U.K. car sales plunge 89% in May
U.K. car sales fell 89% in May compared to the prior year period, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders.
According to the SMMT, 20,247 cars were registered in the month, as "click and collect" services, allowed from mid-month, saw some movement in the market.
Car dealerships were permitted to reopen on June 1.
The Tesla Model 3 was the top selling vehicle with 852 sales, the second month in a row Tesla came on top. 
www.marketwatch.com
*To Remind
Tesla To Build 500K Cars A Year In Germany: Model 3, Y, & More
Tesla will break ground this year on its Gigafactory 4 automotive production facility near Berlin, Germany.
A new filing shows that the carmaker plans to build some 500,000 vehicles per year at the plant.
As expected, it will focus on the Model 3 and Model Y, but also build other future Tesla vehicles.
It's hard to say how long it may take Tesla to build the German Gigafactory since we can't really compare the situation in Germany to that of China.
However, CEO Elon Musk hopes to complete it in record time.
Once complete and at full capacity, Tesla will have three global factories each manufacturing some 500,000 vehicles per year.
That will be a huge step up from the current situation, which resulted in
~370,000 deliveries in 2019.
*To Remind,
CATL Starts Construction Of Battery Gigafactory In Germany
CATL is aiming for 120 GWh of total production capacity by 2022.
New plant coming to an outpost of China’s car industry
Chinese battery manufacturer CATL intends to build another lithium-ion plant in China, spending some $1.4 billion on the site.
The location is the Sichuan province in the southwest where the auto industry wants to produce New Energy Vehicles.
According to Bloomberg's article, the first phase will be ready within 26 months from the start of construction, while the second phase begins two years after that.
The amount of $1.4 billion suggests it will be another significant Gigafactory.
Bloomberg already tracked 120 GWh of battery manufacturing capacity set or planned by CATL by 2022.
https://insideevs.com/
*To Remind,
Tesla CATL LFP Battery Cells Make The MIC Model 3 A True Mass Market Car
Tesla CATL LFP battery cells may make the MIC Model 3 a true mass market car.
Recently,
Reuters reported that an insider stated that Tesla was in talks with the China-based battery supplier to use cobalt-free LFP batteries for its vehicles produced in Giga Shanghai.
While many have speculated the ramifications of using less energy-dense cells by Tesla, using CATL's LFP batteries may be quite a strategic move for the EV automaker.
There are two main benefits for Tesla if it switches to CATL’s lithium iron phosphate batteries: 1) no cobalt and 2) cell-to-pack.
As previously discussed in a
Tesmanian article, cobalt has been known as a problematic mineral, which may be the reason most companies want to stay away from it.
First, cobalt is very expensive.
Second, cobalt collection is usually mired with controversy, thanks to less than admirable mining practices.
Elon Musk has been vocal about Tesla’s continuous efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate cobalt in the company’s batteries in the past.
The made-in-China Model 3 could be the first Tesla vehicle to reach that goal thanks to CATL’s LFP battery.
Cobalt-free cells could also reduce the price of the locally made Tesla sedan, making it even more affordable to consumers in the Chinese market.
However, Simon Moores from Benchmark Minerals—a price reporting agency and market intelligence for lithium ion batteries, EVs, and energy storage chains—suspected that Tesla’s use of
CATL LFP batteries has less to do with cobalt than it is for cost savings.
Moores suggested that Tesla’s goal with CATL’s lithium iron phosphate batteries cells could be to finally eliminate modules in its battery packs by replacing cylindrical cells with prismatic ones.
Galileo Russell from
Hyperchange supported Moores' suggestion in his latest video as well.
Russell referred to Elon Musk’s conversation with the
Third Row Podcast team in his YouTube video.
Musk had said in his
Third Row interview that modules were an unnecessary component of Tesla vehicles,
specifically the Model 3.
“The modules of the Model 3 aren’t actually interchangeable, so there’s no point in having a module actually. We should just have a pack…We really want to move to no such things as modules. There’s just cells and packs,” said Musk.
Many wondered why Tesla would replace the MIC Model 3’s NCM battery cells for LFP cells since lithium iron phosphate cathode cells generally have less energy density.
However, CATL has been tinkering with cell-to-pack technology with its prismatic cells, reported CleanTechnica, which aligns with Tesla’s own goal.
