Source to media China Timse,  in the realm of China’s mainland new energy vehicle industry, NIO announced on the 20th that it has successfully secured $1 billion in funding through two convertible corporate bond offerings. This move aims not only to reduce existing debt but also to strengthen its balance sheet. In addition, BYD has unveiled the pricing for its electric vehicle model, Dolphin, which is making its entry into the Japanese market.

The starting price for Dolphin in Japan is 3.63 million Japanese yen, approximately $24,565.2 USD. This Dolphin model is BYD’s second entry into the Japanese automotive market. For those seeking a longer-endurance version of Dolphin, the price is set at 4.07 million Japanese yen. Earlier this year, BYD introduced a higher-priced electric SUV in Japan.

Another electric vehicle manufacturer in China, NIO, has disclosed that it raised $500 million through a 6-year convertible bond issuance and another $500 million through a 7-year convertible bond offering. These bonds are categorized as senior unsecured bonds, with a yield of 3.875% for the 6-year bonds and 4.625% for the 7-year bonds.

Upon the release of this news, NIO’s stock price in Hong Kong experienced a sharp 12% drop during the morning session on the 20th. NIO plans to allocate some of the raised funds to repurchase existing debt securities and enhance its financial resilience.

NIO had previously announced at the end of August that they plan to launch their first self-developed smartphone around the end of September. They aim to enhance the attractiveness of their vehicles by leveraging improved software connectivity. During the second quarter, NIO reported a net loss of 6.12 billion RMB, approximately $8.3951 billion USD, compared to a net loss of 2.75 billion RMB in the same period last year. (Image credit: BYD )

(Source: https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20230920002512-260410?ctrack=pc_main_rtime_p06&chdtv)

TrendForce anticipates that by 2026, the global tally of public charging stations will soar to 16 million, marking an impressive threefold increase from 2023 figures. As this unfolds, the global ownership of NEVs—which includes both PHEVs and BEVs—will surge to 96 million. This sets the vehicle-to-charger ratio at 6:1, a significant drop from the 10:1 ratio observed in 2021. Notably, major players like China are paving the way; having set ambitious goals to achieve a vehicle-to-charger ratio of 2:1 by 2030, China is unquestionably a driving force in the global push to reduce this ratio.

Europe is steaming ahead with its net-zero blueprint, targeting the construction of a whopping 17 million charging stations by 2030. America, though, presents a contrasting picture. With a little over 200,000 charging stations currently, the Biden administration aspires to hit the 500,000 mark by 2026. Unfortunately, this will coincide with a projected NEV count of 15 million, exacerbating the vehicle-to-charger ratio to 32:1 Around the same period, Europe and China are projected to sport more modest ratios of approximately 9:1 and 4:1, respectively. Using Europe’s ratio as a yardstick, the US charging infrastructure ambition may need to be bolstered by at least three to four times.

NEV owners globally grapple with a maze of charging standards. Prominent among these are the US standard CCS1 (Combo), the European standard CCS2 (Combo), Japan’s CHAdeMO, China’s GB/T, and Tesla’s NACS standard. Europe and China offer a simpler scenario for their citizens by adhering to a single domestic standard. In contrast, the US is a battleground, with both CCS1 and NACS standards vying for dominance. While adapters provide a temporary bridge between the two, the rapid rise of NACS kindles apprehension among CCS1 aficionados about their future stake.

A diverse array of charging standards across the globe means charging equipment manufacturers must adopt flexible product strategies to cater to different market specifications. Spotlighting Taiwanese firms: Hotron Precision’s charging cables, Longwell’s and SINBOS’s integrated charging systems are all laying tracks across GB/T, CCS1, and CCS2 standards. A feather in the cap for Hotron Precision is its induction into Tesla’s supply chain, while Longwell and SINBON primarily cater to North American charging enterprises. Riding the wave, following proclamations by giants like Ford, GM, and Volvo favoring the NACS standard in North America, charging station behemoths like Zerova and LITEON have thrown their hats into the NACS ring.

From 2025, the landscape will shift dramatically as countries step on the gas to phase out gasoline-fueled vehicles. While the ramp-up of charging station infrastructure still lags, auto giants are bracing themselves to spearhead the charging station market boom. Case in point: Titans like GM, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, HONDA, Hyundai-Kia, and Stellantis are joining forces to spin off dedicated charging infrastructure companies. Furthermore, TrendForce offers a nugget of advice for Taiwanese manufacturers: to stay ahead of the curve and serve North American clientele more effectively, consider setting up shop locally. With Pegatron and Delta Electronics already marking their territory in Texas, the focus for Taiwanese firms should be on nimbleness and adaptability, ensuring they remain unshackled by a single standard.

Report to InfoTimes, Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is making impressive strides in Southeast Asia, not only leaving strong rivals like Tesla far behind but also dominating the market share in the region. Currently, in the local market, at least one out of every four electric vehicles is a BYD.

Industry analysts point out that BYD’s competitive advantage lies in its affordability and high value for money. Early on, the company partnered with large enterprises and conglomerates in Southeast Asia, adopting a distribution model to sell its vehicles. This approach allowed BYD to gradually expand its influence, understand the preferences of Southeast Asian car owners, and navigate the complex local regulations without running afoul of them.

