Popular success for Paris Motor Show, San Francisco finally loves AV, Stellantis struggles (again)

?? This Week In The Mobility World

?? Factories/Manufacturing/Recalls

• Stellantis under pressure. Firstly, the group has significantly scaled back remote work, now requiring employees to return to the office three days a week. Then, in the factories, where workers are now feeling under pressure for their jobs:

? At Poissy, Stellantis gave itself 1 year to sort out the future of the plant: it currently produces low volume models (DS3 and Opel Mokka) which are both planned to switch to the STLA Small platform in their next iteration, whose manufacturing gravity centre is supposed to be Vigo in Spain rather than in France.

? Meanwhile in Italy, autoworkers are on national strike , the first in 20 years, are they are increasingly fearing for their jobs. Stellantis’ production in Italy as fallen by 40% in only one year in the country.

? The icing on the cake: in the US, the powerful union UAW keeps asking for Tavares’ departure, calling out unkept promises by the group. A website, shitcancarlos.com , has even been launched, to call workers to vote for a strike against the company going back on its promises. Well, we couldn’t spare you the catchy song. From the UAW, yup.

• Audi's EV factory in Brussels may close after failing to find a suitable investor. Despite interest from 26 parties, none presented a viable plan for the plant's future, according to Audi COO Gerd Walker. With poor demand for the Q8 E-Tron and logistical issues, the closure could result in around 3k job losses. This would mark the first VW Group plant closure in Europe.
• Lyten just announced plans to build the world’s first lithium-sulfur battery gigafactory near Reno, Nevada. Once fully operational, the facility will churn out up to 10 GWh of batteries annually, producing everything from cathode materials to lithium metal anodes, all 100% made in the US. Lyten has secured a location via an MOU with Dermody Properties and the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority. Initially, the project will create 200 jobs, with the potential to exceed 1k as production ramps up!
• Billionaire Pierre-Edouard Stérin, through Montyon Capital, is looking to acquire struggling automotive supplier GMD, which employs over 5,200 people, including 1,800 in France. GMD, with €1B in revenue, largely from Stellantis and Renault, has been in financial distress, owing €360M, half of which is tied to a state-guaranteed pandemic loan (PGE). Montyon Capital aims to eliminate 80% of the debt in exchange for restructuring, and plans to optimize GMD's industrial operations in France and expand capacities abroad.

???Tech

• An iconic Halloween update for Rivian this year, featuring three “Car Costumes” transforming the vehicle into themed rides, from Back to the Future to Knight Rider . The package includes a complete infotainment makeover and themed lighting effects to set the mood for a festive, Halloween-ready experience! Spooky!

• Valeo and HERE Technologies are teaming up and presented a new version of Valeo's Smart Safety 360 system at the Paris Motor Show. This updated system includes a Navigation on Pilot (NOP) feature, which uses high-definition maps and navigation services provided by HERE. The NOP function is designed to enhance autonomous driving capabilities and will be offered as a customizable software-as-a-service solution.

?? Retail/Marketing

• A great success for the Paris Motor Show this year, as the organizers announce more than 500.000 entries for the 2024 edition, 2 years after falling under the 400k entries in a worrying 2022 edition. In a positive turn after the disappointing Geneva Auto Show that sealed its fate, the Paris Motor Show is asserting its European leadership and has already begun discussions with exhibitors about potentially extending its duration to 10 days, allowing for two public weekends. If you missed it, we took part to the 2024 edition and dedicated a full newsletter to what we’ve seen and what we thought of it. It’s right here!

