- Factorial and SK On Form Solid-State Battery Partnership - Buyers Seeking Low-Tech Cars - Fewer U.S. Car Buyers are Leasing - VW&#x27;s VTOL Program a Secret Fiasco - Truck Destination Charges Up Sharply - China Overtaking Australia - Xiaomi&#x27;s New Brand Focuses on Passengers - China EREVs Get Extended Oil Change Intervals - China Cracks Down on Blue Lights for Automation - Stellantis Seeing Slow Turnaround

AD #4345 - Buyers Seeking Low-Tech Cars; Truck Destination Charges Up Sharply; VW's VTOL Program a Secret Fiasco

Autoline Daily

This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry. Solid-state batteries offer higher energy density, better safety, and faster charging than traditional lithium-ion batteries. But one of the biggest reasons they aren't being used in EVs right now is because they're hard to mass produce. That's why solid-state battery company Factorial, which has partnerships with Stellantis, Mercedes, and the Hyundai Group,

just signed a deal with battery maker SK On. They're going to study whether SK's existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing infrastructure can support solid-state production. SK has more than 200 gigawatt hours of annual production capacity around the world, with nearly 100 gigawatt hours in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal reports about car buyers who have had it with all the modern tech in today's cars.

They're sick of all the driving aids, the warning beeps, and the multiple menus of features and display screens. And they don't want their cars monitoring them. So, they're actively seeking out cars like the Chevy Trax or Mazda 3 that use buttons and knobs and aren't packed with all the latest ADAS tech. And if they can't find new cars with basic tech, they're turning to used cars.

No doubt that bare-bones slate pickup truck will be exactly what they're looking for. Most car buyers want their cars to have the latest technology, but maybe there's an opportunity for automakers to offer a model that just sticks to the basics. Here's an interesting trend in the U.S. market. Fewer people are leasing cars. Before COVID, leasing accounted for about 30% of all sales. And in the luxury segment, that could go as high as 70%.

AD #4345 - Buyers Seeking Low-Tech Cars; Truck Destination Charges Up Sharply; VW's VTOL Program a Secret Fiasco

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

AD #4345 - Buyers Seeking Low-Tech Cars; Truck Destination Charges Up Sharply; VW's VTOL Program a Secret Fiasco

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.