Electric-car company Rivian Automotive has received conditional commitment from the US Energy Department's (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program for a loan up to $6.6 billion, including $6 billion of principal and $600 million of capitalized interest. This funding aims to propel Rivian's growth in electric vehicle design, development and manufacturing within the US. The intended loan would facilitate the construction of Rivian's new facility in Stanton Springs No...

Rheinmetall, a German technology group, has secured a new order from one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers to supply millions of electric oil pumps. The order, worth a figure in the lower-three-digit million-euro range, excluding value-added tax, will result in additional sales volume through supplementary services. This marks the second time Rheinmetall has received an order from the same manufacturer for electric oil pumps, demonstrating the company's quality products and experti...

Chinese vehicle manufacturer Chery Automobile has become the first customer for CATL’s sodium-ion batteries, according to a news report published by CNEVPOST on April 16. The report cited an announcement by the battery-maker on April 16 as the source of this development. CATL had first unveiled its in-house developed sodium-ion batteries in July 2021. According to CATL, sodium-ion batteries will be a cost-effective choice among the range of electric vehicle (EV) batteries being developed gl...

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...

US battery maker Microvast Holdings, Inc. and REE Automotive, Ltd. have signed a supply and purchase agreement wherein the former will supply MV-C Gen 4 HpCO high-energy lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery packs to the latter, Microvast said on 26 January 2023. Microvast’s battery packs will power REE Automotive’s commercial electric vehicle (EV) platform, the company said, adding that the customers will benefit from this partnership by combining REE’s zero-emission commercial vehicles with Mi...

US automaker General Motors is evaluating the use of cylindrical batteries over the pouch batteries in its electric vehicles (EVs), according to a news report published by the Korean publication THE ELEC on 25 January 2023. The report cited anonymous sources aware of the new developments at GM. It added that GM’s new battery plans has brought about talks with LG Energy Solution (LGES) over the planned construction of the fourth battery plant by Ultium Cells, a JV between GM and LGES, to be ...

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...

Rheinmetall has won a major order worth over a quarter billion euros (over USD 267 million) in the electric mobility segment from a premium German automaker, the company announced on 2 January 2023. The order entails Rheinmetall supplying a new type of contactor for the customer’s all-new 900V electric vehicle (EV) platform. “Rheinmetall won the order in the face of stiff competition from Asia, establishing itself as a global market leader for contactors for this future voltage class...

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...

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 ...

Aisin is supplying several electric powertrain and safety components for a new performance variant of the Lexus RX, the company said in a press release on 5 December. The new Lexus RX500h F SPORT Performance comes equipped with the DIRECT 4 all-wheel drive (AWD) system to deliver improved driving pleasure. Lexus launched its new performance model last month. Lexus debuted its DIRECT4 AWD system in the RZ450e, launched earlier this year. According to the carmaker, the system constantly monitor...

China’s largest battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL) will supply 123 GWh of electric vehicle (EV) batteries to Honda Motor (China) Investment Company Ltd. between 2024 to 2030, the two companies said in a joint announcement on 8 December 2022. According to the official statement, while the arrangement between the two companies will be limited to China, the world’s largest EV market, CATL and Honda have refrained from disclosing the battery and other financi...

Leading electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer Envision AESC plans to invest USD810 million in building a new, state-of-the-art gigafactory in Florence, South Carolina, US, according to a news report published by the Automotive World on 6 December 2022. The facility, which is slated to have an annual production capacity of 30GWh, will create 1,170 new jobs in the region in its first phase of operations. The plant will produce high performance batteries to power the next generation EVs fro...

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 ...

South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with battery maker SK On Company Ltd. in order to secure supply of EV batteries in North America, the carmaker announced on 29 November 2022. The MoU was signed at the SK Group headquarters in South Korea by Heung-soo Kim, EVP and head of Corporate Future Growth Planning Division & EV Division of Hyundai Motor Group and Young-chan Choi, Chief Administrative Officer of SK On, the company said. Under...

Detroit-based electric vehicle (EV) battery startup Our Next Energy (ONE) will supply modular, linkable Aries battery packs to Bollinger Motors, which recently became a majority owner of EV maker Mullen Automotive, Inc., according to a media note issued by ONE on 10 November 2022. ONE’s batteries are expected to power Bollinger’s all-electric commercial platforms and chassis cabs. “ONE battery packs are ideal for our commercial trucks, giving our customers the driving range they...

