb 22 (Reuters) - Companies across North America and Europe have in recent months cheered the Biden Administration's $430 billion U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that includes major provisions to cut carbon emission, boost domestic production and manufacturing. Holcim AG (HOLN.S)The world's biggest cement maker expects the IRA to provide a strong momentum for its business in North America. This month, it agreed to buy U.S. roofing systems manufacturer Duro-Last in a $1.29 billion deal, its latest move to bolster presence in North America. Linde (LIN.N),The gas giant has estimated the total investment opportunity for the company in the United States alone could exceed $30 billion over the next decade. BMW (BMWG.DE)The company plans to produce at least six fully electric models in its plant in South Carolina by 2030.

☆ VW's China JV with SAIC names Jia Jianxu as its new head
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People visit the Volkswagen booth during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 19, 2021. REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's joint venture with China's SAIC Motor (600104.SS) said on Monday it had appointed Jia Jianxu, a veteran executive at the state-owned Chinese automaker, as its new general manager. Since 2018, Jia has been the general manager at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, a SAIC-owned vehicle seat maker, and helped develop its intelligent cockpit products. Jia's appointment comes as Volkswagen is ramping up its efforts in electric vehicles (EVs) in China, with its I.D. Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ VW, Mercedes-Benz urge Berlin to accelerate EV charging network expansion, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fabian BimmerBERLIN, Feb 19 (Reuters) - German carmakers Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) and VW (VOWG_p.DE) have urged the government to do more to scale up the number of electric vehicle charging stations across the country, German paper Bild am Sonntag wrote on Sunday. "To speed up the change (to electric vehicles), we need to be sure that the charging station infrastructure is being built up," Mercedes-Benz Chief Executive Ola Kallenius was quoted as saying by the paper. VW Chief Executive Oliver Blume agreed more speed was needed and that the construction of charging stations was "a common task of the economy, federal government and communes". Industry associations, which have long complained the government has not kept pace with the rapid expansion of electric vehicles, said the implementation of the proposals was key. "The future of the car is electric," Kallenius was quoted as saying.

☆ Tesla cofounder says he was 'basically unemployable' and out of money for 2 years after being ousted from the company
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Tesla cofounder said he was out of money and "basically unemployable" after he left the carmaker. Martin Eberhard was ousted as CEO of Tesla by Elon Musk and left the company in 2007. "After I left Tesla, I was basically unemployable for about two years because of the intellectual-property agreement I had with Tesla and with Tesla being as litigious as they are," Eberhard told Insider. The Tesla cofounder lost his role as CEO of Tesla about three years after Elon Musk began investing in the electric-car maker. Eberhard previously told Insider that Musk and Tesla's board had met behind his back and voted to replace him as CEO.

☆ Ousted Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard sounds off on Elon Musk, how the company has changed, and the EV wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

But Eberhard and Musk butted heads, and Musk ousted Eberhard from his CEO role in 2007. Musk said that Eberhard was holding up production of Tesla's first car, the Roadster, and that Eberhard was responsible for other operational issues. And the proof is for the first time ever in decades we built a car company successfully. "His behavior changed dramatically as soon as we started having press about Tesla," Eberhard said. Musk has said the company "is as much a software company as it is a hardware company."

☆ DA Davidson says this specialty truck stock can rally nearly 70%
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Custom Truck One Source , a provider of specialty trucks and custom equipment, has secular tailwinds that could help the stock even if the broader economy slides, DA Davidson said. Analyst Michael Shlisky initiated coverage of the stock at a buy. Shlisky's $12 price target implies the stock could rally 69% from where it closed Wednesday. Meanwhile, he said telecommunications, which is Custom Truck's second most-important sector, also has a long tailwind coming for similar reasons. While Shlisky said the stock is more levered than peers, he said it's not outrageously high to begin with and expects a downward trajectory.

☆ Factbox: Potential winners and losers from the new U.S. EV charging standards
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

EV CHARGING COMPANIES: Many, including Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) Electrify America, ChargePoint(CHPT.N) and EVGo (EVGO.O), will accelerate the rollout of chargers due to the federal funding. U.S. EV AUTO SECTOR: The rollout of more charging stations will encourage EV adoption in the United States. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY REST STOPS: They could see an influx of investment as companies establish charging stations along heavily traveled routes. TESLA: Under the new charging standards, the White House said EV market leader Tesla (TSLA.O) has agreed to open part of its U.S. charging network to EVs made by rivals. EV CHARGING COMPANIES: While the charging companies get financial support in their expansion efforts, only a handful of the dozen who commented to the Biden administration ahead of Wednesday's announcement said that they could meet the "Buy American" standards under the proposed timelines.

☆ From Apple to VW, CEOs Gradually Returning to China After Its Reopening
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Dan Strumpf | Yoko Kubota | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume was among the first top executives from a multinational company to visit China since it scrapped most of its border restrictions. BEIJING—Top executives from multinational companies are trickling back into China with the country’s reopening, as Beijing seeks to restore confidence from global businesses in its struggling economy and attract investments. Volkswagen AG’s chief executive visited China from late January to early February, the company said, while Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook and Pfizer Inc. CEO Albert Bourla are expected to visit next month, people familiar with the matter said. Ola Källenius , Mercedes-Benz Group AG’s chairman, also plans a visit to China, the company said.

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