Mazda to build Li battery pack plant in Japan

: Battery materials
25/01/08

Japanese automaker Mazda Motor plans to build a lithium battery module pack plant in Japan with an annual production capacity of 10GWh.

Located in Yamaguchi, Japan, the plant will produce modules and packs for automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells sourced from Japan's Panasonic Energy, Mazda said on Monday.

These packs will be installed in Mazda's battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that uses a dedicated EV platform and manufactured at Mazda's vehicle plant in Japan.

In September 2024, Mazda and Panasonic formed a partnership to supply battery for Mazda's upcoming BEVs set to launch in 2027. Japan's Ministry of Economy, trade and Industry approved their joint initiative aimed at expanding battery production and advancing technology development.

By Carol Luk

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25/01/09

Hyundai Motor plans $16.7bn Korean investment in 2025

Singapore, 9 January (Argus) — South Korean conglomerate Hyundai Motor, which owns major automotive brands Hyundai and Kia, plans to invest 24.3 trillion won ($16.7bn) in South Korea this year in what it said is its largest ever annual investment domestically. The domestic investment amount is W3.9 trillion or 19pc higher than in 2024, in a bid to "overcome the crisis" and "secure future growth engines" given global uncertainties through "continuous and stable" investment, said the group on 9 January. Around W12 trillion will go into its current investments and W11.5 trillion will go to research and development, while another W800bn will be injected into what it called "strategic investment". Hyundai Motor still plans to continue developing new electric vehicles (EVs) and accelerating the electrification transition, it said. A major investment in building an EV-only plant will be made this year, said the conglomerate. Kia's battery EV plant in Hwaseong that has a production capacity of 150,000 units/yr is still expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. Its EV plant in Ulsan is currently under construction and is expected to begin producing in the first half of 2026. Kia is expected to feature a full line-up of 15 EV models by 2027, while Hyundai is expected to have 21 EV models by 2030, said the group. The conglomerate sold around 4.14mn units of vehicles in 2024, down by 1.8pc on the year, mainly driven by lower domestic sales. Domestic sales totalled 705,010 units, down by 7.5pc on the year ,while its overseas sales were steady at almost 3.44mn units. A sales target of 4.17mn units has been set for 2025. South Korea's top battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES), which supplies a significant number of batteries for Hyundai's and Kia's EV models, is expecting its 2024 operating profit and sales to see sharp falls, it said on 9 January. LGES earlier similarly indicated an uncertain outlook on the battery and EV market. LGES expects its 2024 operating profit to plunge by 73pc to W575.4bn and sales to fall by 24pc to W25.6 trillion. LGES expects to post its only quarterly loss of the year for October-December of W225.5bn, with sales expected to be down by 19pc on the year to W6.45 trillion during the quarter. LGES earlier has warned that significant cuts in capital expenditure from the firm during 2025 can be expected. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Lithium Americas increases Thacker Pass reserve

25/01/07

Lithium Americas increases Thacker Pass reserve

Houston, 7 January (Argus) — US lithium producer Lithium Americas raised its estimated mineral resource and reserves for the Thacker Pass lithium project, supporting an expansion that could boost its battery grade lithium carbonate capacity up to 160,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr. The updated proven and probable mineral reserve estimate for the Thacker Pass project now stands at 14.3mn t of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), marking a 286pc increase since the November 2022 feasibility study, according to the latest technical report. Thacker Pass is now the largest measured lithium reserve and resource in the world and has the potential to become an unmatched district, generating American jobs and helping the US regain independence of its energy supply, president and chief executive Jonathan Evans said. The increase enables a phased expansion with an 85-year life of mine (LOM), targeting 160,000 t LCE/year, split into four phases of 40,000 t LCE/yr each. Construction of each of Phases 1 through 4 is expected to be spaced four years apart. US automaker General Motors (GM) holds a 38pc ownership stake in the project. GM has secured an offtake agreement for 100pc of Phase 1 output for 20 years, and 38pc of Phase 2 output for 20 years, with a right of first offer on the remaining Phase 2 volumes. The updated operating costs (OPEX) are $6,238/t LCE under the production scenario, optimized for the first 25 years of the 85-year LOM; and $8,039/t LCE in the base case, which covers the entire 85-year LOM. Carol Luk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

