Tesla will set up a Chinese design center in Beijing, and PetroTek and Hon Hai will start production of pure electric vehicles in 2024

(Energy, February 14, 2022)

Tesla will open a China design center in Beijing. According to a Beijing government document, Tesla will set up a design center in the capital city. The electric car maker has said it will build a design and engineering center to develop cars designed in China for the global market, but has not said where it will be located. The list of key tasks in this year's work report of the Beijing Municipal Government, released online on January 31, shows that Beijing is advancing the construction of several important facilities related to electric vehicles. Volvo Cars said it would invest SEK 10 billion ($1.1 billion) in its Tolslanda manufacturing plant in Gothenburg over the next few years in preparation for the production of all-electric vehicles. Previously, Volvo and battery maker Northvolt announced the joint construction of a battery manufacturing plant in Gothenburg, western Sweden, as part of a plan with a total investment of about 30 billion crowns. As part of the planned investment, Volvo will introduce sustainable new technologies and manufacturing processes at the Tolslanda manufacturing facility. These include the introduction of oversized casting technology for aluminium body parts, as well as new battery assembly plants and a completely refurbished paint and final assembly shop. Thailand's National Petroleum and Hon Hai will start production of pure electric vehicles in 2024. Thailand's state-owned energy major company, Petronas (PTT), will join hands with Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industries to start production of pure electric vehicles (EVs) from 2024. The plant will build a plant with an annual output of 50,000 units in eastern Thailand. The company plans to increase the number to 150,000 units by 2030. PTT invested 60% and Hon Hai 40% to set up Horizon Plus, a joint venture involved in the production of pure electric vehicles. The two parties signed a joint venture agreement in September 2021. The total investment is expected to be USD 1 billion to USD 2 billion. Based on the pure electric vehicle chassis developed by Hon Hai, the company will work with auto parts manufacturers concentrated in Thailand to produce vehicles. South Korea's Hyundai Motor announced that it will return to the Japanese market after 12 years, but it will only sell electric vehicles online, allowing consumers to complete the whole process of test ride, budget consultation, ordering, payment, and delivery online. Hyundai Motor entered the Japanese market in 2007, but in 2009 it cancelled most of its business due to poor performance, and has since focused on selling commercial vehicles such as buses. Hyundai Motor plans to pre-sell the Electric Vehicle Ani Krypton-5 and the Hydrogen NEXO in Japan from May, with deliveries starting in July.