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Volkswagen Group released its financial numbers for Q1 2024 today, following similar trends from other EU-based automakers. The numbers detail a slowing of sales and a drop in profits. Despite a 20% decrease, the Group remains optimistic that it will end the year at its financial targets.

Today’s Q1 2024 report from Volkswagen Group comes with little surprise, as the German automaker already gave the public an idea of its sales woes earlier this month when it shared its delivery numbers.

Deliveries for Q1 were up 3% overall year-over-year, but BEV sales fell. EV sales were up in China (+91% YOY) but stumbled in Volkswagen’s native Europe (-24%) and the US (-16%). It’s top-selling models in the first quarter were the ID.4/ID.5 (34,600 units), ID.3 (26,100), Audi Q4 e-tron (22,800), Skoda Enyaq (14,000), Audi Q8 e-tron (9,600), and VW ID.Buzz (7,000).

At the same time, Volkswagen Group shared that deliveries of Porsche’s lone EV, the Taycan, also fell by 54% in Q1 2024. Still, a bolstered 2025 model year Taycan is on the way alongside several new BEV models from Volkswagen that the auto conglomerate hopes will help it bounce back in 2024.

Today, we got a better idea of VW Group’s Q1 numbers beyond mere deliveries, which includes a 20% drop in profits.

  • Volkswagen Q1 2024
  • Volkswagen Q1 2024

Volkswagen’s sales and revenues dropped in Q1 2024

Per a detailed Q1 2024 report released by Volkswagen Group today, it is off to a slower start this year, although the German automaker states it anticipated this dip and relayed confidence going forward. Per VW Group CFO and COO Arno Antlitz:

As expected, our first quarter results show a slow start to the year. We remain confident of achieving our financial targets for 2024. A strong March, the solid order bank and the improving order intake in the past months are encouraging and should already have a positive impact in the second quarter. We expect additional momentum over the course of the year from the launch of more than 30 new models across all brands. At the same time the effects our efficiency programs will gradually unfold as the year progresses. In this context, it will be particularly important to vigorously counteract the increase in fixed costs and exercise investment discipline.

Notable figures include 75.5 billion euros in sales revenue, down from 76.2 billion in Q1 2023. Furthermore, VW Group reports EUR 4.6 billion in operating results, down 20% compared to a year ago with an operating margin of 6.1%. Volkswagen cites “lower sales volumes, an unfavorable country, brand and model mix as well as an increase in fixed costs” as the reasoning behind its negative Q1 2024 results.

In terms of overall sales, Asia-Pacific saw 2% growth while South America recorded record numbers, up 19% year over year. That said, sales in North America were down 10%, followed by the rest of the world at 5%, for a grand total of 2.1 million vehicles sold globally in Q1.

Despite many minuses on its Q1 2024 spreadsheet, Volkswagen Group anticipates a sales revenue increase of up to 5% and an operating margin between 7 and 7.5%, clearing the way for a clean 2024 outlook it remains confident in. Per the release:

In the Automotive Division, the Group assumes an investment ratio of between 13.5 percent and 14.5 percent in 2024. The automotive net cash flow for 2024 is expected to be between EUR 4.5 and EUR 6.5 billion. This will include in particular investments for the future and cash outflows from mergers and acquisitions for the battery business, which are a vital pillar of the Volkswagen Group’s transformation. Net liquidity in the Automotive Division is expected to be between EUR 39 billion and EUR 41 billion in 2024. It remains the Group’s goal to continue its solid financing and liquidity policy.

Challenges will arise in particular from the economic situation, the increasing intensity of competition, volatile commodity, energy and foreign exchange markets, and more stringent emissions-related requirements.

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Is this the interior of Tesla’s upcoming ‘Robotaxi’?

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Is this the interior of Tesla's upcoming 'Robotaxi'?

Tesla has released a new video that includes some footage of a previously unseen vehicle interior. Could it be an early concept of the interior of the Robotaxi?

For the last few years, Tesla has been working on a vehicle designed from the ground up to be a self-driving vehicles. The company has been referring to it as ‘Robotaxi’.

CEO Elon Musk insists that Tesla is still dedicated to delivering its promised self-driving capability to existing vehicles delivered since 2016 through software update, but it also decided to build a new vehicle designed entirely around the fact that it will be driverless.

Not much is known about the vehicle other than hints that it won’t have a steering wheel or pedals, and that it will be “Cybertruck-like” in terms of design.

Now, Tesla has released a new video, which Musk wanted to make clear he wasn’t involved in, to try to encourage shareholders to vote for his $55 billion compensation package and moving the company’s state of incorporation to Texas:

In the video, many pointed out a shot of the interior of a vehicle that doesn’t match anything Tesla has released to date:

The image shows what appears to be a two-seater vehicle without steering wheel and a center display similar to what is found in current Tesla vehicles.