Israel-based extreme fast-charging battery startup StoreDot has commenced shipping electric vehicle (EV) cell samples of its ‘100in5’ battery technology to strategic EV OEM partners and potential customers, the company said in its media note on 7 September 2022. Notably, StoreDot’s ‘100in5’ battery technology stands for the company’s in-house developed extreme fast-charging cells that can charge with a driving range of 100 miles in just 5 minutes consistently and without compromis...

Japanese automotive supplier Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. has received an order from Honda Motor Company to supply electric axle (e-Axle) systems for latter’s mid-size and large-size battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) that are slated for a global roll out in 2026, the company announced on 26 September 2022. As a systems integrator, Hitachi Astemo said that the company will deliver a high-performance, integrated drive unit with the e-Axle system, which will combine a highly efficient, silicon carbide ...

Mainland Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker XPeng has diversified its battery supplies and no longer depends on CATL as its primary battery supplier, a news report published by Reuters on 21 September 2022 said, citing XPeng’s president Brian Gu. Citing the senior company official, the report stated that the maker of the G9 electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) now sources EV batteries from several battery suppliers in addition to CATL, which is the largest battery maker in mainland China. ...

Changzhou-based battery maker SVOLT Energy Technology will supply EV batteries to XPeng, JiDU, and other brands, according to a news report published by Pandaily on 2 September 2022. The news report cited Yang Hongxin, chairman and CEO of SVOLT Energy Technology, who spoke to the local media on 1 September 2022, updating about the business progress of the company. The top company official disclosed that XPeng, JiDU, and others plan to use SVOLT’s short blade battery in their electric v...

Mainland China’s largest electric car maker BYD has signed a three-year strategic collaboration agreement with Castrol wherein the electric vehicle (EV) maker will use the lubricant maker’s advanced EV fluids sold under the Castrol ON brand in its growing range of EVs, Castrol said in a media note on 22 August 2022. The agreement follows existing first-fill and service-fill supply arrangements that commenced in 2021, it said, adding that the relationship with BYD will help Castrol expand ...

Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL), mainland China’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing company, announced on 27 August 2022 that it has signed a five-year long-term strategic cooperation agreement with US-based EV maker SERES. Under the agreement, CATL will provide its Qilin range of EV batteries to SERES’ new AITO models and that all AITO models will be equipped with the batteries sourced from CATL. Established in 2016 in the Silicon Valley, US,...

Mainland China’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Ltd (CATL) plans to supply its recently launched, long-range Qilin batteries to Geely’s premium EV arm Zeekr, the company announced on 27 August 2022. With this, Zeekr will become the first major EV brand to be powered by mass produced CATL Qilin batteries, it said, adding that while Zeekr 009 will be the world's first electric car to be powered by the Qilin batteries, the Zeekr 001 will be t...

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...

China’s EVE Energy Company Ltd plans to supply large cylindrical batteries to BMW in Europe for the German luxury carmaker’s next generation EVs that are slated to hit the market from 2025, a news report published by the news agency Reuters on 17 August 2022 said, citing two people aware of the matter. The report added that EVE Energy has signed contracts with BMW to become the latter’s primary supplier of battery cells in Europe for the new series of its upcoming EVs. Additionally, EVE...

Michigan-based global supplier of powertrain systems and electric mobility solutions BorgWarner has secured a new order from South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) to supply its iDM146 integrated drive module (iDM), the company announced on 10 August 2022. BorgWarner’s iDM146 will power Hyundai’s A-segment electric vehicle (EV) platform, which is scheduled to go in production in the third quarter of 2024, it said. Commenting on the new business win from Hyundai, Dr. Stefan Demm...

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...

Aehr Test Systems has announced that it received follow on orders worth USD12.8 million from its silicon carbide test and burn-in customer for multiple FOX-XP systems, a FOX high volume production WaferPak Aligner, and a small number of FOX WaferPak full wafer contactors for the growing electric vehicle (EV) market, it said in a press release on 19 July. Gayn Erickson, President, CEO of Aehr Test Systems, said, “We are excited to receive these orders for additional FOX systems and WaferPaks...

