The discussion covers key developments in the EV battery sector, including South Korea's push for lithium iron phosphate battery tech with Hyundai and Kia, and Jaguar Land Rover's pilot project using recycled batteries. Toyota is rebranding its plug-in hybrids to improve consumer awareness. Audi plans a China-exclusive EV launch without its traditional logo. EV sales are growing, especially in the used market due to affordability. Challenges in automakers' software hiring practices are highlighted, with Mercedes seeking Chinese tech partners to boost competitiveness. Chrysler revives the Voyager minivan, and Ford updates its Blue Cruise hands-free driving system for smoother performance.
Topics:lithium iron phosphate batteriesbattery recyclingtoyota plug-in hybrid rebrandingaudi china ev launchev sales growthautomaker software hiring challengesmercedes chinese tech partnershipschrysler voyager revivalford blue cruise update
- South Korea Developing Its Own Battery Material Supplies - Ultra Fast Charging LFP Batteries - JLR Testing Recycled Batteries - Toyota Drops the Name PRIME from Its PHEVs - Audi-SAIC EV Launching Next Year - Used EV Sales Growing Fast - Legacy Auto Losing Talent to Outdated Practices - Mercedes Trying to Make Cars More Appealing to Chinese Consumers - Stellantis Launching Leapmotor EVs in Europe - Voyager Name Returns Again, Again - Ford Updates Hands-Free Driving System
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Speaker 1: This is ut Aligning Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry. China dominates the market for
the raw materials needed to make EVY batteries, so South Korea is trying to do something about that. The Korean
Ministry of Trade launched an initiative to develop lithium iron phosphate or LFP battery tech in the country. As part
of that, Hyundai and Kia are kicking off a four year project to make cathode material for LFP batteries with Hyundai's owned steel manufacturing division and Eco Probm, a South Korean company that specializes in battery cathode materials. We think
it's a pretty smart move because Hyundai Steel will be used to produce high purity fine iron powder that Eco Probm will then take to make cathode material for LFP batteries.
They're targeting batteries with better fast charging performance, especially in cold weather and SEICGM and CATL are showing that ultra fast charging LFP batteries are possible. They'll be the first
to launch an LFP battery with six C charging capability, which they say can add over two hundred kilometers or one hundred and twenty four miles of range in just five minutes. Gascou reports that the new battery will be
used in an upgraded version of GM's Ultium platform in China that will have a high voltage battery architecture capable of nine hundred volts. But as we've said before, there's
not a lot of charging stations right now that can put out that kind of power. And in one more
bit of battery news, JLR is testing out the possibility of using recycled batteries. It's working with a British recycling firm,
alt Liam on a pilot project to demonstrate that recycled battery production is possible at scale. Over the next year,
they'll test using recycled cathode active material from use Jaguar Eye paces to make batteries to try out in new evs from JLR. Well, it looks like Toyota had an
issue with its plug in hybrid vehicles being called Prime.
People probably have little idea that Prime means that they're plug in hybrids. So Toyota is changing their names from
Prius and Rav four Prime to Prius and Rav four plug in Hybrid for the twenty twenty five model year and will also slap a PEH badge on the back of them. With sales of plug and hybrids picking up,
it will be a good thing if Toyota can pick up some more awareness of its products. Audi's first EV
from its new partnership with Seic will launch in China next year. It's reportedly a mid size electric that won't
use Audi's four ring logo when it officially debuts in November.
Audi and SEIC plan to launch nine models by the end of the decade in China, which will be a needed boost because Audi only sold the little more than thirty thousand vehicles in China last year. Sales of evs
in the US market are not where everyone thought they would be, but they are growing faster than any other segment.
Cox Automotive reports that EV sales in the third quarter were up eight percent year over year and set a record of more than three hundred and thirty eight thousand vehicles.
But the real big gainer was used evs. They were
up sixty nine percent in Q three with sales of seventy eight thousand units, and a key reason used evs are selling strong is that the average price is just under thirty six thousand dollars, which is almost the same as the used ice vehicle. It's an indication consumers clearly
become interested in evs when the price is more affordable.
Speaker 2: Performance that shines even in the rain. That's what really matters.
Rich don't pretends to tires improved grip in wet conditions.
Speaker 1: Traditional automakers are struggling to catch up to the startups when it comes to developing software to find vehicles, and a key reason could be their hiring practices. According to
a new study from Josh Bernson Company, an HR and hiring research firm, the auto industry is lagging behind other industries when it comes to bringing in software talent because of outdated hiring practices. The report says automakers are slow
at hiring new workers developing internal talent, and they need to move away from promoting workers based on tenure in favor of how skilled they are. A good source could
be partnering with universities to find new young talent, but if they don't build up a skilled software workforce in the next five to ten years, the study says, automakers will struggle to stay competitive and to help address that issue, Mercedes ben CEO, Ola Collenius and other executives from the company are traveling to China to look for tech partners.
The automaker is hoping to offset its sales slump in the country by offering technology that's appealing to Chinese consumers.
Next year, Mercedes is launching its first EV on its new electric architecture, the CLA, and it's looking for Chinese tech partners to provide things like maps and in car entertainment for that model. China is an important market for
the company, accounting for more than a third of its sales, and it hopes that partnering with Chinese tech companies can make it even more competitive. And while Mercedes is hoping
Chinese partners can help boost its sales in China, Stillantis is teaming up with Chinese companies to increase its sales in Europe. Earlier this year, it formed a joint venture
with Leap Motor to sell and produce evs in Europe.
When the first models, the Too three and the CEO, are now being shipped to Europe from China, which are undergoing final checks before heading to dealers. The companies also
announced that production of the TO three will kick off in Poland by the end of the year, which will help them avoid Europe's new tariffs on imported Chinese evs.
The Voyager is making a return to the US again again.
The minivan was first introduced in nineteen eighty four under the Plymouth brand, but it was axed when Plymouth was discontinued in two thousand. The Voyager was then revived as
a Chrysler for the twenty twenty model year, but it became a fleet only option in twenty twenty two. However,
it's making its comeback again as an entry level model for Chrysler's retail lineup. But even though it calls it
entry level, the twenty twenty five Voyager starts just over forty one thousand dollars including destination charges, which is slightly more than the base twenty twenty four Pacifica. The Voyager
comes standard with a ten point one inch touch screen, stowing goes seating for the second and third rows, power sliding doors, heated seats and steering wheel, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Voyager's powertrain is the same as
the non hybrid version of the Pacifica, a three point six liter V six made it to a nine speed automatic transmission. Orders for the new Voyager are open now
and it will start arriving at dealerships in the US in the fourth quarter. Ford is rolling out the latest
version of its hands free driving system, called Blue Cruise one point four. Ford says it will stay engaged in
hands free mode and average of eight times longer than the original version and five times longer than Version one point two. Users may notice the new version makes speed
adjustments more smoothly in curves and has greater inlane stability.
Ford says these updates provide a more natural driving experience.
The new version will be available and select Blue Cruise equipped twenty twenty five Ford and Lincoln models from the factory, and a software update for select models will be made available in the future as well. Be sure to tune
in to Autoline after hours Later today, we'll have car critics Mark Feelin, Henry Payne, and Greg Micgoliore on the show to share their unfiltered opinions on today's cars, trucks, and SUVs. Join the action at three pm Eastern Time
on our website or on our YouTube channel. But that's
a wrap for today's report. Thanks for tuning in.
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