Berlin Global Dialogue’s Post

I watched last week's events at the Paris Motor Show with interest. Stellantis Group's multiple unveilings of new vehicles, including the all new Renault 4 EV. I appreciated Luca de Meo's bullish tone, stretch goals and two platform strategic turnaround. He seems to embrace the competition from China and acknowledged that China could help Europe grow if we let it. China has an advantage of course - most of the world's rare earths so critical to battery technology has led to control of the supply chain and government subsidies have meant that the Chinese EV market has become the largest in the world, offering its manufacturers vital economies of scale. Across the pond are the visionaries like Tesla, which pioneered an impressive ecosystem of EV, battery and software, likely to yield competitive advantage for years to come; and Aptera Motors which is embracing convergence in material science, aerodynamics and solar capture to offer 64 km of free motoring fuelled solely by the sun. It all contrasts rather starkly with BMW Chief, Oliver Zipse's statements that the EU's combustion engine plan with its fines for missing emissions targets is 'no longer realistic' and will lead to a 'massive shrinking' of Europe's automotive sector. It all got me thinking. Are not proactive attitudes, dynamic thinking and high-speed execution absolutely what we need to face up to the climate crisis we are facing? Can we really afford to stop the progress that has started? Is European government just not coordinated enough with its manufacturers? Or are some important manufacturers failing to lead transitions and sitting on their big brand laurels a bit too long? If so, should government be protecting them? What is your view? Photo and article on the R4 from https://lnkd.in/ei8JWycT #CEO #Strategy #Leadership #Business #Innovation

Last week I posted a video exploring changes to the EV landscape with the rise of Chinese manufacturers. This recent clip from CNBC goes even into more details as to why BYD has become so dominant so quickly. It isn’t just about government subsidies and tax breaks (although those are substantial both in the US and in China), but also vertical integration to keep costs down. For example, BYD has 75-80% of their parts made in-house! This gives them a lot of runway to scale while guaranteeing the supply chain and quality control. At Sunbird Group, we specialize in manufacturing high-quality aluminum extrusion parts that are essential for electric vehicle production. Our focus is on providing solutions that enhance the efficiency, performance, and safety of EVs. Sunbird's capabilities include designing and producing lightweight, durable components that contribute to the overall weight reduction of EVs, improving battery efficiency and range. They also ensure that their parts meet the rigorous standards required for the automotive industry, with a strong emphasis on quality control, scalability, and innovation.

Private cellular 5G becoming mainstream adoption and bringing in game changing outcomes.

Following the Chinese New Year, a wave of price cuts hits China's auto market. Several companies have announced reductions, reshaping the landscape. 🚀📉 BYD clinched the top spot in February's auto sales, while Tesla shared the spotlight in the new energy sector alongside nine Chinese firms. Let's delve deeper into this evolving landscape. 🚗 Elevate your brand presence and connect with industry leaders. Exhibit with us at Automotive World China and showcase your latest advancements! 💡 https://lnkd.in/g2488KFt #AWC24 #AutomotiveWorldChina #AutomotiveGlobalExpansion #AutoIndustry #NewEnergyVehicles

Automotive suppliers like Bosch, MAHLE and ZF Group have always been in favor of a technology neutral approach. CLEPA - European Association of Automotive Suppliers has always been our biggest ally in Brussels. Manufacturers like Porsche AG, Iveco Group, Mazda Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor Corporation have already joined the eFuel Alliance. BMW Group is following a more diverse powertrain strategy as you know. Ola Källenius of Mercedes-Benz AG got much attention lately. He doesn't explicitly mentioned #eFuels but he said that the internal combustion engine will be sold longer than expected - even in Europe. Now, the next company in line is Renault Group. Its CEO Luca de Meo says in his 'letter to Europe': "Adopt a principle of technological and scientific neutrality; in practical terms, this means no longer dictating “technological choices to industry. It means setting goals for industry but not how to get there. This is what Europe used to do, but it is a principle that was sadly abandoned for the transition of the automotive industry. The e-fuels solution, for example, is highly promising and should be further explored. Our proposal is that we should measure the impact of a car over its entire life cycle, from assembly to end-of-life and recycling, rather than focusing solely on energy consumption during use." Source: https://lnkd.in/dP9-QmYg

I think that technology neutral solutions are perfect if they are helping to reach desired emissions reductions goal in practical way. All existing infrastucture and cars could be used if emissions are reduced in this process. We are also trying to be as practical as possible building small scale solutions for biofuels production with local feedstocks.