Based on its analysis of the situation,
Benchmark Minerals theorized that Tesla will be replacing its NCM cylindrical cells with
CATL’s LFP prismatic cells for the MIC Model 3 Standard Range Plus.
The China-based battery supplier’s prismatic cells will be tailor-made to fit Tesla’s battery pack, meaning more cells can fit in one pack, voiding the low energy density issue of LFP batteries.
According to Moores, Tesla could save up to 60% on cathode cost alone if it uses LFP cells for the China-made Model 3.
Tesla’s total savings on production costs could be in the low-to-mid 20% if it opts to get rid of modules and uses battery packs filled with prismatic cells for the MIC Model 3.
Factor in CATL's cell-to-battery technology and Giga Shanghai could make the cheapest Model 3 Standard Range Plus for Tesla, making it the EV automaker's first true mass market car.
It must be noted that the locally-made sedan already has a relatively reasonable price in China at
RMB299,050.
With its current price tag, the MIC Model 3 has gained popularity in the Chinese market within the first few months of its release.
If Tesla does drive the costs down even further with CATL’s LFP batteries, demand could increase even further.
www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/tesla-catl-lfp-battery-mic-model-3-giga-shanghai-china
*To Remind
Tesla Seeks China Gov Approval To Build Model 3 With Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries (LFP)
Tesla asks the Chinese government for permission to manufacture Model 3, made in the country, equipped with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
http://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesm...-to-build-model-3-vehicles-with-lfp-batteries
*To Remind,
CATL boss opens up about Tesla electric car battery deal
The Chinese battery maker, known in full as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co.Limited, has taken a front seat in the electric car battery world having recently revealed a deal with leading electric car maker Tesla that will drive down the costs of batteries.
We previously learned that CATL’s deal to provide electric car batteries to Tesla will go full tilt from the second half of 2020.
https://thedriven.io/2020/05/22/catl-boss-opens-up-about-tesla-electric-car-battery-deal/
* To Now,
Tesla Sales In Germany Could Benefit With The Possible Extra 4,500 Euros Incentives
www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/tesla-sales-in-germany-could-benefit-with-the-possible-extra-4-500-euros-incentives
Tesla Model 3 Beats Honda Civic & Toyota Camry as #1 Best Selling in California
www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/tesla-model-3-californias-best-selling-car
Tesla Will Drive the EV Revolution To Another Level From 2021
Contrary to legacy automakers and those who support the extraction of energy from fossil sources, Tesla entered the struggle for a world in which cars will powered on electricity.
For 17 years, the Tesla team, led by its CEO Elon Musk, has fought to prove to all of humanity that electric cars are a good future that we should all strive for.
And this is exactly what is happening around the world now.
A new report by Cairn Energy Research Advisors, a battery and electric vehicle research company, predicts a surge in electric vehicle sales in 2021 as countries around the world are introducing new programs that encourage consumers to buy battery-powered cars.
According to Cairn, global sales of electric cars in 2021 will grow by 36% and top 3 million vehicles for the first time ever.
“There’s pent-up demand for electric vehicles,” said Sam Jaffe, managing director of Cairn Energy Research Advisors.
“We will see a combination of factors make 2021 an inflection point for the sale of electric vehicles.”
Jaffe believes that the two main factors driving demand for electric cars are markets in Europe and China. ( And where is CAT now ? - Bigger & Growing in Both atm )
At the moment, according to Sanford C. Bernstein,
China is already the world's largest market for electric vehicles.
In 2019, 1 million battery-powered cars were built there.
According to Bernstein analyst Mark Newman, electric vehicle production will increase to at least 1.3 million and may reach 1.5 million, depending on market conditions this year.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives stating,
“we continue to believe EV demand in China is starting to accelerate with Tesla competing with a number of domestic and international competitors for this market share.”
Meanwhile, Cairn Energy Research predicts that
Europe will see the largest increase in electric vehicle sales next year, mainly because EU governments are striving to reduce their carbon footprint.
Therefore, states introduce bonuses for the purchase of electric vehicles.
Jaffe says there is a wave of electric vehicle production coming from Europe that will spur greater sales.
“The European automakers and Tesla are all adding capacity and that will really have an impact starting next year.”
Tesla Giga Berlin will begin production of the Model Y by the middle of next year, which will undoubtedly increase demand among European consumers.
According to the report, electric car sales in the US are expected to grow next year as new models are released, while the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are likely to get the lion's share in mass sales.
