BYD has reached a supply agreement with voestalpine for procuring steel for its new passenger car factory in Szeged, Hungary. The facility is expected to begin manufacturing new-energy vehicles (NEVs) by the end of 2025.  This partnership marks a key milestone in BYD's policy of localized production, sourcing high-quality auto parts from local suppliers to support its goal of producing cars in Europe for Europe. Voestalpine was chosen for its geographical proximity to the Hunga...

Kongsberg Automotive (KA) has successfully secured a significant contract extension for its Fluoro-Comp and stainless-steel braided hoses, the company announced in a press release on Dec. 20. Valued at over €56 million in estimated lifetime revenue, this extension comes from a global tier 1 automotive supplier. The manufacturing of these products will take place at KA's facilities located in Suffield and Grand River in the US, as well as Ramos Arizpe in Mexico, over a period of five years. ...

In a press release dated Dec. 17, Kongsberg Automotive (KA) announced winning a significant contract valued at over €25.5 million in estimated lifetime revenue for the provision of air-suspension lines. This contract was awarded by one of the leading global electric vehicle manufacturers. The agreement specifies KA's role in producing nylon lines and connectors essential for the distribution and regulation of air within the air-suspension systems of EVs. These components are vital for ensur...

Novonix Ltd., an Australia-based battery materials and technology company, has entered into a binding offtake agreement with Stellantis to supply a minimum of 86,250 metric tons and up to 115,000 metric tons of high-performance synthetic graphite material. This agreement spans over six years, starting from 2026, and involves supplying material to Stellantis' cell manufacturing partners in North America from Novonix's Riverside, Tennessee, facility and a future expansion site. Chris ...

At the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg, Germany, thyssenkrupp Steel and Volkswagen Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the future supply of low-carbon steel, produced at thyssenkrupp Steel's direct reduction plant set to be operational by 2027. This plant will utilize hydrogen and green electricity, enabling a substantial reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional steel production methods. Initially, natural gas will be used as a reducing age...

PPG Industries, based in Pittsburgh, announced significant energy savings and emission reductions achieved with the use of its PPG CORASEAL 4-Wet Sealer in the production of Stellantis' light commercial vehicles (LCVs). The sealer's innovative one-step curing process stands in contrast to the up-to-three steps required by traditional technologies, thus providing notable sustainability benefits for automotive original equipment manufacturer paint shops by reducing energy consumption and CO2 ...

In a press release dated July 26, Carbon Revolution announced that it is supplying carbon-fiber wheels to be equipped with the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the third Corvette model supplied by Carbon Revolution. The announcement was made by Carbon Revolution, highlighting the continuation of its collaboration with General Motors (GM). Carbon Revolution CEO Jake Dingle expressed pride in working with GM again and emphasized the significant engineering and manufacturing expertise...

Serbia is planning to offer Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Stellantis the chance to buy lithium for car batteries, signaling a strategic move to prefer European automakers over Chinese ones, according to statements made by President Aleksandar Vucic. In an effort to strengthen ties with the EU, Vucic discussed the nation's intentions with the German daily, Handelsblatt. He highlighted that the EU's need for lithium is a driving force behind Serbia's decision. This announcement comes ahead...

Westwater Resources Inc., based in Centennial, Colo., announced that it has entered into a binding offtake agreement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), a part of the Stellantis group and a manufacturer of electric vehicles. This agreement, alongside a previously announced agreement with SK On, ensures that Westwater has now secured offtake agreements for the entirety of its Kellyton Phase 1 capacity. Under the terms of the agreement with FCA, Westwater will supply natural graphite anode ma...

Sila, a company specializing in next-generation battery materials, has successfully closed its Series-G funding round, raising $375 million. The round was led by Sutter Hill Ventures and T. Rowe Price Associates Inc., with additional investments from new and existing investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Coatue and Perry Creek Capital, among others. This financial milestone is set to support the completion of Sila's Moses Lake, Wash., plant by the first quarter of 2025, facilita...

Mitsui Chemicals and its subsidiary ARRK Corp. have announced their materials' incorporation into a high-performance concept car based on the Toyota Fortuner. This collaboration involves TAFNEX CF PP, a unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene resin sheet developed by Mitsui Chemicals, and direct pellet-fed 3D-printed components co-developed by Mitsui Chemicals and ARRK. These materials are utilized in the Toyota Hyper-F Concept, which was designed by TCD Asia Co. Ltd., ...

Yahua, a Sichuan-based company primarily known for manufacturing and selling industrial explosives, has secured its position in the electric vehicle battery sector by extending its contract with Tesla for the supply of lithium hydroxide. The initial contract between Yahua and Tesla, which was set from 2021 to 2025, involved the supply of 63,000 to 88,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide, amounting to a total value of $880 million. This contract was later extended in August of the previous year for...

Group14 Technologies Inc., a major manufacturer and supplier of advanced silicon battery materials, has signed five multiyear binding offtake agreements that represent over $300 million in contract value, according to a press release dated June 4. Without disclosing the names, Group14 said that the agreements have been made with three leading electric vehicle and two consumer electronic (CE) cell manufacturers across Europe, Asia and North America. These contracts will enable Group1...