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...

South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) may supply EV batteries to Indian automaker Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M) for its first electric sport utility vehicle (SUV), a Reuters news report published on 11 July 2022 said, citing a source aware of the matter. The report said that the LGES batteries may power M&M’s yet to be launched electric SUV, the XUV400, which is expected to hit the showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2022. The report, however, did not state any ...

South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) is on track to supply the Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors with an estimated KRW1 trillion (USD763 million) or more worth of EV batteries, Reuters reported on 5 July 2022, citing a South Korean newspaper. Citing the Korea Economic Daily, the report mentioned that LGES is slated to work with Isuzu to supply EV batteries for four years starting in 2023. To begin with, the LGES sourced cylindrical battery cells will power an electric version of...

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...

China’s Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment Company Limited, one of the leading new energy equipment manufacturers, has bagged a contract from German automaker Volkswagen Group to supply it with battery cell manufacturing equipment, Wuxi Lead said in a media release on 21 June 2022. The company said that it will supply the battery manufacturing equipment to VW’s 20GWh gigafactory in Salzgitter, Germany. According to Wuxi Lead, the contract accounts for over 65% of the total equipment quantity...

South Korean automaker Kia Corporation plans to procure batteries from China’s largest battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL) to power electric vehicles (EVs) that will be sold in its home market, a Reuters report published on 22 June 2022 said, citing a local newspaper. It added that this would be the first instance wherein the carmaker will be using batteries manufactured in China for EVs meant for sale in South Korea. The report said that Hyundai Motor Compa...

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...

Chinese EV and battery maker BYD plans to soon begin supplying batteries to US electric carmaker Tesla, according to a report published by CNEVPOST on 8 June 2022. The report cited BYD’s Executive Vice President Lian Yubo, who gave an interview to the state-owned media CGTN. The interview was published by the media outlet on Wednesday, the report said. “We will soon supply batteries to Tesla. It has a high starting point and adopts a high-profile strategy. It first launched the Model...

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...

Michigan based supplier of powertrain and electric mobility solutions BorgWarner has bagged orders from two performance car brands to supply new 800V silicon carbide (SiC) inverter, the company announced on 31 May 2022. The company said that the new SiC inverter is designed using BorgWarner’s patented ‘Viper’ SiC 800V power module, which resulted in saving semiconductor and SiC material. Furthermore, the dual-side cooling technology in the power module helped in reducing the product wei...

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...

China’s CATL or Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited plans to begin supplying cylindrical cells to the German luxury carmaker BMW from 2025 for its future electric vehicle (EV) range, according to a Reuters report on 28 May 2022, which cited the battery maker. CATL, which is also the largest battery maker in China, has signed an agreement with BMW in which the carmaker has nominated it as the supplier of the cylindrical cells, the report added. BMW has declined to comment on...

POSCO Chemical and General Motors have finalized their joint venture (JV), which will be called Ultium CAM, and the two companies plan to invest a combined USD327 million to form the JV, the South Korean materials company announced on 27 May 2022. POSCO Chemical and GM will hold 85% and 15% stakes respectively in the said JV, it said. Min Kyung-Zoon, CEO, POSCO Chemical, and Doug Parks, GM EVP, attended the official signing ceremony 27 May, the company said. The Ultium CAM JV plans to buil...

Rheinmetall has received a major order for transmission housings from a global electric vehicle (EV) maker, it said in a press release on 23 May. The company will partner with its Chinese joint venture KPSNC. The order is set to run for six years with total value set at a low three-digit million euros. The housings, which will be produced at a Shanghai manufacturing unit, consists of an aluminum alloy and is produced using the pressure casting method. It will be installed in future in two of ...

German automotive parts company Rheinmetall AG announced via press release on 10 May that its joint with HASCO, KS Hauyu, had received a USD176 million (EUR170 million) order from a German automaker for cast aluminum carrier plates for battery control components. According to the press release, the carrier plates will be required for the safe functioning of the high-voltage batteries equipped in electric and electrified vehicles. While the company hasn’t identified the OEM customer for t...

