Elm Analytics - Automotive Supply Chain Risk Digest #233 - July 23 - 29, 2021

CLOSING

After 36 years of operation, Honda is closing its plant in Swindon, England after the final shifts today. The closure affects 3,500 workers directly and is estimated to affect over 10,000 workes in the direct supply chain.

DISASTER

Flooding has caused millions in damages to ZF's suspension parts plant in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany. All of the plant's assembly lines have to be rebuilt, which could take months.

HUMAN CAPITAL

Nissan is planning to add 400 jobs at its plant in Sunderland, England as part of its $1.2B investment to create an EV manufacturing hub there.

INDUSTRY DIRECTIONS

EV battery maker SVOLT has started production of a new cobalt-free battery cell. SVOLT claims that the cells are more sustainable and also 5% cheaper than cells that use cobalt.

Chinese EV battery maker and Tesla supplier CATL debuted a new sodium-ion battery this week. Company chairman Zeng Yuqun said that "Sodium-ion batteries have unique advantages in low-temperature performance, fast charging and environmental adaptability".

LITIGATION

GM, along with its robo-taxi subsidiary Cruise, have filed suit against Ford to stop them from using the name "BlueCruise" to brand its hands-free driving tech. Ford called the lawsuit "meritless and frivolous".

MERGERS, VENTURES, ACQUISITIONS

Magna is acquiring auto safety company Veoneer for $3.8B.

Hyundai and LG are forming a new 50:50 JV to build a $1.1B EV battery plant in Karawang, Indonesia. Construction is planned to be completed in the first half of 2023 with production starting in the first half of 2024.

The state of Georgia is launching a new initiative called the Electric Mobility and Innovation Alliance that aims to bring industry execs together with state leaders to look for ways to build the state's electric mobility industry.

OPENING

Ford is investing $100M to build its new global battery center of excellence - Ford Ion Park - in Romulus, Michigan. The automaker will refurbish an existing 270,000sf facility to house up to 200 engineers.

PRODUCTION DECREASE

Daimler is temporarily cutting Mercedes production at three of its German plants and halting production at its plant in Hungary due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage.

RECALLS

GM is recalling some Chevrolet Bolts for the second time this year due to reports of replacement batteries from the previous recall causing fires.

REGULATION

In a trade meeting last week, the U.S. and Mexico failed to resolve a dispute regarding the USMCA's new rules of origin. The dispute focuses on how to calculate the proportion of vehicles coming collectively from the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The Biden administration is currently negotiating with automakers to make a pledge that 40% or more of the vehicles they sell in the US will be EVs by 2030. Automakers are looking for support from the government to meet those goals.

RISK ANALYTICS

Jaguar Land Rover has set up a "full-time mission control center" to monitor the ongoing semiconductor shortage. The automaker is anticipating the situation will improve in the second half of its financial year.