Cupra, the Spanish automaker, has announced the incorporation of Bcomp's innovative natural fiber composite solutions in the new CUP Bucket seats for the Cupra Born VZ electric vehicle. The car's interior design has been conceived through a collaboration with Bcomp and Sabelt, known for their high-performance automotive seats. According to BComp, the all-natural fiber seatbacks, which replace the previously used carbon and glass fibers, significantly reduce emissions. Specifically, the use of...

In a press release dated May 21, Kobe Steel announced that it will use green aluminum into its aluminum extrusion and suspension products for Nissan Motor. These products will be used in Nissan's mass-manufactured vehicles destined for the Japanese and North American markets, starting in fiscal year 2024. The company is also considering the use of these materials in vehicles produced for the European market. Some of the car components to be made from green aluminum are bumper reinforcements, ...

Alcantara has announced that Alfa Romeo has chosen its premium “Made-in-Italy” material for the interior of its new SUV, the Junior 2024, according to a press release dated April 30. The SUV’s sporty look is enhanced by the combination of black Alcantara for the center of the seats with a round-shaped open work on a red backing and stitching. The interior of the new Junior features high quality upholstery with a sporty feel with a distinctively Italian quality. The Junior was introduced...

Ineos Styrolution has announced that its high-performance Luran S SPF60 material has been selected by a leading European automotive brand for use in the blackening panel of its trucks, it said in a press release dated April 17. Luran S SPF60 has a superior surface quality, is weather resistant and can maintain its deep blackened appearance over time. Ineos Styrolution has a long-standing relationship with the automotive company and its application supplier, and the two companies have previous...

Blackboxstocks has announced that its planned acquisition target, Evtec Aluminium, has executed a supply contract with JLR to supply parts for a new line of Jaguar Electric Vehicles, in a press release dated Feb. 1. The contract is expected to provide over $67 million in new sales to Evtec, excluding aftermarket and model life extensions. Evtec will be a single-source supplier for key components in the EV powertrain of the new line of EVs being introduced by Jaguar. The vehicles will have a ...

According to a press release on Dec. 22, STMicroelectronics (ST) has signed a long-term supply agreement with Li Auto, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, to provide Silicon Carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) devices for Li Auto's high-voltage battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Under the agreement, ST will provide Li Auto with SiC MOSFETs to support its strategy of offering premium smart EVs with superior performance and range. The agreement...

Mercedes-Benz has signed an agreement with Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) to source more than 50,000 metric tons of CO2-reduced steel annually for its plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., according to a press release on September 18. SDI steel will be made using an electric arc furnace (EAF) and will use electricity from 100% renewable sources. With EAFs powered by green electricity, emissions can be reduced by more than half to 1.0-metric ton CO2 per metric ton steel on average, compared to prima...

Interior-parts maker Kasai Kogyo Co. Ltd. has successfully developed thin initial thickness and highly foam injection molding, which are used in door trims for Toyota’s new Alphard and Vellfire models in Japan. In a press release dated August 31, Kasai said that the technology reduces the amount of plastic material used despite achieving optimal product performance. It leads to lightweighting of the vehicle and also to a reduction in CO2 emissions. Significance: The technology has been adop...

Rheinmetall will supply structural parts to a premium automaker for a contract in the low three-digit million euro range, according to a company press release dated August 17. The parts will be used in fully electric vehicles. Rheinmetall will begin supplying the parts from 2026 for a period of 10 years. The lateral girders will serve as lightweight structural parts. The parts will be based on a complex-casting solution and designed to reduce crash energy. The parts will support the chassis. ...

Vitesco Technologies, a leading international supplier of modern drive technologies and electrification solutions, announced July 31 that it is delivering its integrated axle drive EMR3, which stands for third-generation electronics motor reducer, to the Japanese carmaker Honda for its all-new B-segment electric sport utility vehicle (SUV). It added that in Europe, the said Honda electric SUV will be based on the carmaker’s all-new e:N Architecture F, and will be marketed under the name e:N...

Talbros Automotive Components has received orders totaling ₹4 billion ($48.3 million), Indian daily Mint reported on July 7. The orders were secured across its business divisions, product sectors, and joint ventures and included both domestic and foreign customers. The orders span across the company’s product lines including gaskets, heat shields, forgings, and chassis, are to be carried out over the course of the next 5-7 years. Significance: The order breakdown is as follows: Stamped...

Stellantis N.V. has signed a rare earth offtake term sheet with NioCorp Developments Ltd with an objective to enter a definitive agreement to secure a stable supply of rare earth materials such as neodymium-praseodymium oxide, dysprosium oxide and terbium oxide, Stellantis announced on July 6. “The Term Sheet executed today envisions a definitive agreement for a 10-year offtake contract for specific amounts of neodymium-praseodymium oxide, dysprosium oxide, and terbium oxide that NioCorp ai...