Michigan based supplier of powertrain components and electric mobility solutions BorgWarner said on 4 May 2022 that the company has bagged its first OEM contract to supply its flexible battery management system (BMS). While the company did not disclose the name of the customer, it said that its BMS will be used by the global vehicle manufacturer in all of its B and C segment models as well as on its light commercial vehicle platforms. The company said that its BMS will be equipped on the vehicle...

Global automotive supplier of powertrain components and electric mobility solutions BorgWarner has bagged a contract to supply high-voltage hairpin (HVH) eMotors to a leading electric vehicle company in China, the company said on 4 May 2022. The BorgWarner-made eMotors will be used in the electric vehicle (EV) maker’s second-generation 800V propulsion system platform and the model built on the said platform is expected to start mass production in October 2023, it said Wednesday. “We are e...

Canadian automotive supplier Magna International has started the production of its mild hybrid transmission systems for BMW Group, the company announced on 2 May 2022. The company said that its all-new 7-speed, mild hybrid dual-clutch transmission will be the latest to be featured exclusively on BMW Group’s compact class, which underpins all its front-transverse vehicles. Magna further said that its contract with the BMW Group also includes production of mild hybrid transmissions for additi...

German supplier of powertrain components and electric mobility solutions Vitesco Technologies has secured a EUR2-billion (USD2.1 billion) contract from Hyundai Motor Group to supply its new-generation axle drive EMR4 (electronics motor reducer), the company announced on 2 May 2022. The company said that the highly integrated 400 V/160 kW 3-in-1 unit will be used by the vehicle manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group in its global B- and C-segment electric vehicles. “We are proud to contribute to H...

Mining company Glencore announced via press release on 12 April that it had signed a multiyear cobalt supply agreement with American automaker General Motors. According to the press release, cobalt from Glencore’s Murrin Murrin operations in Australia will be used in the production of GM’s Ultium batteries that will be equipped in the automaker’s Chevrolet Silverado, GMC HUMMER, and Cadillac LYRIQ electric vehicles (EVs). GM VP, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, Jeff Morrison, stat...

US-based EV maker Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc., said on 6 April 2022 that the company has partnered with Meta System, which will supply on-board power management modules for the FF 91 EV and the upcoming FF 81 EVs. Faraday Future, which is planning to commercially launch the FF 91 electric car in the third quarter of 2022, said that Meta System’s onboard power management products have arrived at the EV maker’s California-based plant ahead of schedule. The company said that its...

ROHM Semiconductor has announced that Lucid has selected its silicon carbide metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (SiC MOSFET) to power its Lucid Air electric vehicle (EV),  according to a company press release on 8 March. Lucid Air’s main on-board charging unit features a DC-DC converter and a Bi-directional On-Board Charger (OBC), which can operate at high switching frequencies due to ROHM’s SiC MOSFET. ROHM's SCT3040K and SCT3080K SiC MOSFETs reduces size and power...

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has partnered mainland Chinese–Japanese electric vehicle (EV) battery maker Envision AESC in an attempt to secure the supply of high-performance battery cell modules for its EQ lineup of EVs, the battery maker said on 16 March 2022. Envision AESC, which produces and supplies EV batteries from its Tennessee plant for the Nissan Leaf EV, is setting up a new EV battery production unit in the United States, the company said, without disclosi...

Australian mineral exploration company Liontown Resources announced via press release on 16 February that it had entered into a binding supply agreement for lithium with US automaker Tesla. According to the press release, the company will supply Tesla with lithium spodumene concentrate for a five-year duration starting from 2024. While the automaker will purchase 100,000 tons of the material in the first year, the supply value will increase to 150,000 tons per year from the second year. Ac...

South Australia-based emerging lithium producer Core Lithium announced via press release on 2nd March that it had entered into a legally binding Term Sheet with American automaker Tesla for the supply of 110,000 tons of Li2O (lithium) spodumene concentrate. According to the release, the lithium would be sourced from the Finniss Lithium Project, located in the Bynoe Pegmatite Field, over a term of four years, with the material’s purchasing price referenced to the market price for spodumene c...

