2025-02-24
After unsuccessful negotiations with Honda, Nissan has ended discussions about a merger and is now searching for a new partner, reports “Nikkei.” Among the potential candidates is the Taiwanese technology giant Foxconn.
Nissan abandoned plans for a $60 billion merger with Honda, which could have made it the third-largest car manufacturer in the world. The primary issue reportedly was disagreements over the terms of the merger.
Recycling could enable Europe to cut its reliance on EV battery mineral imports by up to a quarter by the end of the decade, a new study finds. Materials from end-of-life batteries and gigafactory scrap have the potential to build up to 2.4 million EVs locally in 2030, according to research by Transport & Environment (T&E).
Recycling spent cells and production scrap could provide 14% of the lithium, 16% of the nickel, 17% of the manganese, and a quarter (25%) of the cobalt that Europe will need for electric cars in 2030.
Isuzu North America Corporation has announced that it is establishing a new production base in Greenville County, SC, to expand its vehicle supply capabilities in anticipation of the electrification of commercial vehicles in North America.
The company has purchased a 1,000,000 square foot facility on 200 acres of land it is converting into a state-of-the-art, Isuzu-run, assembly plant.
The size of the Greenville plant will enable Isuzu to consolidate all production-related operations under one roof. This will include KD storage and processing, parts storage, vehicle production and PIO operations. It will also allow for streamlining processes and improving efficiency, the OEM said.
The Italian superyachts manufacturer Sanlorenzo and Volvo Penta are working to enhance yachting efficiency and sustainability by integrating the Volvo Penta’s IPS Professional Platform into the new SX120 and SX132 superyachts.
As part of its “Road to 2030” strategy, Sanlorenzo, a leading superyacht manufacturer, continues to drive innovation following the 2024 launch of the 50 Steel, the first superyacht powered by a green methanol-to-hydrogen fuel cell.
The IPS Professional Platform is an integrated, modular propulsion system developed by Volvo Penta and has been successfully tested on the 37 meters passenger ferry called Penta 40 in Sweden in 2024. It is designed for commercial vessels and superyachts between 25 and 55+ meters to improve efficiency, sustainability, reliability and comfort on the sea.
The Argentine press confirms that Mercedes-Benz has sold its Sprinter factory in Virrey del Pino, near Buenos Aires, to an investment group called ST, led by financier Pablo Peralta.
According to local sources, the sale agreement will be officially late in February. Under the deal, ST will continue producing the Sprinter van under license until 2029.
The transaction does not include Mercedes-Benz’s heavy vehicle production, which will continue at a new factory in Zárate. The sale is linked to the upcoming shift to electric Sprinter models, as the company does not plan to invest in this transition in Argentina.
Kanadevia (formerly Hitachi Zosen) said it plans to build the first mass-production plant for water electrolysis equipment, which produces hydrogen by electrolyzing water, in Yamanashi Prefecture.
A company announcement said, “We want to develop this as an important production base that contributes to the realization of a hydrogen society. The company will invest approximately 8 billion yen ($52,000,000 USD) to build a mass production plant for water electrolysis equipment with an annual production capacity of 1 gigawatt (157,000 tons of hydrogen produced).
Construction is scheduled to begin about June 2026, with completion and operation by the end of fiscal 2028. The company plans to position this as a domestic mother plant, and in the future, it envisions gradually expanding its hydrogen production equipment manufacturing bases both in Japan and overseas.
Motorcycle production and sales in Brazil reached record levels in January 2025,. Factories in Brazil produced 166,100 units, a 17.6% increase compared to January 2024 and 34% higher than December 2024. This was the best January performance since 2014, driven by expanded production capacity to meet growing demand. It is estimated that 1.88 million motorcycles will be produced in 2025, representing 7.5% growth compared to 2024.
Strong market demand and increased production capacity continue to drive industry growth in 2025.
Toyota has announced plans to build a research, development, and production company for Lexus electric vehicles and batteries in Jinshan District, Shanghai, and plans to start production in 2027.
“China has a complete electrification and intelligent technology industry chain,” says Ji Xuehong, Director and Professor of the Automotive Industry Innovation Research Center at North China University of Technology, “and stablishing a factory locally will allow Toyota to deeply integrate into China’s industry chain, quickly access advanced electrification technologies and high-quality parts resources, and thereby enhance the overall competitiveness and price advantage of its products.”
Localization will also enhance Lexus’ export capabilities, he says. Production in China can meet domestic demand, also reduce costs and improve the competitiveness of products in the international market.
Brussels, Belgium–Volvo Trucks has announced the assembly of its 1,000th electric vehicle at its Blainville-sur-Orne facility in France. This milestone underscores the expanding market penetration of electric commercial vehicles and signals a growing demand for sustainable transport solutions.
The 1,000th unit, a Volvo FE model, was delivered to the Mineris Group. The Blainville plant, a crucial component of Volvo’s global electric truck manufacturing network, is strategically positioned to escalate production capacity in anticipation of further market growth. This development reflects Volvo’s commitment to electrification and aligns with broader industry trends towards decarbonizing transportation.
Looking forward, Volvo projects continued market expansion and is adapting its production capabilities to accommodate anticipated demand. But what is this demand looking like? According to our Database CV Link™ while overall demand of commercial vehicles will grow by a CAGR of 4% from 2025 to 2030, EVs will grow by 39% CAGR, reaching 100 thousand units produced in 2030. PSR
Emiliano Marzoli is Manager, European Operations, for Power Systems Research
293,500 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Snowblowers expected to be produced in the United States in 2025.
A Snow Blower or Snow Thrower is a machine for removing snow from an area such as a driveway, sidewalk, roadway, railroad track, ice rink, or runway. It can use either electric power (line power or battery), or a gasoline or diesel engine to throw snow to another location or into a truck to be hauled away.
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