Whether your views on the pace of BEV adoption are optimistic or pessimistic, EVs are here, and more are on their way. Automotive marketing is going through a transformative change. The industry's path to electrification, while bumpy, is giving consumers more vehicle options and choices than ever before. Today, US auto shoppers have nearly 450 vehicle nameplates to consider. With the arrival of electric vehicles across every mainstream and luxury brand, and increasing demand for hybrid powertrains, there will be nearly 650 nameplates by the end of the decade — all competing for showroom space ..read more

Striking a deft balance between domestic production and international partnerships is crucial to a robust EV battery supply chain. At the COP26 conference, in a bold commitment to environmental sustainability, India's Prime Minister Narenda Modi pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. As the world's third largest emitter of CO2, India is banking on electrification of the transportation sector, and the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), to achieve this goal. This transition significantly increases India's need for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which power EVs. S&P Global Mo ..read more

On March 15, the Union Government of India approved a new electric vehicle (EV) policy to attract investments from global electric car companies and promote local manufacturing in the subcontinent. The new EV policy, which is in line with the Government's flagship Make-in-India initiative, comes at a time when Tesla is officially looking to enter the Indian passenger car market and Vietnam's VinFast has already commenced constructing its EV plant in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, with a committed investment of $2 billion. In its new EV policy, the Government of India has reduced the cus ..read more

Striking a deft balance between domestic production and international partnerships is crucial to a robust EV battery supply chain. At the COP26 conference, in a bold commitment to environmental sustainability, India's Prime Minister Narenda Modi pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. As the world's third largest emitter of CO2, India is banking on electrification of the transportation sector, and the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), to achieve this goal. This transition significantly increases India's need for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which power EVs. S&P Global Mo ..read more

While expected to be below the March 2024 volume total, new light vehicle sales volume in April should sustain some of the spring selling momentum. Key Takeaways: April US auto sales expected to reach 1.34 million units. Advertised retail inventory in April is 65% higher compared to last year. BEV share is expected to reach 7%, similar to March. Calendar-year 2024 light vehicle sales volume projected to hit 16.0 million units, a 3% increase from 2023. S&P Global Mobility projects new light vehicle sales volume in April 2024 to reach 1.34 million units. While this unadjusted volume to ..read more

Listen to this Fuel for Thought podcast As EV sales slow, OEMs must consider multiple factors to align their EV production with government regulations and consumer demand. Insights in this Newsletter & Podcast: The pathway to electrification: from the here-and-now reality to the long-term aspiration of decarbonization in the transportation sector. The US government regulatory aspirations and their pressure on OEMs towards an accelerated response to electrification. The consumer mindset and sentiment towards electrification: pricing, technology and the willingness of adoption. O ..read more

As with everything that Tesla says and does, its investment in Mexico for a new vehicle plant has attracted much attention. The latest hubbub around the Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon, plant surrounds reports that Tesla is looking to invite its mainland Chinese suppliers at its operations in Shanghai to join it in investing in Mexico. That it is looking to bring some of its mainland Chinese suppliers to Mexico is not surprising. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) do this all the time with their preferred suppliers. However, Mexico, as an automotive investment destination, is doing very well ..read more

As the world awoke on the morning of March 26 to the news that there had been a crash involving a container ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the city of Baltimore, which had caused the bridge to collapse, immediate thoughts were for the safety and welfare of all concerned. Six people are missing, presumed dead in the tragic aftermath. Traffic through the port will be suspended until further notice and looks set to disrupt to trade and supply chains. One of the sectors that would likely be affected is automotive, particularly after the disclosure that the Baltimore port is the biggest ..read more

Summary The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations released on March 20, 2024, seem designed to drive toward a BEV solution, though the agency does describe the rule as "technology agnostic," several elements seem fundamentally designed to encourage the battery electric vehicle solution for zero-emissions vehicles. Light-duty CO2 regulations still have a similar end point for the 2032 model year. Requirements for model years 2027-2030 are easier than the agency proposed in April 2023 and still tougher than previous rules. Tier 4 regulation of particulate matter and other critica ..read more

The French government launched a program earlier this year to promote electric car adoption among low-income households, but the overwhelming response exceeded supply. The program offered leasing options and subsidies, contributing to increased electric vehicle sales. The program includes a carbon footprint incentive penalizing batteries produced in countries with carbon-intensive grids. The original initiative offered leasing options for 25,000 European-manufactured EVs at a monthly rate of €100-€150, without a deposit. However, the response was overwhelming, with 90,000 applications received ..read more