The seats are unlike what you would find in modern vehicles and something closer to what you would find in public transit, like a train:

Tesla plans to unveil its ‘Robotaxi’ on August 8th. The automaker has recently accelerated its timeline for the vehicle and plans to bring it to market as soon as next year.

Do you think this is an early concept for the Tesla Robotaxi interior? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Mercedes-Benz just opened more DC fast chargers at Buc-ee’s in Texas

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Mercedes-Benz just opened more DC fast chargers at Buc-ee’s in Texas

Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging just opened more DC fast chargers at Buc-ee’s stores in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.

Three new Mercedes DC fast charging stations are at Buc-ee’s in Fort Worth, Temple, and Royse City. Mercedes asserts that every one of its chargers offers up to 400 kW of power.

It’s also adding 12 more charging stations at Buc-ee’s in the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston metro areas – also known as the Texas Triangle, home to 68% of Texans:

Buc-ee’s isn’t your typical convenience store – they’re huge, with some stores covering over 50,000 square feet, and they offer a wide variety of items, including snacks, beverages, fresh food, clothing, home decor, and Texas-themed merchandise. It’s known for its homemade fudge, jerky, and beaver nuggets (caramel-coated corn puffs). Most Buc-ee’s locations are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In November 2023, Mercedes announced it had made an agreement with Buc-ee’s to build EV charging hubs at most of its existing stores. Mercedes is aiming to have around 30 online by the end of the year. There are currently 48 Buc-ee’s locations across the US South, 34 of which are in Texas.

When I spoke to Mercedes-Benz High Power Charging CEO Andrew Cornelia last year, he was passionate about the importance of placing EV chargers near amenities that travelers need.

Mercedes offers open access for all EV drivers, including roaming with other charging networks. Its charging hubs support contactless payments with credit cards or smartphone wallets.

The first Mercedes DC fast charging station came online last November at its headquarters in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Mercedes-Benz plans to deploy 2,500 high-powered chargers in 400 hubs by 2027.

Texas is the US’s No. 1 producer of clean energy and ranks fourth in public EV charging. However, to meet driver demand, the state needs around 95,000 more public chargers by 2027.

Read more: America, Mercedes-Benz wants you to indulge in retail therapy while you’re DC fast charging


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Polestar (PSNY) stock faces potential Nasdaq de-listing after failing to file its annual report

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Polestar (PSNY) stock faces potential Nasdaq de-listing after failing to file its annual report

Another EV stock may be removed from the Nasdaq exchange. After failing to file its annual report, Polestar (PSNY) received a notice from the Nasdaq as the company faces a possible de-listing.

Polestar, Volvo’s former high-performance unit, was established as an EV brand in 2017 under Geely’s control.

Since launching the Polestar 2, its first all-electric vehicle, the brand has expanded into 27 markets globally. The electric car has even become a top seller in several key markets like Norway, Sweden, and Germany.

However, like many EV startups, Polestar has hit its fair share of hurdles. After cutting guidance late last year (from 80K to 60K), Polestar still missed its target, delivering 54,600 vehicles last year.

In February, Volvo announced plans to sell 62.7% of its stake in Polestar as it looks toward its next growth stage. Volvo also confirmed it will “not provide further funding to Polestar” outside of its existing $1 billion outstanding convertible loan.

The news came after Polestar announced plans to cut 15% of its global workforce amid slowing EV sales earlier this year.

Polestar-de-listing
2024 Polestar 2 (Source: Polestar)

Polestar stock facing potential Nasdaq de-listing

After failing to file its annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, Polestar received a deficiency notice from the Nasdaq.

The notice states Polestar is not in compliance with its listing rules, which require the timely filing of periodic financial reports.

Polestar-4-price
Polestar 4 (Source: Polestar)

Polestar said the notice has no immediate impact on the company’s listing. However, under the Nasdaq listing rules, Polestar has 60 days to submit an action plan. If Nasdaq accepts it, Polestar could be issued an additional 180 days from the notice date, or until November 2024, to regain compliance.

The company has already received consent from lenders under its nearly $1 billion 3-year loan facility for the late filing. Polestar says it is fully committed to regaining compliance.

Polestar is working to file the annual report “as soon as practicable” and to report Q1 2024 earnings shortly after.

Polestar-de-listing
Polestar (PSNY) stock chart over the past 12 months (Source: TradingView)

Polestar stock was down over 13% on Monday following the potential de-listing notice. PSNY shares are now down over 50% this year, hitting their lowest prices since going public.

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