Battery Breaking-News HeadlinesBattery Breaking-News Headlines
Ford's multi-billion-dollar EV losses in 2025; Nissan exits Honda talks for a new EV partner; Toyota invests $14B in US batteries; VW delays €20K EV to 2027; and more are in the news.

The battery industry moves at a fast pace: The articles Battery Technology publishes represent only a fraction of what’s happening in this quickly evolving industry. That’s the idea behind this curated and regularly updated digest of links to breaking news related to the battery and energy storage industry. Some of these stories may become the subject of analysis by our own team—but we’re sharing them here, unfiltered, so that you can get them on your radar right away.
To keep the stream fresh, we will update this digest regularly—so please check back often!
Ford projects up to $5.5 billion in EV losses for 2025, despite Q4 profits rising to $1.8 billion. Tariffs on Mexico and Canada may impact costs. Shares fell nearly 5% after hours. (Reuters)
Nissan plans to exit merger talks with Honda over perceived imbalance, seeking a new partner to accelerate its EV transition. Discussions, including Mitsubishi, stalled after the initial December announcement. (The Guardian)

Three Japanese automakers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to consider business integration. Courtesy of Nissan.
Toyota expands EV and battery production in China and the US, partnering with Shanghai and investing $14 billion in North Carolina. Lexus EV production begins in 2027 as profits surge. (AP News)
Volkswagen's €20,000 entry-level EV, originally set for 2025, now targets a 2027 debut. A first look was revealed to employees, with an official concept debut expected in March. (New Atlas)

Construction work at Toyota North Carolina. Courtesy of Toyota.
Toyota’s $14 billion North Carolina factory will begin EV battery production in April, supplying Kentucky. The plant will create 5,000 jobs, supporting Toyota’s hybrid and EV strategy in the US. (WUNC)
Tesla’s European sales plunged, with German registrations down 59.5% as EV demand rebounded. Market share fell from 14% to 4%, with steep declines in France (63%), Norway (38%), and the UK (8%). (Financial Times)
Earlier:
The unignorable news this week is the tariff battle begun by the Trump administration against North American trading partners Mexico and Canada as well as China and their responses. The New York Times has a good overview. (New York Times)

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Tesla CEO Elon Musk may be Trump’s most vocal ally in most areas but Tesla is in fact spearheading an effort to block new tariffs on graphite imports from China, pitting Donald Trump’s richest backer against the president’s favorite economic tool. (Transport Topics)
Though Mexico and Canada have reached a deal with the US to postpone tariff implementation, China has not, and is striking back with its own tariffs. (Washington Post)

Flags of China, the US and the EU.Viacheslav Chernobrovin/ iStock / Getty Images Plus
China EV battery makers are angling to get around US tariffs with a China-Morocco joint venture, enabling some products to be considered made in Africa rather than China. (South China Morning Post)
Korean battery makers operating in Canada are alarmed about the tariffs and “preemptively bracing” for them. (Korea Times)
Korean battery Maker Samsung SDI sees an opportunity in the upheavals, expecting demand for Korean energy storage system batteries to increase. (Energy Storage News)
One US lithium battery component startup, Sparkz, says tariffs could help some manufacturers: "One hundred percent of the cathode active material is produced in China and Sparkz factory is the first factory to be making the cathode active material in the United States," said CEO Sanjiv Malhorta. (NBC affiliate KCRA)
Speaking of China, a new report describes how the nation has funneled more than $57 billion to control the critical mineral supply chain, using a network of at least 26 state-backed financial institutions over the past two decades. (Mining.com)
Earlier:
High levels of nickel, manganese, and cobalt were found in Monterey’s Elkhorn Slough after a lithium battery fire, posing risks to endangered species and disrupting the estuary’s critical ecosystem functions. (LA Times)
Ace Green Recycling partners with Spiro to recycle lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing waste, supporting Africa’s EV circular economy with sustainable technology and co-located recycling centers near Spiro’s hubs. (PRNewswire)

Recycled Lithium Carbonate. Courtesy of PRNewswire.
esVolta secured a $243 million preferred equity investment for three battery energy storage projects in Texas, totaling 1 GWh of capacity, with commercial operations expected in 2025. (PRNewswire)
Hyundai expands European R&D with a Nürburgring test center extension and a new Square Campus, enhancing EV and high-performance vehicle development while reinforcing its commitment to sustainable mobility and electrification. (Hyundai)

The facility will focus on improving EVs, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), infotainment, and electrification technologies. Courtesy of Hyundai.
ICL and Dynanonic partner to produce LFP cathode material in Europe, investing €285M in a new Spain plant to strengthen battery supply chains and support Europe's energy transition and lithium-ion market growth. (Yahoo! Finance)
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