Just over a year after announcing a joint venture to establish EV battery manufacturing together in the US, Stellantis and Samsung SDI are doubling down with a second plant with an even higher annual production capacity.
In May of 2022, Stellantis and EV battery manufacturer Samsung SDI announced a joint venture to establish a production facility in Kokomo, Indiana to support the former’s electrification plans in North America.
The new facility called for an investment of over $2.5 billion and could eventually increase to over $3 billion as the JV partners look to open the plant by 2025 and create 1,400 new jobs in the state. When it does open, the Kokomo plant is expected to offer an initial production capacity of 23 gigawatt-hours (GWh) while Samsung and Stellantis aim to increase that number to 33 GWh over the years that follow.
While we still remain a couple years away from the ribbon cutting ceremony in Indiana, Stellantis and Samsung have decided to implement an additional EV battery manufacturing plant in the US – hardening plans for a much larger lineup of Stellantis EVs eventually sold in the country.
Samsung SDI CEO Yoon-ho Choi (center left) and Stellantis North America COO Mark Stewart (center right), alongside Samsung SDI Vice President of Legal Affairs Winton Kim (far left) and Stellantis Head of Global Business Development Barb Pilarski (far right), signing a MOU for the JV’s first US battery plant in Kokomo, IN / Credit: Stellantis
Stellantis shared details of its expanded StarPlus Energy joint venture with Samsung SDI in a press release this morning, explaining that its second planned US battery plant it targeting an annual production capacity of 34 GWh the day it opens… but that will be a while.
As part of Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 electrification strategy, it says it needs roughly 400 GWh of annual battery capacity to achieve its EV sales targets – all while attempting to sell BEVs-only in Europe and a 50% mix in the US by the end of the decade. The automaker’s CEO Carlos Tavares spoke:
This new facility will contribute to reaching our aggressive target to offer at least 25 new battery-electric vehicles for the North American market by the end of the decade. We are continuing to add more capacity in the United States together with our great partner Samsung SDI and laying the next steps to reaching our carbon neutrality commitment by 2038.
Samsung SDI will be crucial to Stellantis delivering its extended lineup of BEVs to North America but has its hands full with other US battery plants as well. This past April, it announced a $3 billion joint venture with GM to erect a battery manufacturing plant over 30 GWh expected to open in 2026.
If that facility stays on track, it will open a year after Stellantis’ aforementioned Kokomo facility, and a year before the larger facility announced today, scheduled to begin production in 2027. Stellantis has not yet shared where in the US its second battery plant with Samsung may end up – but the automaker has dozens of footprints in North America, many of which in the midwestern United States and Ontario, Canada.
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For those who don’t remember, the rollout of the previous refresh was terrible. Tesla took orders for almost a year, but it waited for almost another year to start deliveries due to problems ramping up production.
Now, it appears that deliveries in Europe will occur within 6 months of the refresh and within weeks of ordering for most people.
That said, the mid-cycle refresh has been considered mild and isn’t likely to have a significant impact on sales.
I wouldn’t expect more than a few thousand Model S/X sales in Europe per year.
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Uber gets it. The rideshare behemoth has observed the upward trend of EV adoption across its database of customers and drivers and is helping to support that transition. Beginning today, the “Uber Green” ride option is now called “Uber Electric,” visible to all app users worldwide. To celebrate the transition, Uber is offering discounted rides for those opting for electric vehicles, and drivers may also qualify for a $4,000 grant.
At this point, Uber is a household name in the rideshare and logistics industries. Hell, it’s even a verb at this point. You don’t get this far without innovation and foresight, something the $200 billion company has excelled at to constantly evolve and adapt.
I recall when Uber initially offered only black town cars. Now you can order an UberX, Uber XL, Uber Comfort, Uber Eats, Uber Pet, rent a car, order groceries… the list goes on. In terms of electric vehicle adoption, Uber has long shown interest in the technology and quickly understood that EVs are ideal for the gig economy that comprises its market.
We’ve seen Uber partner with several autonomous vehicle developers, many of which operate fleets of electric vehicles. In fact, we’ve covered so many partnerships between Uber and other exciting mobility companies that we can’t begin to name all of them.
Today, Uber has recognized the dwindling incentives available to US drivers interested in going electric and has tweaked its rideshare offerings to promote more sustainable options.
Source: Uber
Uber Green goes full-electric worldwide today
According to an email sent from Uber this morning, Uber Green has been renamed Uber Electric. Per the company, the new name “reflects record EV growth on our platform, making it easier for riders to choose zero-emissions rides.”
Uber elaborated that over 200,000 EVs are driving on its global network, and 1 in 4 of its customers say their first-ever EV ride was through the Uber app (I hope it wasn’t in the back seat of a Model Y, because that’s a rough ride).
Today’s transition builds upon Uber’s decision to make Uber Green (a mix of hybrids and EVs) fully electric in the US earlier this year. Those parameters now apply to the entire rideshare network. Pradeep Parameswaran, Global Head of Mobility at Uber, spoke:
Uber Electric is more than a new name, it represents the real progress we’ve made toward electrifying our platform globally over the past five years. Thousands of drivers are leading the charge, choosing electric and helping cities improve air quality. We’ll keep supporting drivers by removing barriers to EV adoption and working with cities to improve access to charging.
To celebrate the transition to Uber Electric, the company is offering customers 20% off (up to $8) their next EV ride when they use promo code GOELECTRIC20 (valid for 7 days).
Additionally, Uber has recognized the expired federal grant of $4,000 for used EV purchases in the US and is keeping that incentive alive in certain states to entice drivers to continue to go fully-electric. The company’s “Go Electric” grants will offer eligible Uber drivers up to $4,000 toward new and used electric vehicle purchases, but only in the following regions:
California
Colorado
Massachussetts
New York City
Uber’s grant can be combined with other individual state incentives, making it easier than ever for drivers to go electric, depending on their state. Uber pointed out that US drivers nationwide can still receive $1,000 toward any new or used EV purchased through TrueCar.
Go electric! Opt for the EV option on your next ride and use that discount code!
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Tesla is recalling approximately 13,000 recent Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built earlier this year due to a battery pack defect that can result in power loss.
In August, Tesla started getting reports of power losses in new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
After reviewing 36 warranty claims and 26 field reports, the automaker identified a defect in some battery pack contactors that could potentially affect approximately 8,000 Model Ys and 5,000 Model 3s built in the US between March and August 2025.
Tesla wrote in the recall notice:
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The recall population includes certain Model Year (“MY”) 2025 Model 3 vehicles manufactured between March 8, 2025, and August 12, 2025, and MY 2026 Model Y vehicles manufactured between March 15, 2025, and August 15, 2025, that are equipped with a battery pack contactor manufactured with InTiCa solenoid.
If the battery pack contactor opens when the vehicle is in drive, it loses power and ability to apply torque, which may increase the risk of a collision – hence the safety recall.
The automaker identified Sistemas Mecatrónicos InTiCa S.A.P.I., a tier 2 supplier in Mexico, and SongChuan, a tier 1 supplier in Taiwan, as being involved in the recall.
Tesla confirmed that it is contacting all potentially affected owners and it will replace the affected contactor with “a certified contactor that does not contain InTica solenoid and that maintains coil termination connection” at no cost to owners.
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