In news today:
- GM to exclusively offer electric vehicles by 2035
- Waymo raises investment round of $2.5 billion
- Kia Europe and Uber announce electric mobility partnership
- Bridgestone makes minority investment in Kodiak Robotics
- Volvo and SSAB explores development of fossil-free steel for use in the automotive industry
GM to exclusively offer electric vehicles by 2035
GM recently announced that it will exclusively offer electric vehicles by 2035. In the process the company also plans ending production of its cars, trucks and SUVs with diesel- and gasoline-powered engines.
The company has earlier announced plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040 and is signatory of the Business Ambition Pledge for 1.5⁰C, an urgent call to action from a global coalition of UN agencies, business and industry leaders.
GM’s announcement comes a day after US President Joe Biden signed a series of executive orders that prioritize climate change across all levels of government.
Waymo raises $2.5 billion
Waymo has announced its latest investment round of $2.5 billion, with participation from Alphabet, Andreessen Horowitz, AutoNation, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Magna International, Mubadala Investment Company, Perry Creek Capital, Silver Lake.
The company is working to build and deploy the Waymo Driver to serve riders, deliver parcels, move freight, and eventually, to empower personal car ownership. It now plans using this latest round of investment to continue advancing the Waymo Driver, and grow its team.
Kia Europe and Uber announce electric mobility partnership
Kia Europe and Uber have announced electric mobility partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of advanced zero-emission battery electric vehicles across Europe. Under the partnership Kia will present Uber drivers with special offers on its advanced BEV model line-up, including the e-Niro and e-Soul.
Kia is working on Plan S strategy, revealed earlier this year, which will see eco-friendly models take a 40% share of all Kia sales globally by the end of 2030. The partnership is also in line with Uber’s commitment to become a zero-emission mobility platform across Europe by 2030.
Bridgestone makes minority investment in Kodiak Robotics
Bridgestone, a company known for tire-centric solutions, mobility solutions, and other rubber-associated and diversified products, has made a minority investment Kodiak Robotics, a company that develops and deploys long-haul shipping trucks with level 4 autonomy. The partnership will allow Bridgestone to integrate its smart-sensing tire technologies and fleet solutions into Kodiak’s level 4 autonomous trucks. The companies will also pilot future autonomous and smart tire technologies to further enhance vehicle intelligence and advance toward a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable mobility future.
Volvo and SSAB explores development of fossil-free steel for use in the automotive industry
Volvo and SSAB, a Nordic and US-based steel company, are teaming up to jointly explore the development of fossil-free, high-quality steel for use in the automotive industry.
The collaboration makes Volvo one of the first automakers to be part of one the steel industry’s most ambitious and advanced project in fossil-free steel development. SSAB through HYBRIT technology uses hydrogen produced from water and fossil-free electricity instead of coking coal.
The global steel industry accounts for around 7 % of global direct carbon emissions because it is currently dominated by an iron ore-based steel making technology, using blast furnaces which depend on coking coal.
For Volvo Cars, the CO2 emissions related to steel and iron production for its cars amount to around 35 % in a traditionally powered car and 20 % in a fully electric car of the total CO2 emissions from the material and production of the components going into the car.
(Based on Media Reports, Press Release)
