Azusa Kawakami’s Post

EV laggards Toyota, Mazda, Subaru and Nissan announced major new investments in next-generation battery production, backed by Japanese government subsidies. TOKYO — Toyota, Subaru, Mazda and Nissan are ramping up next-generation electric vehicle programs, with sweeping plans for new battery factories and government subsidies for new tech including solid-state battery production, as Japan Inc. races to catch up with the global EV leaders. In a string of coordinated announcements fired off Sept. 6, the four automakers and Japanese battery giant Panasonic Corp. listed a slew of battery advancements, investments and build outs. The combined plans amount to additional domestic battery production volume of some 36.6 gigawatt-hours across the four companies through the end of the decade, as the erstwhile laggards in the international EV trend step up their product programs in the late 2020s. Japan Inc.'s overall investment will total more than ¥944.6 billion ($6.58 billion). The plans cover a range of new technologies, from cylindrical lithium ion batteries for Subaru and Mazda to solid-state batteries for Toyota and lithium-iron-phosphate power packs for Nissan. Critically, the investments of Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Subaru Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. are supported by Japanese government aid of about ¥326.0 billion ($2.27 billion). Backing by the powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) reflects concern in the Tokyo government that Japanese carmakers — the backbone of the country's economy — are falling behind rivals in South Korea, China and elsewhere as the global industry quickly electrifies. "We expect that our country's battery storage supply chain and the competitiveness of the battery storage industry will be strengthened," METI Minister Ken Saito said of the outlays. Toyota solid-state Among the breakthroughs was Toyota's announcement that it won METI approval to develop and produce two new types of batteries that are crucial to its next-generation EV development plans from around 2026. They include a next-gen, high-performance lithium ion battery and an all-solid state battery. Toyota envisions combined volume of 9 GWh a year. The performance lithium ion batteries will be produced through two Toyota battery subsidiaries, Prime Planet Energy & Solutions Inc., or PPES, and Primearth EV Energy Co., or PEVE. PPES is 51 percent owned by Toyota and 49 percent held by Panasonic Holdings. PEVE is wholly owned by Toyota and will be renamed Toyota Battery Co. from Oct. 1. The world's largest carmaker said it will pursue in-house development and production of the solid-state batteries, which are expected in the 2027-2028 timeframe. Toyota said production of the performance variant lithium ion batteries would begin around 2026. But according to a separate statement issued by METI, Toyota's total investment would total ¥245.0 billion ($1.71 billion) including a maximum subsidy of ¥86.5 billion ($602.9 million).

Recent news from Mercedes 🚗🔋 In 2024, the electric vehicle (EV) market has seen both growth and surprises. While overall EV sales continue to rise, some established automakers are shifting their strategies. Mercedes and Stellantis have paused production of NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) cells through their ACC joint venture. This move could be driven by cost-saving initiatives and the pursuit of better cell chemistries. Interestingly, Mercedes has also redirected its focus from luxury EVs to more affordable models. As we move forward, it’ll be fascinating to witness how the EV landscape evolves, especially with new battery technologies on the horizon https://lnkd.in/eMqWNfPc

Honda's $11 billion investment in Canadian EV and battery factories signals a significant commitment to the North American EV market. This move reflects the growing importance of the region in the global EV industry, which could lead to increased competition and innovation among automakers worldwide. Strategic Shift towards In-house Battery Procurement by aiming to bring down battery costs by 20% through in-house production and partnerships with companies from South Korea and Japan, Honda is positioning itself to enhance its competitiveness in the EV market. This strategic shift underscores the critical role of battery technology in shaping the future of automotive manufacturing. This confidence suggests a belief in the long-term viability and growth potential of the EV market, which could inspire similar strategies and investments by companies in Asia seeking to capitalize on the global shift towards electric mobility. #Longtermgame #EV

Honda Motor Co. will invest 10 trillion yen ($65 billion) on its electrification strategy this decade as it expects demand for battery-powered vehicles will rebound from short-term headwinds that are stifling purchases. The spending, which will run through fiscal 2031, will cover areas including software, research and development, and establishing supply chains in key markets like the U.S., Canada and Japan, the company said May 16 in its business plan update. The carmaker maintained its goal of battery and fuel cell EVs accounting for 100% of global sales by 2040. As part of that target, Honda will roll out seven new EV models globally by 2030, CEO Toshihiro Mibe said at a briefing in Tokyo. It plans to start selling two new EV models in China later this year, and will introduce an EV with a swappable battery to Japan by the end of fiscal 2026.