NSG Group has announced that a vanity mirror with antifouling coating technology will be used in the Executive Lounge grades for Toyota Alphard and Vellfire, a company press release dated June 22 read. The vanity mirror is usually installed behind the sun visors in the front seats and in the rear seats of the Executive Lounge grades for Alphard and Vellfire. It is also integrated into the table on the second-row seat, instead of the conventional ceiling-mounting type. Significance: NSG used i...

US-based closed-loop battery recycling company Ascend Elements Inc. has signed a multiyear contract to supply about $1 billion worth of sustainable cathode precursor (pCAM) to a major US-based company for the latter’s battery manufacturing process, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2024, Ascend said in an announcement June 7. Ascend said that under the terms of the agreement, the customer has the option to expand the contract to a larger quantity with a value of up to $5 bil...

Teijin Automotive Technologies will supply exterior elements including right and left doors, right and left rear-quarter panels, and tailgate inner, outer and lower shells for Lotus Emira, it said in a press release dated April 26. The doors, rear quarter and tailgate exterior panels are made with proprietary Tough Class A (TCA) Ultra Lite materials, which are up to 43% lighter than traditional composite material and weighs about the same as aluminum. “The body panels of the Lotus E...

Stellantis and Alliance Nickel Ltd (formerly GME Resources) have signed a binding offtake agreement for the supply of 170,000 tons of nickel sulphate and 12,000 tons of cobalt sulphate in total over an initial five-year period, Stellantis announced on April 28. “This represents approximately 40% of forecast annual production of the NiWest Nickel-Cobalt Project in Western Australia,” the carmaker said in a statement, adding that the pricing for the nickel and cobalt sulphate is linked to i...

US automaker Ford Motor Company has signed an agreement with PT Vale Indonesia Tbk and China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. to collaborate on advancing more sustainable nickel production in Indonesia, Ford announced on March 30. The three companies plan to make equity investments in the Pomalaa Block High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) Project through a definitive agreement signed on the sidelines of an official ceremony, which was graced by the Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Ford said...

In a press release dated March 16, ELIX Polymers announced that Beijing Beiqi Mould & Plastic Technology (BMPT) has selected the company’s acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) H801 for the spoilers of the Mercedes-Benz GLA and GLB model series. Due to the material’s high stiffness, heat and impact resistance, it is ideal for vehicle spoilers. Its density is 4% lower than the previously used polycarbonate (PC)/ABS grades. This leads to lightweighting. Significance: ELIX ABS H...

AGP Glass is set to invest USD800 million in Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to supply Tesla, Mexico Now reported on 24 February. AGP Glass said the investment the contract will result in the generation of nearly 700 jobs. Operations will begin in July 2023 within the Finsa Santa Catarina industrial park. The minister of Economy in the state, Ivan Rivas Rodriguez said that they are working on an investment attraction strategy due to its advantages in human capital, proximity to the United ...

Magnis Energy Technologies has entered into a Binding Offtake Agreement with Tesla to supply of AAM beginning in February 2025 with fixed pricing, it said in a press release on 21 February. Under the agreement Tesla will purchase a minimum of 17,500 tpa from February 2025 with a maximum of 35,000 tpa for a minimum 3-year term at a fixed price. “We are really excited to bring our high performing AAM to market that requires no chemical or thermal purification throughout the whole process, whi...

SK Nexilis, a wholly owned subsidiary of South Korea-based SK Group, has won a five-year supply contract from Northvolt for supplying copper foil used in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), The Korea Herald reported on 19 February. SK Nexilis will start supplying copper foil to the Swedish battery maker from its Stalowa Wola plant in Poland from 2024. The Korean supplier will meet about 80% of copper foil requirements of Northvolt during 2024–29, which would be enough for 1.7 million EVs. T...

German luxury carmaker BMW Group and US-based battery technology company Solid Power have deepened their partnership with a new joint development agreement to further advance the all-solid-state battery cell design and manufacturing know-how, BMW said on 20 January 2023. “Under an expanded joint development agreement, BMW Group and Solid Power have added a research and development license as a basis for their common next steps. This license enables BMW to establish an ASSB prototype line in...

Stellantis N.V. and Terrafame Ltd.  have signed a supply agreement for nickel sulphate to be used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, Stellantis announced on 18 January 2023. Under the agreement, the Finnish battery material supplier is slated to start supplying Stellantis with nickel sulphate over the five-year term, beginning in 2025. Commenting on the arrangement with Terrafame, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, said, “This agreement is part of the key raw material sourcing to fit with...

South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI is considering setting up a battery manufacturing facility jointly with its largest customer BMW in Hungary, according to a news report published by Business Korea on 12 January 2023. The report said that the development follows a high-profile meeting between Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong and BMW chairman Oliver Zipse in December 2022. It said that Samsung SDI is considering building a third plant in Göd, Hungary, in proxim...