German automotive components supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG will assist mainland Chinese technology company Baidu’s smart electric vehicle (EV) brand Jidu to develop chassis and other components, according to a report filed by the news publication Automotive News on 24 February 2022. While the two companies have signed an agreement this week, ZF will be responsible for developing chassis components and related digital interfaces under the said arrangement, the report said, citing Jidu....

Michigan-based global supplier of powertrain technologies and electric mobility solutions BorgWarner said on 15 February 2022 that the company has secured a contract with a major global OEM to supply high voltage generator inverters. The said inverters would be used in an innovative electrified architecture to charge the main batteries, it said, adding that the silicon carbide (SiC) based inverter is designed to provide high levels of continuous current and advanced cooling strategies to manage ...

Michigan-based global supplier of powertrain technologies and electric mobility solutions, BorgWarner said on 15 February 2022 that the company is supplying its innovative high-voltage coolant heater (HVCH) to the German premium carmaker BMW for the latter’s iX and i4 fully electric architectures. BorgWarner said its coolant heater controls the battery’s thermal management and cabin heating and contributes to significantly enhancing the driving range and durability of the battery. The com...

Vulcan Energy Resources has signed a binding lithium hydroxide offtake agreement with the South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution, following the binding term sheet signed in July 2021, the lithium producer said in its official statement on 31 January 2022. The binding term sheet signed in 2021 was conditional on the execution of a definitive agreement, Vulcan said. LG Energy Solution is one of the largest electric vehicle (EV) battery makers in the world, manufacturing lithium-ion batte...

Austrian injection molding company Engel announced via press release on 11 January that German automaker BMW has launched a new Engel production unit at its Landshut production facility to develop the new kidney-shaped front badges for the iX EV. According to the press release, the front badge taking the place of the traditional radiator grille, will now be used to protect the camera and sensors for automated driving. Engel stated that it uses its ‘Clearmelt’ process to first back...

FLO, a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator, has signed a multiyear agreement with General Motors wherein FLO will provide AC Level 2 and direct current (DC) fast chargers for GM to be installed on its premises in the United States. FLO announced the installation of the first set of workplace EV charging stations at GM’s premises on 19 January 2022. "Over the past two years, FLO's collaboration with GM has been growing steadily and flourishing through diffe...

Talon Metals Corp., through its U.S. subsidiary Talon Nickel (USA) LLC has entered into an agreement with the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Inc. for the supply and purchase of nickel concentrate, the company announced on 10 January 2022. Talon said that it would supply the nickel concentrate to Tesla from the Tamarack Nickel Project in Aitkin County, Minnesota. The execution of the agreement follows an extensive and detailed due diligence period performed by Tesla and lengthy negotiatio...

Cerence has announced that electric vehicle manufacturer NIO will deploy Cerence conversational AI in its ES8 full-size SUV as it expands to Norway, a company press release on 10 January read. “NIO is a pioneer and a game changer at the forefront of the future of electric vehicles, transforming the innovation landscape in today’s automotive industry in China and worldwide. We’re proud to partner with NIO in developing a digital companion that supports and excites their drivers with an i...

Global supplier of advanced powertrain parts and electric mobility solutions Vitesco Technologies has won a large order from a major North American carmaker to supply 800V inverters with silicon carbide (SiC) technology, the company said on 10 January 2022. Vitesco said that the order is worth more than EUR1 billion (USD1.13 billion). It is to be noted that the SiC technology is a key enabler for fast charging and improving EV efficiency and range. “Vitesco Technologies is to expand its ...

Australian mining and technology company Syrah Resources announced via a press release on 23 December that it had executed an offtake agreement with automaker Tesla to supply natural graphite Active Anode Material (AAM) for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries from its Vidalia production facility. According to the press release, Tesla will purchase the Vidalia facility’s initial AAM production capacity at a fixed price over a four-year duration while having the option to offtake additional v...

Cerence has announced that Mercedes-Benz AG has selected Cerence for conversational artificial intelligence (AI)-powered electric vehicle (EV) use cases and Cerence emergency vehicle detection (EVD), integrated with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) in the Mercedes-Benz EQS EV, the company said in a press release on 22 December. “Intuitive technology and a simple, easy-to-use interface are important elements in the electric vehicle user experience as drivers demand increasingly smart...

