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Toyota Major Auto Funder of Climate Deniers?
Guy Youngs Toyota has been revealed to be the largest auto industry funder of climate deniers in US Congress, according to a report released today by Public Citizen.
Toyota sells more gas-powered, polluting vehicles than any other company on Earth, and thus it has a vested interest in continuing to sell those polluting vehicles. But the problem is that gas-powered, polluting vehicles are not good for the health of humans or other living beings on this planet
Toyota has repeatedly ranked as one of the…
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Mercedes-Benz Sells Sprinter Factory in Argentina
Fabio Ferraresi The Argentine press confirms that Mercedes-Benz has sold its Sprinter factory in Virrey del Pino, near Buenos Aires, to an investment group called ST, led by financier Pablo Peralta.
According to local sources, the sale agreement will be officially late in February. Under the deal, ST will continue producing the Sprinter van under license until 2029.
The transaction does not include Mercedes-Benz’s heavy vehicle production, which will continue at a new factory in Zárate. The sale is linked to the upcoming shift to electric Sprinter models, as the company does not plan to invest in this transition in Argentina.
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Lexus China Plant To Begin Production in 2027
Jack Hao Toyota has announced plans to build a research, development, and production company for Lexus electric vehicles and batteries in Jinshan District, Shanghai, and plans to start production in 2027.
“China has a complete electrification and intelligent technology industry chain,” says Ji Xuehong, Director and Professor of the Automotive Industry Innovation Research Center at North China University of Technology, “and stablishing a factory locally will allow Toyota to deeply integrate into China’s industry chain, quickly access advanced electrification technologies and high-quality parts resources, and thereby enhance the overall competitiveness and price advantage of its products.”
Localization will also enhance Lexus’ export capabilities, he says. Production in China can meet domestic demand, also reduce costs and improve the competitiveness of products in the international market.
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2025 Budget Pushes Green Mobility, Manufacturing
Aditya Kondejkar Aligned with the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision, the 2025 budget proposes a forward-looking approach for the auto sector, fostering a sustainable ecosystem with financial allocations and duty exemptions. Among the highlights:
- Support for EV Manufacturing. The exemption of customs duties on 35 capital goods for lithium-ion battery production is a commendable step toward reducing production costs and improving EV affordability.
- Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. The government allocated $325.31 million USD (Rs 2,819 crore), down from $403.90 million USD (Rs 3,500 crore) last year, which may raise concerns about the continuity of financial backing for emerging EV and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
- Tariff Rationalization. Reduction of tariff categories to just eight simplifies the customs structure and promotes ease of business for auto manufacturers.
- MSME Credit Boost. With increased access to credit for MSMEs in the auto component industry, supply chain development will strengthen, driving innovation and expansion. MSME stands for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. This term refers to a significant sector of the Indian economy that plays a crucial role in the country’s economic development and growth.
- Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana. Rural income growth via this scheme, along with increased Kisan Credit Card limits, is expected to boost demand for two-wheelers, tractors, and small commercial vehicles.
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BYD Controversy In Brazil — What Is Going On?
Guy Youngs Reports came out in late December that workers building a BYD factory in Brazil were working in “slavery” conditions and were potentially victims of human trafficking. Without a doubt, something horrible was going on. How much BYD knew or didn’t know, we don’t know, but the company has now terminated its subcontractor, Jinjiang Construction Brazil.
“Brazilian authorities have halted the construction of a factory for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD, saying workers lived in conditions comparable to ‘slavery’,” BBC reported. “More than 160 workers have been rescued in Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia, according to a statement from the Public Labor Prosecutor’s Office (MPT).
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