Tesla CEO In UK For New Gigafactory Location (Rumor)
On Wednesday, Tesla's CEO paid a visit to the United Kingdom, with the possible goal of considering a site for a new factory or research and development center.
In recent days, European media have hinted several times that Tesla is looking for a place for its new Gigafactory in UK.
According to reports, the British government is looking for an industrial site for a California automaker.
The UK's
Department for International Trade (DIT) was preparing to search for an area of 4 million-square-foot to build an R&D and manufacturing plant for Tesla.
"The government is working with industry to help make the UK the location of choice to develop world-class electric technologies.
DIT is working closely with partners to scope out sites for new investment into electric vehicle research, development, and manufacturing across the UK, "said a DIT spokesperson to Property Week - a magazine that reports commercial and residential property market news in the UK.
Property Week reported the space was for a Tesla Gigafactory.
According to the report, the 650-acre Gravity industrial park in Somerset in southwestern England is being considered as a possible site for a Tesla factory.
Tesla is currently experiencing a massive expansion in Europe with its first full-fledged Giga Berlin plant and a new R&D center in Berlin.
According to Tesla's CEO Elon Musk, before Tesla chose Germany as a location for the factory, the company considered UK.
At that time, this decision seemed too risky, Musk said that Tesla considers the country as a possible place, but considers it too risky due to the termination of UK membership in the European Union and the procedure associated with it (Brexit). But lately, the situation could change.
On Wednesday, at 12:19 pm local time (7:19 am ET), Musk's private jet landed at Luton Airport. At the moment, the purpose of this visit is not exactly known, but in the light of recent events, this is possible in order to consider the sites for the future location of Tesla in the country.
In early May, Tesla submitted a document to the relevant authorities in order to become an
energy supplier in the UK.
Musk previously stated that Tesla Energy could be as large or even larger than the car sector of the company, so perhaps the company is looking for a location in the UK to develop in this direction.
Musk may have landed in London for some business in the UK before attending the groundbreaking ceremony at Giga Berlin.
Tesla Giga Berlin Foundation Work Begins Ahead Of The Groundbreaking Ceremony
Last week, Tesla received all the necessary permissions to start groundbreaking, so the construction crew got to work.
The American company has come a long way in preparing for the construction of the plant.
Having cleared the site of 90 hectares of pine plantation, clearing the roots and topsoil, Tesla is now embarking on the construction phase.
The entire Tesla community and investors is eagerly watching the progress on the site.
At the moment, all work is going according to plan, so there is every reason to believe that the first deliveries of the made in Germany
Model Y will be in 2021.
www.tesmanian.com
View attachment 2212116
Franks next Car, A Tesla Model 3 for the Bush Bashin' around the Farm
Anyone else here thinkin' what MeFrank is thinkin' atm
Our "Yibin Kitty CAT" is gonna need a Bigger Bowl
A Bigger Bowl of the "Manono Monster" sooner or later that is
View attachment 2212128
Food for thought
CAT Food mainly
GLTA-AVZH's
Cheers
Frank
*In Late News
China is the largest buyer of EVs globally, but also produces the bulk of the world’s lithium. Last year alone, it produced
79% of the lithium hydroxide used in electric car batteries.
The prices for lithium hydroxide rose
3.1% last month, their first increase since May 2018.
Chinese producers explain this sharp rise by higher production costs and logistical difficulties caused by Covid-19.
China’s major battery manufacturing players, like CATL and
BYD, had to delay their production due to shortage of labor and raw materials, as the government was fighting the virus.
While most of the manufacturers have already restarted their production, the outbreak is estimated to set Chinese battery producers back by
26GWh of output in 2020.
This halt in production has created supply shortages for western carmakers, as automakers, such as Fiat Chrysler, PSA Group, General Motors, Daimler and Ford, have their plants in the province of Hubei, where the Coronavirus took its first hit.
With the looming economic downturn, many of the companies attempt to localize, or at least diversify, their supply chain for lithium.
Securing Supply
With sales of EVs predicted to grow this decade and beyond, manufacturers will need to find a way to either ensure a continuous supply of cobalt and lithium or find viable alternatives.
To compensate for this, EV giant
Tesla agreed to buy lithium phosphate batteries, a principal alternative to cobalt-containing batteries, for Model 3 cars in China.
www.forbes.com
Mar 25, 2020,
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