German automotive components supplier ElringKlinger AG said on 16 December 2021 that the company has bagged a contract to supply electric vehicle (EV) battery prototypes for all-electric sports cars from Piëch Engineering AG. “As part of this contract, ElringKlinger will develop and supply prototypes of a battery system for an all-electric sports car engineered by the Swiss-German manufacturer,” the company said in an official statement on Thursday. It also added that besides the battery...

MARELLI Electric Powertrain Strasbourg, which is a joint venture (JV) between MARELLI and Punch Motive International established in May 2021, has won its first contract of supplying e-axles from a major OEM, the company announced on 15 December 2021. According to the company, the said e-axles will be developed, tested and manufactured by MARELLI Electric Powertrain Strasbourg and the production is expected to start in 2024. Notably, the JV company, which is majority owned by MA...

Qualcomm Technologies has announced that it will be supplying its next-generation Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit platforms for Opel’s upcoming Astra electric vehicle (EV), a company press release dated 9 December read. The latest Astras with the new automotive cockpit platforms are expected to be available in the first half of 2022.  “Qualcomm Technologies remains committed to creating superior automotive technologies designed to meet and exceed consumers’ expectations. In-cabin fea...

Automaker General Motors announced via press release on 9 December that it had entered into a long-term supply agreement with Nevada materials producer MP Materials for the manufacturing and supply of rare earth materials, alloy, and finished Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets for the electric motors used in GM’s Ultium EV Platform. According to MP Materials, the company will source the necessary materials in its Mountain Pass mining and processing facility in California and transfor...

Global supplier of automotive fluid handling components, TI Fluid Systems (TIFS) announced on 30 November 2021 that it would supply several new products from its portfolio to Mercedes-Benz for the carmaker’s global platforms. Calling the German luxury carmaker as a key strategic OEM for the company, TIFS said that it has launched high volume production supply of various products for the global Mercedes-Benz AG programs C-Class, GLC, and E-Class hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). “TIFS wil...

Chinese lithium producing company Ganfeng Lithium Company Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiary GFL International Co. Ltd. have signed a product supply contract with US electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla, Inc and Tesla Shanghai Co. Ltd., the company said in a regulatory filing at The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 1 November. Under the said product supply contract, Ganfeng Lithium and GFL International shall supply battery grade lithium hydroxide products to Tesla from 1 January 2022 to 31...

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. and Amsterdam-based carmaker Stellantis N.V. have signed a binding offtake agreement wherein the former will supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide to the latter starting from 2026, for a mutually agreed period of five years, Vulcan said in 29 November press release. Under the said agreement, Vulcan will have to supply a minimum of 81,000 tons and a maximum of 99,000 tons of battery grade lithium hydroxide from 2026 to 2030. According to Vulcan, while the said agr...

Australia-based mining company Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. has signed a binding lithium hydroxide offtake agreement with the French vehicle manufacturer, the Renault Group, the company announced on 22 November. The agreement between the two companies follows the binding term sheet, which was signed on 2 August 2021, conditional on the execution of a definitive agreement by 20 November 2021, it said. Vulcan said that the agreement with Renault Group is for an initial six-year term and the sta...

Canadian automotive component supplier Magna International will provide battery enclosures to Ford Motor’s upcoming all-electric pickup truck F-150 Lightning, the company said on 9 November. The company said that the battery enclosures, in an electric vehicle, provide protection to the high-voltage batteries, electrical components, sensors, and connectors, contributing to the structural and safety aspects of a vehicle’s frame and protecting critical components from potential impact, ...

BorgWarner has won a contract to provide a new, high-voltage silicon carbide (SiC) inverter to a large German automaker, which will use them in its next-generation electric vehicles (EVs), the company announced on 4 November, without disclosing the name of the OEM. BorgWarner said that its 800V SiC inverter with proprietary power switches provides a more compact and efficient power module, resulting in higher EV range and enhanced driving performance. “We are pleased to have won yet anot...

BorgWarner announced on 2 November that it has won a supply contract from a European vehicle manufacturer wherein it would supply its 400V silicon carbide (SiC) inverter to power the OEM’s future line up of electric vehicles (EVs). It, however, did not disclose the name of the automaker. According to BorgWarner, its inverter features dual-sided cooled power switches, providing a significant breakthrough in support of vehicle electrification and offering OEMs superior operational characteris...