Thank you, BBC Radio, for having me on "Wake Up to Money" this morning. We explored the rapidly evolving landscape of electric vehicles, and there’s a lot to unpack! Just a few years ago, Tesla stood unmatched in the EV space. Today, the game has changed! In Manchester alone, the rise of BYD buses highlights a significant shift towards greener public transport solutions. 🚌🔋 What’s next? We might see Chinese EV manufacturers setting up factories in Europe and the US to bypass tariffs. They could also become major technology suppliers for Western carmakers, focusing on batteries and semiconductors. These strategies are already taking shape. 🌐 Our latest Future Readiness Indicator shows how companies like BYD are not only catching up but sometimes surpassing Tesla's sales in specific quarters. The 2024 Future Readiness Indicator provides insights into sectors like Consumer Packaged Goods, Banking, and Automotive. Discover the latest rankings and see which companies are leading the way: https://lnkd.in/e4bkVZWz #IMDImpact #FutureReady #CenterForFutureReadiness #FutureReadinessIndicator #EVMarket #BYD #Tesla #Sustainability #Automotive

This month, we delve into critical market shifts impacting major players like Tesla and Ford, alongside the rising tide of hybrid popularity. Additionally, we explore how Norway is paving the way for an EV-dominated future ahead of schedule. These insights are crucial for professionals navigating the evolving landscape of electric transportation. Join us in discussing the future of automotive innovation! #EVMarket #AutomotiveInnovation #SustainableFuture https://lnkd.in/d3w2hn9q

A sobering decision by ACC, reflecting some slowing in the pace of transition to EVs across European countries. But transitions can ebb and flow with the political zeitgeist, while the direction stays the same. The pause allows Mercedes and Stellantis to produce a more sustainable cell architecture suited to smaller EVs and so overall may deliver a win for the planet and European societies dealing with the problems caused by oversized cars.

🗣️ Secretary General of ACC, Matthieu Hubert , who spoke of a "pause". European customers are not yet very ready to switch to a new electric car. There are also obstacles in terms of infrastructure and high material prices. "Before we invest, and we are talking about billions, we have to answer the question of 👉what type of battery cell technology the market requires,👈" Hubert told the newspaper. 🤯 Accordingly, a decision on how things will proceed in Kaiserslautern should be made by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Another battery factory owned by ACC in Italy will also be postponed. The newspaper "Rheinpfalz" had previously reported on this. Due to the shift in demand towards smaller electric cars, ACC must expand its portfolio to include more cost-effective cell chemistry. This requires further research and development work, ACC explained. ⚡ Stellantis had no control over this pace. ⚡ Mercedes said it was sticking with ACC and staying on course with its electrification strategy. ⚡ The project at the Opel site in Kaiserslautern is supported with 👉taxpayers' money amounting to around 437 million euros. Recap: ACC is a joint venture between the car companies Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis (Peugeot, Opel , Fiat) and the energy company Total Energies. It was founded in 2020 by Stellantis and the Total Energies subsidiary Saft, with Mercedes' predecessor company Daimler joining as a third partner in 2021. My question: does this situation mean that ACC got a huge amount of government funding to start the factory re-construction but didn't know what type of cells they wanted to produce in these factories since 2020👀? #NoRoadmap? 📖 Source https://lnkd.in/gW3nyWxj #IONAS #CleanMobility #eMobility #ElectricCars  #FutureMobility #Batteries #Automotive  #ElectricVehicles #AutonomousVehicles  #EV #Lithium #Innovation #Sustainability  #Recycling #Future #Energy #Efficiency #Technology #AVEVAI #TomTsogt 🔔👍