?? EVs

• Tesla’s robotaxi event was also the opportunity for Tesla to officialize its wireless charging plans, as its Robotaxi model will be introducing the technology into the range. What about the efficiency then? A well-founded question knowing the obvious energy losses we can expect from it. Tesla is proudly saying its efficiency is above 90% , reusing the statistics from the startup Wiferion, which it had acquired and raising some eyebrows knowing that a regular EV charging cable has a 95% efficiency. Wait and see for some real life conditions testing.
• French energy giant Engie has confirmed it's pulling the plug on EVBox, the charging station company. After failing to find a buyer, sources revealed the company's uncertain future, and now an estimated 400 to 500 employees are set to be laid off. Despite the closure, the broader charging station market is unlikely to feel a significant impact from EVBox's exit.
• Stellantis is shaking things up with its new Vauxhall (Opel) Frontera, offering price parity between its ICE and BEV versions. Whether you choose gas or electric, the price remains ￡23,495 (approx. €28,200). This is a bold move aimed at making EVs more accessible and dispelling the myth that electric always costs more. The Frontera, available in five- or seven-passenger configurations, offers a hybrid option with a 100hp 1.2-liter turbo engine or a fully electric version with a 113hp motor and up to 400km of range.
• The German Federal Council is pushing to reinstate a purchase premium for electric cars, urging the government to ramp up e-mobility to maintain Germany's automotive competitiveness. This resolution, supported by Lower Saxony, Saarland, and Hesse, comes after the environmental bonus was cut last year, leading to a sharp decline in e-car sales. With 770k jobs at stake, the Council emphasizes the need to boost production and registrations to meet the goal of 15M fully electric cars by 2030. The federal government will now consider the proposal!

???Investment/Financial/Legal

• GM has invested $10M in Forge Nano, boosting the company's total capital to over $100M, alongside shareholders like Volkswagen and LG. Their partnership will focus on Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor technology, which enhances EV battery performance by 20% and enables 10min fast charging. Forge Nano will also produce prototype lithium-ion cells to help GM improve its EV batteries. Meanwhile, Forge Battery, its manufacturing arm, is expanding in North Carolina, aiming for 3 GWh capacity by 2029 with a 90% US-sourced supply chain, further backed by $100M from the US Department of Energy.
• Vay is set to transform remote driving in Europe, having secured €34M from the European Investment Bank to expand its services. The German startup plans to launch its remote-driven vehicles in cities like Hamburg and Belgium through a partnership with car-sharing service Poppy Mobility.
• Pony AI is making headlines as it prepares for a US IPO after a lengthy ban on offshore capital raising in China. Despite being valued at $8.5B during its last funding round in 2022, Pony has lowered its IPO valuation target to $4B and reduced its fundraising goal from $425M to $200M. Currently operating a fleet of 190 robotrucks and over 250 robotaxis across major Chinese cities, Pony has reported a revenue jump to $24.7M in the first half of 2024, although it continues to face substantial losses due to high R&D expenses.

??? Bookmarks

It's been a long time since we've shared a few bookmark articles with you! And this time it's not one but two carefully selected articles.

Why EV prices have risen in Europe despite big drop in battery prices (Automotive News)

• Despite headlines about affordable EVs in China, Europe's reality shows rising prices, with averages jumping from €40k in 2020 to €45k today, an 11% increase. This shift is fueled by the demand for larger, premium models, now making up 64% of the EV market.
• While automakers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW have significantly raised prices, brands like Volvo and Stellantis offer more budget-friendly options. Consumer interest remains strong, but many are deterred by high costs, with the average budget around €20k
• However, as battery prices decline and new EU targets approach, T&E forecasts a wave of models priced under €25k by 2025. So, better deals could be on the horizon!

How San Francisco Learned to Love Self-Driving Cars (The Wall Street Journal)

• Tourists flock to see Waymo's self-driving cars around iconic spots like the Golden Gate Bridge, with ridership skyrocketing from 10k to over 100k weekly.
• While Waymo rides are slightly pricier than Uber or Lyft, many locals prefer them for their luxury feel and the privacy of not having a driver.
• The competition is tough, Waymo remains the only publicly available robotaxi service in San Francisco after a rival lost its permits.
• Despite concerns over safety and regulatory investigations, Waymo continues to push for growth, including international expansion and a fleet refresh with cheaper vehicles.

See you next Monday!