European–American carmaker Stellantis N.V. has signed a binding offtake agreement with Australia-based material supplier Element 25 Limited to secure the supply of battery-grade, high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate, the company announced on 9 January 2023. Under the five-year agreement, Element 25 will begin shipping the manganese sulphate monohydrate to Stellantis for use in its electric vehicle (EV) battery packs in 2026. A total volume of 45 kilotons will be supplied by Element 25...

North America-based lithium hydroxide producer Piedmont Lithium has amended its existing offtake agreement with the US electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla, Inc. to begin supplying the spodumene concentrate (SC6) from the second half of CY2023, Piedmont said in a media note on 3 January 2023. “Piedmont and Tesla have mutually agreed to amend their previous offtake agreement with the terms of this new agreement, which are binding for a three-year term and include an option to renew for another ...

Mainland China’s largest EV battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL) has signed an agreement with AVATR Technology to deepen its strategic cooperation with the EV maker in Chongqing, Southwest China, the company said on 20 December 2022. “The signing of the agreement will further deepen the cooperation between the two parties,” CATL said in an official statement. It mentioned that it, along with AVATR, will build an industry-leading battery supply chain ecosy...

European Lithium Limited, a listed mining exploration and development company, announced on 21 December that it has signed a binding long-term lithium offtake agreement, via its wholly owned Austrian subsidiary ECM Lithium AT GmbH (ECM), with German luxury car manufacturer BMW Group. With the said binding agreement, European Lithium has secured its first offtake of battery grade lithium hydroxide (LiOH) from its Wolfsberg Lithium Project in Austria. Commenting on the binding agreement with...

US solid-state battery and sulfide-based electrolyte technology company Solid Power has deepened its partnership with the BMW Group wherein it has granted the research and development (R&D) license to its all-solid-state cell design and manufacturing know-how to the German luxury carmaker, the company announced on 21 December 2022. According to the official note, the BMW Group intends to duplicate Solid Power’s pilot production lines at its own facility in Germany and produce prototype ...

Toyoda Gosei has developed a new luxurious faux leather steering wheel, which will be first used in the Lexus RX, it said in a press release dated 21 December. The steering wheels were developed in partnership with Seiren. A special coating is applied to the surface to give a smoother and softer feel while also preventing surface deterioration from sweat or cosmetics. Significance: Toyoda Gosei has a lineup of luxury specifications for steering wheels, using real leather and real wood in addi...

German luxury carmaker BMW Group plans to build a high-voltage battery assembly facility in Debrecen, Hungary, BMW announced on 25 November 2022. The planned battery assembly unit will be located on the site of the Debrecen vehicle plant, which started construction about six months ago, the company said, adding that the new facility is expected to will create more than 500 additional jobs and invest over EUR2 billion (USD2.07 billion) in the construction and launch of the entire plant by the ...

From the first rumblings out of China in December 2020 the semiconductor has gone on to dominate discussions around the automotive sector. The issues are still ongoing – just last week Jaguar Land Rover announced it was slowing production of certain models due to a continuing supply squeeze – and a few voices in the industry are being heard speculating that the crunch will last until 2026. To get a perspective on the current situation and future developments we talked with Jeremie Bouchaud, ...

US carmaker General Motors and Vale Canada Limited, a subsidiary of Vale S.A. announced on 17 November 2022 that the two companies have signed a term sheet for long-term supply of battery grade nickel sulfate from Vale's proposed plant at Bécancour, Québec, Canada. According to the official note from the carmaker, under the terms of the agreement, Vale will supply battery grade nickel sulfate, equivalent to 25,000 metric tons per year of contained nickel. The critical material will be used ...

French manufacturer of aluminum rolled products Constellium announced via press release on 10 November that it will be supplying aluminum automotive body sheets for the new Maserati Grecale sport utility vehicle (SUV) from its Neuf-Brisach, France plant. According to the press release, the products being supplied by Constellium will include: Surfalex® high surface quality sheets  with specific hemming and roping properties for the outer surface of the hood and liftgate High perf...

Ineos Styrolution has announced that it is supplying acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) polymer Luran S to for use in Ineos Automotive’s Grenadier 4X4 front grille, it said in a press release on 1 November. Donna Falconer, head of Product at INEOS Automotive said, “We have the highest expectations of the materials we use for the Grenadier. Luran S fulfills them all. Not only does it deliver superior performance in the harshest of environments, but it also enables a high-quality finish a...

German steel company Salzgitter announced via press release on 25 October that it had signed an MoU with Detroit automaker Ford to support a cooperation on issues of sustainable green steel production and green steel products. Sales Director at Salzgitter Flachstahl Phillip Meiser discussed the strategic importance of the partnership, stating, “This collaboration also shows that customers have confidence in SALCOS® as a route to green steelmaking, and perceive value added in the transforma...

Lear has announced that the company will supply its premium and fully recyclable ReNewKnit sueded material for use in seating and door panel applications to a global automaker in 2024, it said in a press release on 26 October. Frank Orsini, Executive Vice President and President of Lear's Seating business, said, “At Lear, we are positioning our surface material offerings to what we believe is the future—a global circular economy where repurposed textiles can be infinitely recycled to beco...

