Your EVs & mobility news Recap - Week 8 🚘⚡️

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You subscribed to brief weekly summaries—designed to be read in under two minutes. Here’s your Week 8 update:

1. Rivian 🇺🇸 unveiled the Limited Edition California Dune R1S and R1T, priced from $99,900, with 850hp, 329 mile (529 km) range, and a 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.9 seconds.

2. Rivian 🇺🇸 announced that they achieved their first gross profit of $170M, and expect to narrow adjusted losses to $1.7-1.9 billion from $2.69 billion in 2024.

3. Rolls-Royce 🇬🇧 unveiled the Spectre Black Badge. This full electric car has 659 hp, 792 lb-ft (1074 N.m) torque, and hits 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.1 seconds. It starts at $490,000, offers up to 266 mi (428 km) range, and adds exclusive custom options - for sure 😉.

4. WattEV 🇺🇸 announced an agreement with Tesla 🇺🇸 to receive 40 Semis in 2026 after taking delivery of two. The company will install Tesla Gen-IV chargers for 1.2MW charging at depots.

5. According to Lars Moravy, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Tesla plans to introduce an updated Model S/X in late 2025.

6. Italy's competition authority 🇮🇹 announced that it investigates BYD 🇨🇳, Stellantis 🇫🇷🇮🇹🇺🇸, Tesla 🇺🇸 and Volkswagen 🇩🇪 for allegedly mislead consumers about electric vehicle performance related to driving range and battery warranties.

7. ZF 🇩🇪 announced that it plans to explore partnerships or spin off its electric drivetrain division due to low profits.

8. Northvolt 🇸🇪 announced that it sold its profitable battery pack unit to Scania 🇸🇪, as the company continues restructuring after filing for bankruptcy protection.

9 Nikola 🇺🇸 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, once valued at $27 billion, now plans to sell assets and wind down operations.

10. Toyota 🇯🇵 announced it will move its battery order to a Michigan plant previously planned as part of a joint venture between GM 🇺🇸 and LG Energy Solution 🇰🇷. GM 🇺🇸 decided to sell its stake and exit the project.

11. A high-level Japanese group 🇯🇵, including former prime minister 🇯🇵 and a former Tesla board member, announced that it has drawn up plans for Tesla 🇺🇲 to invest in Nissan 🇯🇵, hoping Tesla will become a strategic investor interested in acquiring Nissan's US plants.

12. Mercedes 🇩🇪 said that it will unify design language between combustion-engine cars and EVs, promising no sacrifices in space, elegance or efficiency.

13. Mercedes 🇩🇪 also announced further cost-cutting measures and plans to release 19 new combustion engine models and 17 electric cars by 2027.

14. Renault 🇫🇷 reported a record operating profit of 4.3 billion euros for 2024, up 3.5%, with revenue rising 7.4% to 56.2 billion euros driven by new launches including the electric R5 and hybrids.

15. SAIC Motor 🇨🇳 said that it will partner with Huawei 🇨🇳 to develop new "globally competitive" smart electric vehicles, focusing on manufacturing, supply chain management and sales services.

16. CALB 🇨🇳 said it would invest €2 billion in a Portuguese 🇵🇹 gigafactory set to start production in 2028, creating 1,800 jobs and producing 15 GWh of lithium batteries annually for Europe.

17. CATL announced that it signed a strategic cooperation MOU with Volkswagen 🇩🇪 to deepen partnership in battery R&D, new materials application and components development, as both companies explore cost-competitive battery solutions.

18. Stellantis 🇫🇷🇮🇹🇺🇸 announced the launch of its first in-house automated driving system, STLA AutoDrive, which enables hands-free, eyes-off driving at speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph).

19. Stellantis 🇫🇷🇮🇹🇺🇸 announced that it is pausing work on its next-generation Jeep Compass SUV and delaying production at its Brampton, Ontario 🇨🇦 plant until first quarter 2026, as it reassesses its product strategy.

That’s a wrap for this week—appreciate you reading!

That’s a wrap for this week—appreciate you reading!

See you next week,

Mobility Prof

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