SAIC Takes On ????, Apple Ditches Its Car, Fisker On The Verge Of A Crash [...] and many more - MOBILITY BRIEF_ ??????? - March 4th

Good Monday everybody, it's time for your weekly Mobility Brief! ???

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On the menu this week

?? This Week In The Mobility World

???Appointments (& resignations)

??? CARIAD, Inc. China recruits Changan former Chief Software Architect

• Frank Han joined CARIAD China as CEO last Friday to takeover the management of the software entity.
• His goal will be to deliver on VW China for China strategy, where Cariad partners with local stakeholders (Horizon Robotics, ThunderSoft, ARK) to bridge its technological gap with the local champions.

?? Manufacturing & Recalls Updates

?? Italy is looking for a new car plant

• Willing to loosen its dependency to Stellantis following a tumultuous relationship between the group and the Italian Government, the latter is reportedly actively looking for a new carmaker to build a plant into the country.
• 比亚迪 and Tesla have been polled, but nothing signed so far, with BYD having already selected Hungary for its first plant.
• Meanwhile, Stellantis is trying to refurnish its Italian plants, and is considering to produce the first LeapMotor models aimed at the European market in its Mirafiori plant.

?? And also…

• l'Informé reports that Stellantis is opening discussions with 4.800 plaintiffs against the PureTech 1.2 engine reliability issues.

???Tech Updates

?? 苹果 is going Titan-ic as it sinks its automotive plans

• Sources have told Reuters about the end of the Project Titan at Apple, ending a decade of rumors without any tangible outcome.
• A finally obvious move from Apple who, after wasting several billions on the topic, finally figured out how complex and not that profitable the industry is.
• Relevant resources will now be reallocated to its in-house generative AI efforts, as the fruity brand is trying to catch up with the likes of Google and OpenAI, as the topic could heavily influence its current cash cows.

?? And also…

• Bosch is teaming up with 微软 on automotive application of generative AI, with a specific focus on safety. A new partner coming alongside others like German AI company Aleph Alpha , illustrating Bosch current focus on the matter.
• After delaying its decision in February, the California Public Utilities Commission finally granted Waymo the right to deploy its service in further Californian cities on Friday, despite increasing opposition from the local officials.
• 沃尔沃汽车 is bringing back V2X under the spotlights, as it announces it begins to deploy the Accident Ahead Alert feature based on data from the “Data for Road Safety” ecosystem.

?? EV Updates

?? Fisker on the verge of a crash: Nissan as a savior?

• Henrik Fisker ’s self-named company is fighting for its survival as it cuts its workforce by 15% and says it prepares for “another difficult year” with unsufficient cash to cover this year operations.
• Already under scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA for several safety issues, and criticized by many customers for software issues, Fisker is putting a stop to all of its new models projects as long as they don’t find another carmaker to partner with.
• This carmaker may be Nissan, as Reuters reports ongoing discussions for an investment and partnership between the two, especially for a Nissan model based on Fisker Alaska EV pickup truck.
• Darwinism isn’t a legacy exclusivity.

?????? Luca de Meo 's rallying call for the European automotive industry

• The Airbus card was up Luca de Meo's sleeves, and he played it wisely in a similar call to the one made by BYD in a Chinese automotive industry conference last summer.
• Calling for the same kind of collaboration as for the aeronautics icon to “share the investments and reduce the costs”, its speech echoes with its current efforts to find a partner for its next Twingo platform (based on its AmpR Small already at the basis of the R5), with Volkswagen rumored to be interested in a collaboration.
• But his message gets a bit more complicated to get when he states early last week that European carmakers would not challenge the 2035 deadline for ICE ban, and finally downplays the statement by saying later the same week that delaying it wouldn’t be a bad idea though.

???? French auto market sees post-pandemic boom in February, Stellantis takes lead

• Positive news for the French auto industry!?The February market saw the highest number of new car registrations since the pandemic began, with a 13% yoy increase.
• Stellantis leads the pack: the group saw impressive growth, particularly for Jeep , Fiat , 雪铁龙 , and Opel .
• Renault falls behind: the group's growth was below average, due to its reliance on the Dacia brand.
• BEVs (7.3%, +2.9 yoy) and hybrid (36.7% +4.8 yoy) saw significant increases.
• Tesla experiences setback: despite strong YTD growth, February registrations dropped slightly (-3.9%).
• For more data: https://lnkd.in/ghihPRGY.