BorgWarner has secured an order to supply its fully integrated P3 hybrid drive module that will power a range of front- and all-wheel drive (AWD) sport utility vehicles (SUVs) for a major European performance-based OEM, the company announced on 14 October without disclosing the name of its customer. According to the Michigan-based supplier of powertrain technologies, its inhouse developed P3 hybrid drive module enables significant fuel economy gains and carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction. The mod...

Geely Automobile Group’s new ZEEKR 001 electric vehicle (EV) will adopt Nidec Corporation’s Ni200Ex, a 200kW, E-Axle traction motor system, the supplier announced in a press release on 14 October. The sale of ZEEKR 001 in China is slated for 2021, while its global sale is set to start in 2022. Nidec said it was initially planning to start mass-producing Ni200Ex in 2023, but accelerated the plan significantly in time for ZEEKR 001’s market launch, to initiate the mass production in Augus...

Manufacturer of light electric commercial vehicles, Electric Last Mile Solutions, Inc. (ELMS) announced on 14 October that it has reached an agreement with the Chinese EV battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) to supply batteries and secure production capacity needed for its all-electric Class 1 Urban Delivery commercial vehicles through 2025. According to the company, CATL will provide a 42-kWh lithium-ion battery in the lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry syste...

Zurich-based Kongsberg Automotive’s ‘couplings business unit’ has won a contract with a leading Asian car and commercial vehicle manufacturer worth EUR32 million (USD37 million) in estimated lifetime revenue, and average annual revenue of USD6.14 million, the company said in a press release on 8 October. According to the company, the secured contract for the Raufoss ABC System for compressed air offers optimal air system that reduces braking distance, decreases weight, and increases the...

French automotive manufacturer Renault announced via press release on 8 October that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the future supply of nickel sulphate with Finnish multimetal company Terrafame. According to the release, Renault Group will procure a supply of nickel sulphate from Terrafame that represents up to 15 GWh of annual capacity. The cooperation between the two companies is expected to pay particular attention to sustainability systems that define detailed...

Cerence has announced that VinFast has picked its technologies to power conversational AI across the automaker’s lineup of smart electric vehicles (EVs), according to a company press release on 28 September. VinFast’s AI-powered voice assistant can be activated by “Hey VinFast,” to access navigation and traffic, phone calling and messaging, weather updates, news, tourist attractions, among other functions. Drivers will also be able to use vehicle functions like climate control and adv...

Australian mining company BHP has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prime Planet Energy & Solutions (PPES) and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) to create a green electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem that will enhance sustainability, recyclability and traceability of elements, the company announced on 4 October. The said MoU between the three organizations establishes a collaboration framework beginning with the supply of nickel sulphate from BHP’s new production plant in Ni...

American automaker General Motors has forged a strategic supplier agreement with chipmaker Wolfspeed, Inc., which will develop and provide silicon carbide power device solutions for GM’s future electric vehicle (EV) programs, the Detriot-based company said in a press release on 4 October. Wolfspeed’s silicon carbide devices will enable GM to install more efficient EV propulsion systems that will extend the range of its EVs, it said in a statement on Monday, adding that the silicon ca...

Korean tire manufacturer Kumho Tyres announced via press release on 9 September that its low-noise all-season CRUGEN HP71 and high-performance ECSTA PS71 tires had been selected by Korean OEM Kia for its EV6 battery-electric vehicle. According to the press release, the two selected tires exhibit significantly less resonance noise than standard products, thanks to Kumho’s K-Silent sound absorbing technology. In addition, both HP71 and PS71 feature a low rolling resistance, a strong anti...

German tire manufacturer Continental announced via press release on 24 September that its PremiumContact 6 summer tires, ProContact RX all-season tires and WinterContact TS 860 S winter tires were selected for original equipment application in the Porsche Taycan. According to the press release, the three tire each provide individual features to the Taycan: The PremiumContact 6, ADAC test champion in the 2021 major summer tire test, was specially developed for sporty and comfortable...