Dutch steelmaker Tata Steel Nederland announced via press release on 25 October that it had signed an MoU with automaker Ford for the supply of its Zeremis low-carbon footprint steel. According to the press release, the Zeremis steel will be supplied from Tata Steel’s Ijmuiden mill that is currently being transitioned to manufacture hydrogen-based low emission material. The carbon intensity of the steel produced at the site will be verified by independent assurance expert DNV. Ford Purch...

German OEM Mercedes-Benz announced via press release on 20 October that it had finalized a supply agreement for battery-grade lithium hydroxide with Canadian-German startup Rock Tech Lithium Inc. According to the press release, Rock Tech will supply the OEM’s battery cathode manufacturing partners with 10,000 tons per year of lithium hydroxide from its Guben, Brandenburg, refinery from 2026. The raw lithium that will be refined by Rock Tech is expected to be solely sourced from mining sites...

Faurecia announced that the company has been testing new bio-based materials as a lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions alternative to animal or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) synthetic leather for use in trim solutions on seats and to cover surfaces of the vehicle interior such as the instrument panel, door panel, or center console, it said in a press release on 11 October. Nicolas Michot, Faurecia Seating Technology Director, said, “Our customers are extremely interested in new materials that su...

South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) plans to supply electric vehicle (EV) batteries to Japan’s largest carmaker Toyota Motor, according to a news report published by Business Korea on 17 October 2022. The Korean battery manufacturer is in talks with Toyota over supplying EV batteries in the United States. These batteries, the news report said, would be produced at LGES’ plant in the US and would be supplied to Toyota’s US-based car manufacturing facility. The news re...

BASF has announced via press release on 12 October that it partnered with Mercedes-Benz, Pyrum Innovations AG, WITTE Automotive and developed automotive components from mass-balanced plastics.   Dr. Martin Jung, President of Performance Materials, BASF, said, “Solutions like these help our customers meet their sustainability goals. This is our Go!Create approach: we invite all our customers and partners to join us in shaping the path towards a circular economy with plastics. With this ...

DSM Engineering Materials has announced via press release on 13 October that it partnered with French automaker Renault to develop industry-first lightweight solution for hybrid vehicle fuel tanks. Dr. Laurent Gervat, Technical Polymers and Composites Expert, Leader of the Upstream Strategy Material Team, Renault, said, “Working with DSM Engineering Materials to create our new hybrid vehicle fuel tanks has helped us to take a significant step toward providing more sustainable mobility to ou...

Detroit automaker General Motors (GM) announced via press release on 11 October that it had entered into a USD69 million investment and battery materials offtake agreement with Australian mining and refining company Queensland Pacific Metals (QPR). According to the press release, GM will purchase nickel and cobalt products processed from QPR’s Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH) project in Northern Australia. The TECH project will refine high-grade nickel laterite ore sourced from New Ca...

Stellantis N.V. has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GME Resources Limited for future offtake of battery-grade nickel and cobalt sulphate from the NiWest Nickel-Cobalt Project in Western Australia (NiWest), the carmaker announced on 10 October 2022. The MoU is aligned with Stellantis’ ‘Dare Forward 2030’ strategic plan, which defines the roadmap for achieving 100% battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales mix in Europe and at least 50% BEV sales mix in the US by 20...

Goodyear has announced that the company supplied sustainable Eagle GO tires to Citroën's Oli concept electric vehicle (EV), it said in a press release on 29 September. Laurent Colantonio, Regional Technology Director Consumer EMEA, Goodyear, said, “Tire architecture has come a long way by incorporating sustainable materials and smart technologies. With Citroën, we have a relationship that provides a great testbed for developing and testing new technologies and techniques. According to ...

HELLA, a Forvia company has announced via press release on 5 October that it received major orders for highly integrated front ‘Phygital Shields’ from German premium manufacturers for use in electric vehicles (EVs).   Yves Andres, managing director Lighting at HELLA, said, "The customer projects not only extremely important for us because of the order volume. Above all, they once again underline our comprehensive competencies and our leading position when it comes to integrating tech...

US carmaker General Motors (GM) and OneD Battery Sciences plan to collaborate on a joint research development agreement focused on the potential use of OneD’s silicon nanotechnology in GM’s Ultium battery cells to drive significant increases in energy density for longer range and reduced cost, according to a media note issued by OneD Battery Sciences on 29 September 2022. The collaboration comes on the back of the carmaker’s venture capital arm GM Ventures participating in the battery t...

Citroën has unveiled its all-electric Oli concept vehicle featuring sustainable materials, according to a press release published by the automaker on 29 September. Pierre Sabas, head of Citroën Advanced Design and Concept Vehicles, said, “We set ambitious targets and it became an exercise in “design by process”—instead of imagining a shape and trying to find a way to do it, we started with the functionality we wanted, then we simplified everything and found clever, responsible mater...