?? And also…

• Like JLR , Aston Martin says it will actually fully focus on bringing new hybrids onto the market before focusing on BEVs.
• 华为 is taking aim at Tesla by deploying its own charging network in China with staggering specs: 1 km-per-second charging for its 600kW chargers, more than 2x more powerful than Tesla chargers. Impatient to see the first tests!
• Ford cars are now accessing Tesla's Superchargers in the US, in kickstart of the deal signed between the two carmakers last year.
• Struggling HiPhi (Human Horizons) reportedly in talks with 长安汽车 for a take over from the latter.
• Should we really keep reporting this? Anyway: Elon Musk promises the Tesla Roadster by the end of the year (...), hinting at a SpaceX collaboration to equip it with thrusters for a 0-80mph below the second...
• On the eve of a battery cells pricing war? CATL, BYD aiming to halve the price of cells. A more than welcome news for BEV affordability (and manufacturers profitability) but a worrying timing for European battery cell makers as they are only starting to ramp up their production.

???New Car Reveals

??HIGHLIGHT :????Product Offensive For SAIC At Geneva: New MG3 Hybrid, IM Brand in Europe and New MG Cyberster Infos

• European carmakers are willing to slow down BEV and bet on Hybrids to counterattack Chinese manufacturers? Well, SAIC took note and has an answer for them: a 192-hp (no typo here) hybrid ready to fight with Toyota's Yaris and Renault's Clio.
• A bit dull in our opinion, but a rich standard equipment including a two screen cockpit (7" and 10.25") and satnav with CarPlay and Android Auto.
• Pricing will be key then: a Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid (145hp) is sold at 23.8k€ in France. Australian pricing give us a hint of MG pricing strategy (+3k€ for the Hybrid version compared to the gasoline one), making us expect it around €20k.
• Then, the Cyberster specs have been detailed a bit more at the motorshow, with a 0-100kph announced in 3.2s and around 540hp for MG’s BEV roadster dual-motor version.
• Finally, SAIC announced a move upmarket in Europe with the launch of its IM models: the LS6 SUV and the S6 saloon are set to be launched in 2025, bringing a more premium and technological experience to the brand, with a L6 promising solid-state batteries (seems early, maybe more of a semi solid state like for Nio?) with a 800+ kms WLTP range.

???? Fiat 's reveals its "New Global Game"

• On the eve of Renault 5's reveal (not an innocent timing), Fiat introduced its “new Global Game”.
• Leveraging STLA’s new global platforms, Fiat is going global by building variants for each markets sharing as much parts as possible (up to 80%) : sustainability, localization, fun and affordability will be the keywords for this new product era.
• “We are in a global game and our next step will be to transition from local products to a global offer that can benefit all of our customers everywhere in the world.” Olivier Francois, FIAT CEO
• Panda inspired concepts have been revealed to illustrate a new philosophy on which will be based 3 new models (1 per year) starting with new Panda this summer : a City Car, a Pick-Up, a Fastback, a Camper, an SUV.

?? And also…

• New milestone reached for the VW-Xpeng partnership in China, with both jointly developing and sourcing parts for “two smart e-cars” to be launched in China in 2026.

???Investment/Financial Updates

?? Polestar secures $1Bn

• Polestar has secured significant funding to support its ambitious growth plans despite the shift in ownership structure that implies a potentially diminished role for Volvo within the company.
• The company is launching new SUVs and streamlining operations to achieve profitability by 2025. With strong financial backing and a growing product portfolio, Polestar is well-positioned for success in the EV market.

?? IM Motors 智己汽车 secures $1.1B for smart car development and expansion

• Chinese EV startup IM Motors, backed by SAIC, Alibaba, and others, has raised $1.1B in its Series B funding round. This is one of the largest investments in Chinese EV brands in recent years.
• The funds will be used to develop new smart car models and technologies and support overseas expansion, including potential exports to Europe in 2024.

?? Bookmark Of The Week

What E-Bike Rebates Can (and Can’t) Do - 彭博资讯

by David Zipper

Link

“New research answers key questions about whether voucher programs that subsidize electric bike purchases are good for the planet — and the cities that pay for them.”

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