Lack of an adequate EV charging infrastructure continues to be the biggest roadblock in mass adoption of EVs globally. That said, installing EV charging points at suitable locations is a tricky business. It's not only capital intensive but is also dependent on the availability of a supportable power grid. Then comes multiple challenges, mainly compatibility issues with EVs of different make, maintenance of these charging points, intractable equipment, customer handling, among others. As a result, it is observed that globally EV charging infrastructure backed by automakers are far more successful than the independently operating charge point operators (CPOs). Key examples include: Tesla's SuperCharging network in North America, Europe and China, Volkswagen Group backed Electrify America and Elli, IONITY (a JV of BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Company (현대자동차), Mercedes-Benz AG, Volkswagen Group and BlackRock). Following suite, 7 global carmakers came together in North America to establish IONNA and focus on setting up a reliable, fast-charging network. DC chargers are expensive and OEM-backed CPOs have a more stable footing, stronger decision making and direct lobbying capabilities as well as an in-depth market insight. Here's my insight that explores why global automakers are increasingly stepping into building charging infrastructure to ensure uptake of EVs. S&P Global Mobility Claudio Vittori Diana Quezada Ortega #EVcharging #charginginfrastructure #chargepointoperators #fastchargers #DCchargers #ACchargers #fleetcharging #Ionna #Ionity #TeslaSuperChargers #TeslaSuperChargingnetwork

🔋 #BatteryManufacturing Updates: Nissan Motor Corporation plans to partner with SK On to build a #batteryfactory in the #UnitedStates, targeting a production start in 2026, considering current U.S. subsidy policies that do not favor Nissan's reliance on #batteries from #Chinese manufacturer AESC. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dbamP8Mr #Batterytechnology #Nissan #EVs

Nissan Motor Corporation pilot assembly line for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) is a work-in-progress, with a target of establishing it in a year from now. The pilot line will help Nissan in understanding the nuances involved in scaling the production of ASSBs. What’s to be noted here is that although Japanese automakers are trailing behind leading EV companies like Tesla and BYD, they are carefully betting on some of the most promising battery technologies and it’s just a matter of time. For example here, Nissan is clearly focusing on solid-state battery tech, LFP and NCM with enhanced nickel to deliver significant performance improvements. S&P Global Mobility PS: Free read! #battery #electricvehicles #lithiumion #electricmobility #lithiumironphosphate #solidstatebattery #Nissan #supplychain

China's Electric Vehicle Market Surges: NIO, Xpeng, and Li Auto Thrive Amidst Growing Demand and Investor Confidence #alternativesuppliers #Chineseelectricvehicle #ChineseEVcompanies #EVmarket #globalchipshortage #governmentpolicies #increasingdemand #investorconfidence #liauto #marketshare #NIO #positiveoutlook #pricetargets #productioncapacities #Stockprices #Xpeng

Tokyo, JAPAN -- December 06, 2024 TOYOTA’s Groundbreaking EV: 1,200-km Range, 10-min Charge -- TOYOTA Solid-state Battery Breakthrough! Under the banner “let’s change the future of cars,” Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has announced a range of a new technologies that will support its transformation into a mobility company. At a technical briefing in Japan, Hiroki Nakajima, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, explained Toyota’s technology strategy and the future direction of car manufacturing. He also talked about specific and diverse technologies, including concepts currently under development, that will help Toyota achieve the vision and policies it has communicated. He was joined by Takero Kato, president of Toyota’s new BEV production centre, and Mitsumasa Yamagata, who is scheduled to become president of the company’s hydrogen factory, to be launched in July. They provided more detail on their respective strategies for the battery EV and hydrogen businesses. https://lnkd.in/e3FeW-ZU

Interesting news and a fascinating strategic development . This gives Toyota better vertical integration but also more power on how they dial in the split between phev and ev. Throw in emerging PLT technology (check Porsches work and the proposals from start ups like CNF energy) things are going to be much more dynamic in the way this sector plays out.