Ultrafabrics has announced that it is supplying Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM) with animal free, high-performance sustainable fabrics for TPEM’s new Avinya concept interior surfaces, Automotive Interiors World reported on 21 September. Nicole Meier, director of branding, Ultrafabrics, said, “We’re delighted to be working with TPEM and being part of this amazing project. EV is the future of mobility, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we achieved here with TPEM. The Avinya Con...

Alcantara has announced that it is supplying Peugeot with leather interiors for its new 408 fastback silhouette, it said in a press release on 15 September.   Significance: The interior of the new 408 is upholstered in plain black Mistral Alcantara. This particular black color was developed particularly for Peugeot, and the finishing touches include matching stitching that surround the core area of the seat with a typical geometric pattern, where Alcantara is effectively combined with ot...

Marelli Automotive lighting has announced that it developed taillights for DS 4 hatchback leveraging Röhm’s Plexiglas molding compounds, according to a press release published by Röhm on 14 September. Nicolas Deluy, Head of Design Lighting & Exterior Design Components at DS Automobiles, said, “The metalized design of our taillights is inspired by nature and is reminiscent of the shining scales of a fish, while it also draws from symbols of luxury, such as polished diamonds, or the f...

Magna has announced via press release on 19 September that it is supplying rear thermoplastic swing doors for Volkswagen’s all-electric ID.Buzz. Grahame Burrow, President, Magna Exteriors, said, “Lightweight components are increasingly important with the shift to electrification, and we see an ever-growing demand for new access solutions. Magna has been on the forefront of next generation thermoplastic liftgates and now we are taking that expertise to develop numerous integration possibil...

Hexpol TPE has announced that it partnered with premium electric vehicle (EV) maker Polestar as part of the Polestar 0 project, it said in a press release on 14 September. Thomas Nilsson, managing director Hexpol TPE AB, said, “This is a very inspiring project to be part of. It aligns with our work to enable a systems transformation in the polymer industry. To bring a true change, we need to collaborate on an unprecedented scale. We’ve already started the work and are excited to see where...

Japanese vehicle manufacturer Honda Motor Company Ltd. has established a strategic partnership with Hanwa Company Ltd., a major Japan-based trading company, to secure a stable procurement of essential metals for batteries required for electrified vehicles, including battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), the company announced on 6 September 2022. “For steady execution of its electrification strategy, Honda established a strategic partnership with Hanw...

South Korean chemical company POSCO announced via press release on 28 July that it had signed a USD10-billion deal for the supply of battery cathode material with US automaker General Motors (GM). According to the press release, POSCO will supply high-nickel cathode active material from its Gwangyang facility in South Korea to GM’s battery cell plants (operated as a joint venture with LG Energy) in Warren, Ohio, Spring Hill, Tennessee, and Lansing, Michigan between 2023 and 2025. Signifi...

European news service electrive.com reported on 22 August that Chinese lithium producer Ganfeng had agreed to partner with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) automaker GAC Aion to supply battery materials and develop new battery technologies. According to the agreement between the two companies: Ganfeng will supply reliable and cost-effective battery raw materials to GAC Aion and its potential suppliers GAC Aion will introduce and commercialize Ganfeng’s new battery solutions The two c...

Japanese tire manufacturer Sumitomo Rubber announced via press release on 23 August that it had begun supplying its high-performance Falken AZENIS FK510 SUV tires to Toyota for factory fitment on the new Yaris Cross GR Sport. According to the press release, the AZENIS FK510 features the following: An asymmetrical tread pattern that optimizes the distribution of pressure throughout the contact patch to add strength and durability to the outer edge of the tread that experiences extreme st...

Mercedes-Benz Group AG and the Government of Canada have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore cooperation on electric vehicle (EV) value chain, ranging from technical development and the extraction of raw materials to production, service life and recycling, the German luxury carmaker announced on 23 August 2022. The purpose of the MoU is to explore ways to advance opportunities across Canada’s EV supply chain, including, but not limited to securing sustainable sources of ra...

Chinese steel company HBIS announced via press release on 4 August that it had signed an MoU with automaker BMW to jointly develop a green low carbon steel supply chain. According to the MoU, the two companies plan: Jointly build the supply chain of green low carbon steel materials using a docking and exchange mechanism Develop low-carbon and green automotive steel materials Certify the use of green and low carbon steel materials and BMW's low-carbon base in steel components BM...

Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone announced via press release on 10 August that as part of its ongoing partnership with automaker ŠKODA, it had developed Turanza Eco tires with ENLITEN Technology for the new electric ŠKODA Enyaq iV. According to the press release, the tires feature: A 30% reduced rolling resistance A 20% reduced weight point (equivalent to roughly 2 kg per tire) Compatibility with the ŠKODA’s demanding standards for handling, wear, efficiency and longevity...

Austrian aluminum company AMAG Austria Metall announced via a press release on 3 August that it had, in partnership with German automaker Audi, put into series production wheels made out of recycled aluminum alloy. According to the press release, the wheels, being cast by Swiss manufacturer Ronal, are being made out of a special AlSi7.REC alloy AMAG developed in close collaboration with Audi. The alloy, with a recycled content of over 70%, requires 95% less energy for production compared with...

