David Hunt’s Post

"Auto execs see an opportunity to roll back state EV mandates under President-elect Donald Trump. Nissan and Toyota say state rules requiring a rapid uptick in EV sales are unrealistic. Automakers are facing slowing EV demand, job cuts, and competition from China" #automotiveindustry https://lnkd.in/ekKc4fDX

Mobility Musings Here are some sobering excerpts from a recent Detroit News article - it is not getting any easier for the supply base. The electric vehicle transition is a game of severe cost-cutting, and automotive suppliers must figure out how to adapt or risk going under in the next five to 10 years, Stellantis NV CEO Carlos Tavares warned Wednesday. EVs cost 40% to 50% more to produce than gas-powered cars on average, he said. That means automakers like Stellantis are "not in a race to transition to EVs, but in a race to cut costs on EVs" as they seek to build battery-powered cars that are affordable for the middle class. This cost-cutting race will be a "big, big, big burden" on parts suppliers, Tavares said, considering the vast majority of any new vehicle's production costs come from its parts. He suggested automakers including Stellantis will begin relying even more heavily on parts supplied from countries such as India, Turkey, Morocco and Mexico — countries where it's possible to have "a 30% to 40% variation on the cost of the same part, the same system, with the same specs" compared with parts made in the United States or Europe. "This is the reason why, to absorb the 40% of EV additional cost, you are going to see a huge shift of the supply base," the CEO said. "The sourcing will move from the Western world to the best-cost countries."

Britain's car production fell by 7% year-on-year in April, falling for a second consecutive month, as manufacturers wound down existing models and more plants transitioned to EV production, industry data showed . Production of EVs has successively grown as giants like Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover-owner, Tata Motors have poured in billions in the country to ramp up EV plans as it attempts reach net zero by 2050. My report for Reuters https://lnkd.in/g63XqXUD.

Stellantis is delaying the launch of its Ram electric pickup trucks, citing a desire to focus on ensuring “quality.” Is this an isolated event or does it have far-reaching implications for the industry? The company’s message gives a clue: “It’s better to take a few weeks more to validate properly than to rush.” The EV space is facing a turbulent and unpredictable period: Sales have slowed and many have questions about how the incoming administration will impact EV incentives and policies. At this point, EV manufacturers are likely feeling the pressure — to get it right the first time. If there’s weakened interest and customers are at risk of losing their tax incentives, these companies have no choice but to wow their customers — without any hiccups. This is especially true when it comes to the base that’s interested in pickup trucks. These consumers are used to the “roar” and power of a truck, and perhaps, an electric version might not be as enticing (or enticing at all) to many. So, taking a beat to ensure that the vehicle is not just ready, but in compelling shape, may just be a strategic move. https://lnkd.in/e_gDZ7xN #stellantis #EVs #electricvehicles #evtrucks #stellantistrucks #stellantisdelay #EVincentives #EVtrump

Is that me Seeing the Negativity very often in the news on EV Or is just the reality? ! Your Thoughts welcome ! https://lnkd.in/efeGQJzm https://lnkd.in/ezqa9zVM In September 2024, Volvo abandoned its goal of selling only electric vehicles by 2030, citing weakening demand. Toyota In October 2024, Toyota delayed the start of EV manufacturing in the US due to softening global demand Lowered its planned 2024 EV production from 250,000 to 200,000 units. GM also delayed the launch of the first EV model for its Buick brand. VW Halved the capacity of its battery plant over poor EV sales. VW has warned of a slowing demand, but has not changed its EV 2030 sales targe

Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd Martin is investing £2 billion in electric vehicle development to counter rising losses, with the largest shareholder highlighting this as a critical moment for the company. The absence of EVs is becoming a competitive disadvantage. But reality hits... 🚗 Last week, discussions emphasized hybrids as a practical interim solution during the shift to fully electric vehicles. In this context, major automakers are adjusting their EV strategies to better match current market conditions and consumer readiness, especially in light of recent Q2 earnings reports. 🚚 General Motors has delayed opening its new EV pickup plant in Detroit and postponed the release of an electric Buick model. This cautious approach reflects a recent adjustment to its goal of producing 1 million EVs annually by the end of next year. Similarly, Ford Motor Company focuses on producing gasoline trucks in a facility initially intended for electric vehicles. Tesla is adjusting its market strategies due to challenges such as a fourth consecutive quarterly profit drop and the impact of EU tariffs. Porsche AG has also revised its plan to reach 80% electric vehicle sales by 2030, aligning its EV rollout with market demand and customer adoption rates. These developments suggest that while the transition to fully electric vehicles remains a critical long-term objective 🤔, hybrids and other interim solutions will continue to play a significant role in the industry's evolution.

Chinese car maker BYD saw its sales jump at the end of last year, as it competes with Tesla to be the world's best-selling electric vehicle (EV) maker of 2024. The company says it sold 207,734 EVs in December, taking its annual total to 1.76 million, as subsidies and discounts helped attract customers. It comes as Tesla is due to announce its own quarterly sales figures later on Thursday. The US electric car maker maintained a slim lead in EV sales over BYD in the previous quarter but the Shenzhen-based firm has been narrowing the gap. https://lnkd.in/dmRn93JR

Volkswagen's EV Strategy Falters as European Automakers Face Crisis European automakers, particularly Volkswagen, are facing a significant crisis in their electric vehicle (EV) production efforts. According to a recent Bloomberg report, German and French carmakers are rapidly losing ground in the race to produce EVs, leading to potential factory closures and a reevaluation of their electric future. VW’s Electric Dreams Turn Sour Volkswagen AG, long considered a key player in Germany’s postwar economic miracle, is now contemplating factory closures in its home country for the first time in its 87-year history. This drastic move reflects the deep troubles plaguing Europe’s auto industry, especially in the increasingly competitive EV sector. […] by Haye Kesteloo #ev #Audi #BMW #BYD #China #Country #Europe #Germany #Make #MercedesBenz #Nio #Renault #SEC #Stellantis #Sweden #Tesla #Volkswagen #Xpeng

As much as you read about the collapse of the EV market and (yes) the issues in the construction of factory facilities; you have to acknowledge this growth and change. (Also its worth considering that the nature of batteries and thier associated production processes are changing i.e high energy NCMA to slightly lower energy LFP/LMR, lower cost sodium and sodium/suphur and now to faster chsrging intrinsically fire safe solid/semi-solid state, with their complex material interface requirements). These changes will continue to cascade at high frequency through very expensive specilized facilties, causing major process modification and alteration. But for an EV *ONLY*company to now be in the top three automotive manufaturers, is an indication of a seismic shift in mobility and haulage across the industry. For example, much has been said of the repeat buying of last mile and larger electrified vehicles for commercial haulage due to economic advantages..... "Ford Pro EV adoption continues to rise with more than 40 percent of commercial customers with 2024 F-150 Lightning orders being repeat Lightning customers. E-Transit adoption rates are growing faster among government customers and small businesses." Who will win and lose, and how will soverign policies play into this is not clear. For the USA the recent lithium ore localization is very good news but still there is time and products in market as well as dealerships and parts or maintenance to consider. Of course there are also competing views from the legacy petro-chemical ICE blocks as well, due to deficiencies in charging networks and as we saw parts supplies. Rental companies are primarily dumping EVs because they're expensive to repair and the downtime is too long for profitability. So the world is changing and this is in my view way past a little blip, as some hope. The majors will respond and as Toyota did, be prudent and measured. However as in the case of Honda, they will have to accept the reality of business transformation in a dynamic market! Welcome to 2025