This week on Automotive: M&A’s, partnerships, and fundraisings drive battery and electric vehicle projects

Partnerships
Japan’s Denso collaborates with California-based Aeva to bring LiDAR to market
The focus is on advancing driver-assistance and automated driving systems, promoting traffic accident prevention, and innovating solutions to detect driver health and measure driving skills. Read More>>
Ford’s Spin partners to bring remote-control e-scooters to North America, Europe
The company’s new Spin Valet platform can operate Spin’s fleet and automatically re-park scooters out of the pathway. Riders can “hail” an e-scooter located several blocks away from the desired pick-up location. Read More>>
General Motors to supply Hydrogen fuel cells to Navistar for electric semi-truck
The deal includes privately held hydrogen-fuel company OneH2, responsible for hydrogen production, storage, delivery, and safety to fuel the truck. J.B. Hunt Transport Services will test the trucks in late 2022. Read More>>
Subaru picks up new stake in Toyota
The 9 million shares are worth approximately USD 675 Mn. Subaru can now tap into Toyota’s resources to develop new technology and cars. The alliance will also bring new hybrid technology to its current vehicles. Read More>>
Tata Elxsi, Syntiant to provide low-power edge AI device development for voice applications
The companies will collaborate to help manufacturers design and develop low-power always-on voice applications across multiple categories, such as smart home devices and consumer electronics, and industrial and automotive use cases. Read More>>

Merger and Acquisition
Israeli auto data company Otonomo to go public via merger valued at USD 1.4 Bn
Otonomo sources data from more than 20 million vehicles, which companies can use to develop apps and services for fleets, smart cities, and individual consumers. The combined company will list in NASDAQ as “OTMO.” Read More>>
Volkswagen and Audi merge operations in Australia
Audi joins Volkswagen cars, Volkswagen commercial vehicles, and Skoda as an integrated corporate operation. The merger is expected to be approved by parent companies in Germany and the Foreign Investment Review Board locally. Read More>>
EV startup Faraday Future set to list on Nasdaq via merger
The merger, valued at USD 3.4 bn, is expected to fetch Faraday Future USD 1 bn in gross proceeds, which will provide money for the mass production and delivery of its first model, the FF 91 crossover. Read More>>
Linklaters advises Groupe PSA on its merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
The newly established company, Stellantis, is now the world’s fourth-largest automobile manufacturer, owning 14 brands with a possible valuation of USD 48 Bn. Read More>>
Hyundai partners with Urban-Air Port to develop urban air-taxi infrastructure
The government selected Urban-Air Port to develop zero-emissions flying and new air vehicles, winning a GBP 1.2 Mn (USD 1.65 Mn) grant to help fund the airport’s temporary installation in Coventry city center. Read More>>

Executive Movement
Daimler Trucks North America appoints Rakesh Aneja as head of eMobility
In his new role, Aneja will lead product strategy, platform management, customer consulting, and charging infrastructure services. He will also serve as program lead for the medium-duty Freightliner eM2 and heavy-duty eCascadia, both slated for the start of limited production in 2022. Read More>>
Karin Rådström appointed to run Mercedes-Benz Trucks
She has international experience in the commercial vehicles industry and a proven track record in shaping a customer-focused sales organization and brand experience. Read More>>
Ford Motor Co. of Canada names veteran executive Bev Goodman as CEO
Goodman started as a finance intern and had various roles, including finance, parts and service, and sales and marketing. She has a track record of collaborating with Ford’s dealer partners and commitment to innovation. Read More>>
Luxury car maker Aston Martin adds former Ford executives to board
The high-profile auto executives’ appointment adds “great value” to Aston Martin, chairman and largest shareholder Lawrence Stroll mentioned in an announcement. Read More>>
Volvo reshuffle sees Gary Bone promoted to Vice President
Bone has 17 years’ experience with Mack and Volvo Group Australia. Bone rejoined Volvo Group Australia as Vice President, Mack Trucks Australia, in March 2020 after more than five years at the helm of Chesterfield Australia. Read More>>
Hero MotoCorp CIO Vijay Sethi quits
After Sethi’s resignation, the automaker has made Pradeep Eledath change IT function during the interim period until a new CIO is appointed. Read More>>

Deals and Deal Renewal
Ford inks deal with Google
Ford and Lincoln vehicles at the beginning of 2023 will be “powered” by Google’s Android OS, providing customers with built-in access to Google services such as Maps, Play, and Assistant for the next six years. Read More>>
BorgWarner to supply transfer cases for Nissan SUV’s and pick-up’s
The two entities made the deal to produce its Navara pick-up and Paladin SUV models. Part-time transfer cases offer various operating ranges, including two-wheel-drive (2WD) high, four-wheel drive (4WD) high, and 4WD low. Read More>>
Veoneer collaborates with Qualcomm to create software brand ArriverTM
Arriver is Veoneer’s software unit for the development of the complete perception and drives policy software stack. The collaboration will also deliver scalable Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Collaborative and Autonomous Driving (AD). Read More>>

Center setup and Expansion
Li Auto Inc. announces new research and development center
The company will develop high-voltage platforms, ultra-fast charging technologies, autonomous driving technologies, next-generation intelligent cockpits, operating systems, and computing platforms at the center. Read More>>
Volkswagen opens new plant for EV battery recycling
The Salzgitter plant recycles batteries unusable for other purposes. Before the battery is recycled, an analysis can determine the battery’s reusability. Read More>>
Norton Motorcycle moves to a new facility after multi-million investment by TVS
The location will host all of Norton’s operations, including design, engineering, purchasing, sales, marketing, support teams, and the production team. Read More>>
China’s BYD builds sleek concept car factory
The chipmaking division specializes in insulated gate bipolar transistors, or IGBT, which effectively operate as an electric car’s central processing unit. The company also produces batteries. Read More>>
LG Energy Solution expected to set up a battery manufacturing plant with Renault
If the plan goes ahead, LG Energy Solution can further increase its presence in Europe, one of the world’s three largest electric vehicle markets with the United States and China. Read More>>

Headlines From The Startup World

Startup Spotlight

Latest Insights & Reports

Pioneer Corporation account intelligence report: Pioneer Corporation is developing autonomous driving solutions by enhancing and introducing various smart navigation, object detection, and vehicle tracking and recovery system. The company is actively partnering with digital solutions providers to upgrade its autonomy solutions. Read more

Force Motors account intelligence report: The company manufactures light commercial vehicles, small commercial vehicles, utility vehicles, agricultural tractors, and high-tech automotive aggregates. They have designed advanced electric variant vans with Rolls-Royce plc. Read more

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