In this issue:
Data
- Global light vehicle sales forecast – January 2025 edition
- Volkswagen Group model plans and production forecast to 2029
Results
- Stable global output in 2024, but notable changes in Europe
- Global light vehicle registrations rose nearly 3% in 2024
- Tesla Q4 2024: not much jam today, but so much tomorrow
- Lucid may face tough 2025 despite volume increase
Markets
- Economic difficulties slow Norway’s 2025 EV target pathway
- Brazilian BYD probe reportedly discovers visa violations
- The UK’s ZEV mandate challenge intensifies
- EU auto at a crossroads, says ACEA President in open letter
- Hino Motors fined US$1.6bn for diesel emissions fraud
- New mobility shifts the metrics for luxury segment success
- Porsche: China sales struggles will continue in 2025
- EC is “shaping” options for a pan-EU EV subsidy scheme
- Is lack of differentiation detrimental to Euro automotive?
- Tesla, BMW and Chinese OEMs challenge EC tariffs
- US government sues GM, FCA, and UAW days before Trump return
- “All countries should be concerned” as Trump takes office
- US DoT issues order to “rescind or replace” CAFE standards
- GM considers plays to “minimise impact” of Trump tariffs
Strategy
- Is the Honda-Nissan merger really a rescue takeover?
- Genesis—a Korean Lexus?
- Hyundai considers commercial vehicle rebadge deal with GM
- Nikola reportedly considering sale, share price plummets
- New Polestar CEO predicts 2025 will be “best year” yet
- Rolls-Royce capitalises on custom luxury, invests US$370m
- Chery: can we call it a global player yet?
- Stellantis promises infusion for ‘anaemic’ US dealers
- Tesla promises low-cost EVs and paid robotaxi tests for 2025
- Volvo Group: OEMs can escape “EV trough” through partnership
- Emissions pooling saves penalties, boosts revenue
- Stellantis: searching for a new strategy
- Northvolt’s North American CEO Cerruti steps down
- Honda reportedly bringing US$30,000 EV to US market in 2026
Software-defined vehicle
- US finalises rules on Chinese connected car technology
- CES spotlights progress on software-shaped mobility
- Mercedes debuts Google’s AI-based virtual assistant
Autonomous mobility
- Nvidia: autonomous driving will be “multi-trillion” industry
- Aurora autonomous truck: three months to commercial launch
Electric mobility
- Andersen EV extends luxury from cars to chargers
- Hyundai announces US$18,000 EV for sceptical Japanese market
- Tesla facelifts Model Y in bid to sustain China’s interest
- Automakers need strategy reset to bring EVs mainstream
- Xpeng and VW to build super-fast charger networks in China
- GM counters China’s graphite dominance with Vianode deal
- Canoo capsizes under capital struggles
- Tesla announces price hikes amid Canada’s dispute with US
Manufacturing
- VW avoids large scale plant closures, but for how long?
- Cellcentric finally concludes land deal for German plant
- Rivian locks in US$6.6bn loan for Georgia plant construction
- BYD confirms Indonesian factory on-track for 2025 completion
Materials
- Materials matter: sustainability goes beyond battery power
Supply chain
- Smart tech heralds efficiency boost for vehicle logistics
- Supply chain spotlight: risk, regulation, and compliance
- EV supply chain evolution tackles ‘mind-blowing’ complexity