News agency Reuters reported on 5 August that Australian mining company European Lithium Limited had signed a non-binding battery-grade lithium hydroxide offtake agreement with German automaker BMW. According to the report, BMW is expected to eventually make an upfront pre-payment of USD15 million to European Lithium to help start the construction phase of its Wolfsberg Project in Vienna, Austria. Significance: European Lithium is currently planning to set up a integrated lithium project i...

News agency Reuters reported on 8 August that US automaker Tesla had signed contracts worth USD5 billion to buy materials for batteries from nickel processing companies in Indonesia. According to the news report, Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs of Indonesia, Luhut Pandjaitan, told CNBC Indonesia that Tesla had signed a five-year contract with nickel processing companies operating out of Morowali in Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. Significance: The contract signed ...

Continental has announced that it selected INOVYN’s polyvinyl chloride (PVC) BIOVYN for use in production of its technical and decorative surface material applications, the German supplier said in a press release on 4 August. Dr. Dirk Leiß, who leads Continental's Surface Solutions business area, said, “Major automotive manufacturers are now demanding more sustainable raw materials such as biobased polymers. With the fully bio-attributed PVC material, we meet these customers' demand, con...

Brazilian mining company Vale announced via press release on 21 July that it had signed a non-binding MoU with Chinese battery materials company Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Detroit automaker Ford to process nickel ore mined by Vale in Indonesia. According to the press release, the new refining plant, set to start operations in 2025, will produce 120,000 tons per annum of nickel-containing mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) that will be used downstream for battery cathode manufacturing. Ford ...

Australian mining company Ioneer announced via press release on 31 July that it had signed a binding offtake agreement for the supply of lithium carbonate with Prime Planet Energy & Solutions (PPES), a joint venture between automaker Toyota and battery manufacturer Panasonic. According to the press release, Ioneer will supply PPES with 4,000 tons of lithium carbonate per annum over a five-year duration starting from 2025. The offtake is expected to represent 19% of Ioneer’s annual produ...

News agency Bloomberg reported on 1 August that electric vehicle (EV) automaker Tesla had signed pricing agreements for precursor materials for precursor batteries with Chinese battery-materials suppliers Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co and CNGR Advanced Material Co. According to the agreements, Huayou Cobalt will supply Tesla with battery materials from July 2022 to the end of 2025 CNGR will supply Tesla with battery materials from 2023 to 2025 Significance: Both Huayou and CNGR curre...

Croatian components maker AD Plastik Group has announced long term deals with expected revenue of EUR31.2 million (USD32.93 million) with Stellantis Group for the European market over the estimated project duration of seven years, according to a press release published by AD Plastik on 28 July. Significance: AD Plastik specializes in the production of interior and exterior car components in Croatia. The company’s operational activities spread across more than 20 countries in five continents...

US automaker General Motors (GM) announced via press release on 26 July that it had signed a binding agreement with Korean battery materials manufacturer LG Chem for the supply of cathode active material (CAM) necessary for the manufacturing of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. According to the agreement, LG Chem will supply more than 950,000 tons of CAM to GM from the second half of 2022 through 2030 The amount of CAM supplied will be sufficient for the manufacturing of 5 million GM E...

US automaker General Motors (GM) announced via press release on 26 July that it had entered into a long-term sourcing agreement for battery-grade lithium hydroxide with American chemical manufacturing company Livent. According to the agreement: Livent will supply GM with lithium hydroxide manufactured at its US facilities over a six-year duration from 2025 to 2030 100% of the lithium hydroxide supplied will be used in GM’s North American electric vehicle (EV) fleet equipped with Ult...

Anglo-Australian mining company BHP announced via press release on 21 July the company had signed a multiyear nickel supply agreement with Detroit-based automaker Ford. According to the press release, supply of the material could start as early as 2025 and may involve additional commodities in the future. BHP stated that it was exploring options to supply Ford with nickel from its Nickel West asset in Western Australia that produces one of the most-sustainable and lowest-carbon-intens...

Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto announced via press release on 21 July that it had signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Detroit automaker Ford to develop sustainable and secure supply chains for battery and low-carbon materials that will be used in future Ford vehicles. According to the press release, the partnership between the two companies will involve the mining company supplying materials including lithium, low-carbon aluminum, and copper. While the a...

Australian mining company Ioneer announced via press release on 21 July that it had signed a binding offtake agreement for supply of lithium carbonate with Detroit automaker Ford. According to the press release, the company will supply Ford’s BlueOval SK battery manufacturing facilities in Tennessee and Kentucky, United States with 7,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually from its Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron operation in Nevada. Supply will initiate from 2025 and will continue for a...

Michigan-based automaker Ford Motor Company has signed a nonbinding MoU with the world’s largest battery maker, China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Ltd. (CATL) to explore a cooperation for sourcing electric vehicle (EV) batteries across the European, North American and Chinese markets, Ford announced on 21 July 2022. Ford said that CATL will supply full lithium iron phosphate or LFP battery packs for Mustang Mach-E models for North America starting next year as well as F-150...