According to TrendForce, in Q2, BEVs alone posted sales of 2.151 million units, marking 39.3% growth YoY. While Tesla maintains the lead with a market share of 21.7%, but BYD trails closely behind with a boosted share of 16.2%. In PHEVs, with the registering sales of 876,000 units in Q2—a striking 52.9% YoY increase. Astonishingly, about 66% of these sales hailed from the Chinese market. In this segment, BYD continued its lead with a whopping 36.5% market share.

In fact, this sales model is not something BYD pioneered. Japanese automakers employed a similar strategy decades ago when entering Southeast Asia. Collaborating with local businesses in a united front, as opposed to competing directly with Tesla, set BYD’s marketing approach apart.

Data reveals that BYD has forged partnerships with various Southeast Asian entities, including Sime Darby, a conglomerate with over a century of history in Malaysia and Singapore, Bakrie & Brothers in Indonesia, Ayala, a renowned conglomerate in the Philippines, and Rever Automotive in Thailand.

Automobile sales consultancy firm Urban Science believes that BYD’s collaboration with prominent local conglomerates helps establish a stable foothold before gaining fame. When Southeast Asian consumers have reservations about Chinese-made cars, knowing that well-known large corporations are involved should provide reassurance, particularly in terms of after-sales service.

Recently, BYD has invested nearly $500 million in building a new factory in Thailand. Starting in 2024, it aims to produce 150,000 electric vehicles annually and export them to various Southeast Asian and European countries. AC Motors, a subsidiary of the Philippines’ Ayala Group, plans to establish more than ten BYD service centers in the Philippines within the next 12 months.

AC Motors emphasizes that the initial focus of its operations is on building brand confidence and encouraging more people to consider buying electric vehicles. Some individuals may have concerns about running out of power with electric cars or find their prices too high.

Currently, Tesla has only opened two stores in Singapore, which caters to a higher-income demographic. However, Tesla is also actively recruiting in Thailand and Malaysia. Leveraging Elon Musk’s personal global influence, Tesla can operate directly toward consumers after leaving the United States, a strategy that sets it apart from other automakers.

To increase its visibility, BYD has partnered with Sime Darby Group to launch five BYD by 1826 centers in Singapore, combining car showrooms with delicious restaurants. This innovative approach aims to attract more people to discover the BYD brand through fine dining and, in turn, become part of BYD’s growing community of car owners. (Image credit: BYD)

(Source: https://www.chinatimes.com/cn/realtimenews/20230919001709-260410?chdtv)

Report to China Times, due to the declining cost of batteries, by 2024, the prices of electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe will be on par with those of gasoline-powered cars, while the American market will have to wait until 2026. Furthermore, it’s projected that by 2030, two-thirds of all cars sold globally will be electric vehicles.

A report released on the 14th by the non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) predicts that battery costs will be cut in half over the next decade. This reduction will bring the cost of batteries down from $151 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2022 to a range between USD 60~90.

According to TrendForce, in 1H23, the total sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs, including BEV, PHEV, FCEV), including pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, reached 5.462 million units, by YoY of 33.6%. Specifically, NEV sales in the second quarter amounted to 3.03 million units, up 42.8% YoY, and accounting for 14.4% of the overall automobile sales in the second quarter.

Price-wise, TrendForce believes that when the cost of pure electric cars falls below approximately USD100 per kWh, there will be an opportunity to compete with gasoline cars.

By 2030, electric vehicle prices will finally match those of gasoline cars. The high cost of EV batteries, which accounts for approximately 40% of the price of electric cars, has been a barrier preventing many consumers from affording electric vehicles. RMI points out that automakers are investing in the development of new battery chemistries, materials, and software to improve electric vehicle efficiency, gradually driving down both battery and electric vehicle prices. RMI analysts suggest that as electric vehicles rapidly grow in popularity in Europe and China, EV sales could increase at least six times by 2030, with a global market share of 62~86%.

(Source: https://www.ctee.com.tw/news/20230915700374-430704)

According to a report in the Shanghai Securities News, Xiaomi’s automobile production facility in Tongzhou, China has entered the final stages of production testing and debugging. Xiaomi Group’s Chairman, Lei Jun, has recently led the senior executives of Xiaomi’s automotive division in conducting summer road tests in Xinjiang to expedite the commencement of mass production for their new vehicles once they secure the necessary approvals.

The entire facility encompasses six workshops, including die casting, stamping, body assembly, painting, final assembly, and battery assembly. In the casting workshop, the signage for “Xiaomi Super Die Casting” has been displayed, indicating the possibility that Xiaomi’s automotive division may adopt advanced integrated die-casting technology similar to Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory.

As previously disclosed, Xiaomi’s automotive subsidiary, with a registered capital of 10 billion RMB, is headquartered in Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area, with Lei Jun as its legal representative. According to Lei Jun’s plan, Xiaomi’s first vehicle will be positioned in the mid-to-high-end segment and is expected to enter mass production in the first half of 2024. As of the end of 2022, Xiaomi’s automotive research and development team has grown to over 2,300 personnel, with more than 700 patent applications and over 360 authorized patents. The production of their first vehicle has been moved up to Q1 2024, with a strategic goal of achieving a top-five global automotive ranking within 15 to 20 years.

(Photo credit: Xiaomi)