Latest News
26 November
Stellantis plans to close Luton plant in UK
Credit: Stellantis
Stellantis, owner of the Vauxhall brand in the UK, has announced it will close its vehicle manufacturing plant at Luton – where Vauxhall has been making vehicles since 1905.
The plant currently employs around 1,100 workers and makes combustion engined light commercial vehicles (LCVs). It had been due to start production of an electric version of the Vivaro commercial van in 2025.
Stellantis acquired the Luton plant when it purchased General Motors’ European assets and the Opel/Vauxhall brands in 2021.
Stellantis said it will now consolidate its UK manufacturing footprint alongside new investment (GBP50m) ‘to enhance Ellesmere Port’s mission as the UK’s sustainable, EV-only volume manufacturing plant’.
25 November
Chery begins Ebro production in Spain
Spanish vehicle producer Ebro-EV Motors and China’s Chery Automobile have celebrated the start of vehicle production at their Ebro Factory joint venture in Barcelona, with a ceremony attended by Spanish Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu.
The two companies signed the joint venture agreement in April, with the aim of developing and producing vehicles under the relaunched Ebro brand.
Ebro EV Motors took over the plant, located in the Villa Franca port area of Barcelona, from Nissan after the Japanese automaker ceased production in 2021. Under the new owners, the facility will produce plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) S700 and S800 SUVs, based on the Chery Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8.
22 November
Swedish EV battery market Northvolt files for bankruptcy in US
Swedish electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer Northvolt has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. The move is part of a strategic effort to restructure debt, scale operations and secure a sustainable foundation for continued operations, the company said. Since its inception in 2016, Northvolt has secured approximately €10bn ($10.57bn) in funding.
In October 2024, Northvolt revealed that its Swedish subsidiary, Northvolt Ett Expansion AB, had filed for bankruptcy to reduce costs and scale back its plans for expanding battery manufacturing capacity at the Northvolt Ett Expansion project.
Northvolt’s financial difficulties have mounted as projections for BEV sales in Europe have been revised down amid slowing demand.
21 November
Honda introduces demonstration line for all-solid-state batteries in Japan
Honda Motor has unveiled a new demonstration production line for all-solid-state batteries at its facility in Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.
The demonstration line is planned to commence batteries production in January 2025.
The initiative is aimed at establishing a mass production process and determine battery cell specifications for future electrified models. The focus is on applying these batteries to vehicles in the second half of the 2020s.
21 November
Hyundai unveils new Ioniq 9 all-electric SUV
Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled its all-new, battery-powered Ioniq 9 at a global launch event held at the iconic Goldstein House in Los Angeles. The choice of location underscores the importance of the US market for this new three-row, seven-seater SUV.
The Ioniq 9 is built on Hyundai’s dedicated Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), with its 3,130 mm wheelbase providing an “expansive interior space that fuses cutting-edge design with innovative electric vehicle (EV) technology.”
The Ioniq 9 will be produced at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) plant in the US State of Georgia.