Scientists from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory developed a sustainable polydiketoenamine (PDK) plastic to ensure efficient and responsible recycling, PlasticsToday reported on 20 July. Dr. Brett Helms, a staff scientist at Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, said, "We generate staggering quantities of plastic and plastic-containing products each year, but only a tiny fraction of that plastic can be recovered and used to manufacture products of similar quality." According to report...

Automotive lighting supplier odelo has announced that it developed taillights for Audi A6 leveraging Röhm’s Plexiglas molding compounds, according to a press release published by Röhm on 12 July. The Audi A6's two-part taillight is put together from two bonded, graduated components. Muhammet Yildiz, CEO, Odelo Group, said, “The taillights of the A6 are characterized primarily by their joining technology, combined with a functional glass edge design and an angled component gradation. Thi...

Canadian resources company Rock Tech Lithium announced via press release on 13 July that it had signed a framework agreement with a German OEM for the supply of lithium hydroxide. According to the press release, the agreement involves a five-year supply of the material with a stipulation requiring the lithium refined by Rock Tech to be sourced from mining sites audited by the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurances (IRMA). The company declined to name the German OEM involved in the de...

Perth-based lithium mining company Liontown Resources Limited has signed a binding offtake agreement as well as a funding facility with the American automaker Ford Motor Company, Liontown announced on 29 June 2022. The company said that the offtake agreement with Ford entails supply of up to 150,000 dry metric tons (DMT) per annum of spodumene concentrate—a source of lithium essential in key electric vehicle (EV) battery chemistries. The said spodumene concentrate will be supplied from...

Dusseldorf-based supplier of automotive components and technologies Rheinmetall, together with its Chinese joint venture KPSNC, has bagged an order to supply chassis parts to a Chinese EV startup for an electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) under development, the German company said on 27 June 2022. While Rheinmetall did not disclose the name of its new EV customer, it said that it is a Chinese start-up dedicated entirely to producing electric vehicles, with surging production volumes. It said...

AD Plastik Group has announced new deals with Stellantis Group for the European market worth a total value of EUR85.9 million (USD90.51 million), according to a company press release on 23 June. The nine-year deal involves components production for several models. Significance: AD Plastik specializes in the production of interior and exterior car components in Croatia. The company’s operational activities spread across more than 20 countries in five continents. Its product portfolio include...

Swiss natural fibre company Bcomp announced via press release on June 20 that its natural fiber reinforced plastic (NFRP) components had been extensively used by German automaker BMW in the new M4 GT4 model. According to the press release, the GT4 is now the serial GT vehicle with the highest proportion of natural fiber components. The Swiss company’s ampliTex™ and powerRibs™ flax fiber solutions had been used throughout the interior on the dashboard and center console, as well as ...

The Korea Herald reported on 9 June that Korean steel manufacturer Hyundai Steel had developed a new steel alloy designed for application in reduction gears in gearboxes equipped in electric vehicles (EVs). According to the report, the new alloy and the associated manufacturing technology allows improved thermal deformation characteristics as well as reduced noise for the reduction gears. While the high temperature stability characteristics allows an improvement in gearbox durability, a reduc...

Teijin Automotive Technologies has announced it is manufacturing pickup boxes for the next generation model year (MY) 2022 Toyota Tundra Pickup truck at the company’s new manufacturing facility in Seguin, Texas, US, according to a press release published by the company on 7 June. Steve Rooney, CEO of Teijin Automotive Technologies and GM of Teijin’s Composites Business Unit, said, “The opportunity to produce the pickup box for the highly-anticipated next generation Tundra is something w...

Stellantis N.V. has signed a binding offtake agreement with California-based Controlled Thermal Resources Ltd. (CTR), securing supply of battery-grade lithium hydroxide for its North American electric vehicle (EV) production plans, the carmaker announced on 2 June 2022. Under the agreement between the two companies, CTR will supply Stellantis with up to 25,000 metric tons per year of lithium hydroxide over 10 years. The carmaker said that CTR will produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide and l...

Swiss industrial machinery manufacturing company Bühler announced via a press release on 19 May that Swedish automaker Volvo had purchased two of its Carat 840 high-pressure die-casting (HPDC, or megacasting) cells for its factory in Torslanda, Sweden. The cell solutions being delivered will include the HPDC machines as well as the accessory melting furnace and material handling facilities. According to the press release, the Carat 840 HPDC with locking forces of up to 92,000 kN will...

French automaker Renault announced via press release on 1 June that it had signed an agreement with Moroccan mining company Managem for the supply of low-carbon cobalt sulphate needed for its vehicle electrification targets. According to the press release, Managem will supply Renault with 5,000 tons of cobalt sulphate per year for a period of seven years, with first delivery scheduled for 2025. Renault stated that the amount of annual sulphate it will purchase from Managem will be suf...