Ford Motor Company Chairman, Bill Ford, told a major news network in the US that the Yanks cannot yet compete with China when it comes to EVs, according to Reuters.
"They developed very quickly, and they developed them in large scale. And now they're exporting them," Ford told CNN's 'Fareed Zakaria GPS' Sunday programme. "They're not here but they'll come here we think, at some point, we need to be ready, and we're getting ready," Bill says.
In February, the automaker announced plans to invest $3.5 billion to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan in a deal that involved using technology from Chinese battery company CATL, attracting attention from a US Senator who asked the Biden administration to review the deal.
Bill Ford, who is the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford, said in the programme that the Michigan battery plant is a chance for Ford engineers to learn the technology and then use it themselves.
"It (Michigan) is a wholly owned Ford facility. They will be our employees, and all we are doing is licensing the technology. That’s it," he says.
Ford CEO, Jim Farley, said in May that Chinese electric vehicle makers were its main rivals in the sector, and that Ford needs distinctive branding or lower costs to beat Chinese automakers.
"I think we see the Chinese as the main competitor, not GM or Toyota. The Chinese are going to be the powerhouse," he said.
Isuzu Motors South Africa will launch its Next Generation N-Series in November, bringing new technology and design updates to improve efficiency, safety, driver comfort, and operating value for commercial vehicle fleets.
Range anxiety remains one of the main concerns for motorists considering a switch to electrified vehicles, particularly in markets where charging infrastructure is still developing. iCAUR believes its new V27 SUV offers an alternative by combining electric driving capability with extended driving range through a range-extender powertrain.
UD Trucks Southern Africa has strengthened its presence in the Eastern Cape with the opening of UD Trucks Komani, a new dealership that joins the manufacturer's growing South African dealer network.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
SMSA Africa Logistics Group has added five Hino 300 diesel electric hybrid trucks with van bodies to its fleet, following a two-year trial of three such trucks in its delivery operation.
South Africa's new energy vehicle market is becoming increasingly diverse, with plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and fully electric vehicles gaining ground while traditional hybrids remain the largest category.
As South Africans celebrate their rich heritage, it is also worth reflecting on a lesser-known chapter of the country's history: its long connection with electric vehicles (EVs).