California-based EV maker Mullen Technologies Inc. has entered into an agreement with German powertrain solutions supplier, hofer powertrain GmbH to partner in the development and manufacturing of electric drive systems and components for Mullen's upcoming electric vehicle (EV) lineup, the company said in a press release on 23 September. Mullen and hofer powertrain plan to jointly work on the development and manufacturing of designated EV systems and components for the complete electric power...

Global supplier of aluminum components Constellium SE announced on 23 September that it will supply aluminum structural components to Ford Motor Company for its upcoming electric pickup truck, the Ford F-150 Lightning. The electric vehicle (EV) is expected to be launched early next year. The company said it supplies structural components for the F-150 Lightning, including the windshield header, rocker, and radiator support. Notably, Ford’s F-150 Lightning and all F-Series pickup trucks...

German powertrain and thermal parts supplier Rheinmetall has bagged an order for its CWA400 coolant pumps from a global vehicle manufacturer, the company announced on 8 September. The said coolant pumps will be installed in luxury hybrid vehicles with 2.5L, 4-cylinder engines as the order size is pegged to be in two-digit million euro range, the company said, without disclosing the specific details. “The transaction marks the extension of an existing contract,” the company said, adding th...

Re|Source, a collaboration of major stakeholders involved in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain such as Glencore, CMOC, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), Johnson Matthey, among others, has consolidated its partnership with American electric car company Tesla, it said in an official statement on 12 August. Tesla is also a member of Re|Source, a platform that was set up to trace responsibly produced cobalt from the mine to the EVs. Acknowledging the progress made by Tesla in implem...

Automotive tire manufacturer, Bridgestone, has announced that it has been selected as the exclusive tire supplier by Fisker for its upcoming new pure-electric SUV, the Fisker Ocean. According to a joint press release issued by Bridgestone and Fisker on 4 August, the companies stated that the new vehicle will be equipped with Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires for units sold in Europe and select units sold in North America. Bridgestone will also supply custom-designed Alenza Sport all season tire...

Michigan-based global supplier of powertrain solutions Borgwarner has won contracts to supply dual inverters for two premier mainland Chinese OEMs, the company said in a press release on 4 August, adding that it is making a significant traction in mainland China’s automotive market. While Great Wall Motor Company (GWM) is one of the two mentioned OEMs, Borgwarner did not disclose the name of the other vehicle manufacturer. The dual inverters will be featured on both hybrid elec...

US-based global supplier of automotive powertrain parts, Borgwarner, plans to supply its iDM220 integrated drive module to a leading Chinese luxury new energy vehicle (NEV) brand, the company said in a press release on 4 August. After bagging a recent supply order for the integrated drive module from a Korean customer, Borgwarner said that this is now the first business win for the iDM220 in China. “The start of production for this business will be in first quarter 2023,” the comp...

India-based supplier of rolled, forged and machined components to the automotive industry, Ramkrishna Forgings Ltd has received its first ever order in the electric vehicle (EV) segment, the company said in a regulatory filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on 3 August. The order is received from a multinational tier-1 OEM in India, it said, without disclosing the name and more details about the new order. “The order marks beginning of a new segment for the company having possibilities ...

Indian automotive components supplier Rico Auto has announced that it will be supplying components for a Toyota hybrid vehicle. At the company’s fourth quarter 2021 earnings conference call held on 23 June, Arvind Kapur, the chairman, CEO, and managing director of Rico Auto, stated that a certain component in the transmission system of a Toyota hybrid vehicle will be exclusively supplied by Rico Auto. Although the exact details of which component the company would be supplying wer...

French supplier, Constellium SE, has announced that it will be supplying Audi with aluminum solutions for the Audi e-tron GT electric sportscar. According to a press release issued by Constellium on 29 June, the company stated that these components will include ASI-certified aluminum auto body sheet solutions for closures and inner parts, as well as extrusion-based components for the vehicle’s front and rear crash management systems. Constellium’s Surfalex Auto Body Sheet solution will be...

iPhone maker Apple Inc is in talks with China’s lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery manufacturers Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL) and BYD Company on the supply of batteries for its planned electric vehicles (EVs), Reuters reported on June 9. CATL, which is one of the major global suppliers of Li-ion batteries for EVs, is already a supplier to several electric vehicle manufacturers including Tesla. While the tightly guarded discussions are in early stages and are subject to c...