UK edges Germany to top Europe BEV market in 2024

25/01/07

UK edges Germany to top Europe BEV market in 2024

London, 7 January (Argus) — Sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the UK last year climbed by 21pc to 381,000 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), as the country overtook Germany to become the largest BEV market in Europe. Sales in the UK climbed furthest towards the end of the year, driven by strong corporate subsidies ( see graph ) . S ales in Germany slumped by 27pc to 380,609 units, as consumers continued to feel the loss of a €4,500 purchasing subsidy in December 2023. Sales in France last year edged down by 2pc , and the halving of EV buyers' subsidies announced in November because of budget constraints is expected to weigh on sales further. France is Europe's third-largest market ( see graph ). UK market stays open to China-made EVs One reason for the UK's surge in BEV sales, after corporate incentives, is trade policy. The UK is one of the few established BEV markets without surplus tariffs on China-made BEVs, beyond unilateral 2.5pc duties agreed by member states of the World Trade Organisation (see graph) . Japan, another unrestricted market, recorded just 4,531 units in November compared with 38,531 sales in the UK. Sales of China-branded BEVs in western Europe have jumped to over 3pc of overall car sales in recent years, a sharp rise but still insignificant as a market share (see graph) . But Chinese carmakers accounted for over a half of BEV sales in Europe — 51pc in January-September last year, up from 46pc a year earlier — according to market research firm JATO Dynamics. UK corporate sales continue to prop up BEV sales UK private sales to individuals accounted for just 1 in 10 BEV sales last month — of which there were 44,312 — according to SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. The remainder — around 89pc — were corporate car sales, much higher than the corporate sector's share of 68.5pc in the overall car sales market. This has risen sharply in recent years, from 57pc and 49pc in 2023 and 2022, respectively . "At first glance, the apparent drop in demand from private buyers for electric cars may seem concerning. However, it reflects a fundamental shift in how we finance vehicles," Tom Barnard, analyst at Electrifying.com, said. "It's important to note that the sales figures from 2024 exclude private buyers who have benefited from the excellent deals on EVs available through salary sacrifice or personal lease schemes, as these are recorded as fleet registrations." "Too many PCPs [personal contract purchases], contract hire, finance and motability purchases are recorded as fleet sales when they're being driven by private buyers," Quentin Wilson, founder of EV campaign group FairCharge, said. "We need to change the way these EV registrations are recorded, and fast." By Chris Welch UK BEV sales 2022-24 Europe's three largest BEV markets by sales Tariffs on Chinese-made EVs of selected EV markets West European new passenger car market share pc Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Evion to ship first Indian expandable graphite order

25/01/06

Evion to ship first Indian expandable graphite order

Singapore, 6 January (Argus) — Australian graphite producer Evion's joint venture with Indian producer Metachem Manufacturing in Pune, India has scheduled first shipments of its expandable graphite this month, Evion announced today. The joint venture's first expandable graphite order of 386t from German trading firm Technografit was scheduled to be produced and exported in January-March. Around 120t was produced or "partially treated" from early November until mid-December before production was interrupted by scheduled maintenance in late December. The order is on track to be completed and will be shipped to Europe over the "forthcoming months", said Evion. The sale achieved an average pricing of $3,000-3,300/t on a fob basis, according to Evion, while the joint venture's expected production costs total $1,500-1,750/t. The joint venture has also secured 500t of graphite concentrate that is on site and ready for processing, and will be exported over April-September, mostly to Europe, said Evion. "A further production guidance will be provided within the first quarter with additional details of new sales and buyers," said Evion, which expects its sales prices to be approximately 10pc higher in April-September. Evion expects the joint venture to sell more than 2,000t of expandable graphite over its "first full year of operations". The joint venture started producing in April 2024. The joint venture is also looking to expand the plant's capacity to 4,000 t/yr. The agreement between the two firms that set up the joint venture originally envisioned 2,000-2,500 t/yr of production capacity in the first three years. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EV sales surge for GM, Ford

25/01/03

EV sales surge for GM, Ford

Houston, 3 January (Argus) — US automakers General Motors (GM) and Ford achieved record sales of electrified vehicles (EVs) for the full year in 2024. GM sold 114,432 EVs in 2024, up 50pc from the previous year. Its total vehicle sales grew by 4pc, reaching 2.7mn units — its best performance since 2019. GM's EV sales gained momentum throughout 2024, with fourth quarter sales reaching 42,000 vehicles, an increase of 10,000 units from the third quarter and nearly double the sales of the second quarter. Ford's EV sales totaled 285,291 vehicles in 2024, up by 38pc from the previous year. Its total vehicle sales reached 2.08mn units, up 4pc from a year earlier. The automaker's F-series hybrid and electric models captured an estimated 76pc of the segment share, positioning Ford as the second-largest US electric vehicle brand behind Tesla. By Carol Luk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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