Trina Solar is selling its Texas solar panel factory as the US scrutinizes Chinese companies cashing in on Inflation Reduction Act tax breaks.
FREYR Battery is acquiring Trina Solar’s 5 gigawatt (GW), 1.35 million-square-foot solar panel factory in Wilmer, Texas, that only just came online on November 1.
FREYR, which was founded in Norway and moved its headquarters to Georgia, will pay $340 million for Trina’s factory. Trina will retain a minority ownership stake in Freyr, reportsBloomberg. The factory is set to reach full production by 2025, with firm contracts already locking in 30% of its estimated output for US customers.
The two companies announced the acquisition on November 6, the same day that Kamala Harris conceded the US election to Donald Trump. On July 31, senators introduced S.4873, a bipartisan bill aimed at stopping Chinese companies from cashing in on US tax credits meant to boost American solar manufacturing. Chinese companies are expected to face even tighter trade restrictions under the Trump administration.
As Electrek reported in August 2023, Changzhou-headquartered Trina Solar was one of five Chinese solar panel manufacturers that received a US Department of Commerce (DOC) tariff slap because the DOC ruled that the companies were dodging US tariffs on China-made goods by processing components in Southeast Asian countries before shipping their solar products to the US.
Daniel Barcelo, FREYR’s newly appointed CEO, said, “We are proud to be partnered with Trina Solar, a global manufacturing and solar technology leader. Domestic manufacturing capacity for solar and batteries is essential for energy transition and job creation.” Barcelo said in an interview, according to Bloomberg, that he feels confident that the newly acquired factory will qualify for the IRA manufacturing tax credit.
As Politicoreported earlier this week about the Inflation Reduction Act’s 45X tax credit:
The 45X tax credit pays factory owners based on each component that’s produced. A solar module, for instance, can receive 7 cents a watt, or $70,000 per megawatt, though the payment will get smaller beginning in 2029.
Trina’s 5,000-megawatt Texas factory stands to receive $1.775 billion from 2025 through 2032 if it operates at a 78% utilization rate, according to Antoine Vagneur-Jones, head of trade and supply chains at BloombergNEF. At a 60% utilization rate, Trina would net more than $1 billion, he said.
FREYR says its next step is to build a 5 GW solar cell factory in the US, and site selection is already underway. The company plans to break ground in the second quarter of 2025, aiming for initial production in the second half of 2026. The new US-owned and operated solar cell factory will help solve a key bottleneck for developers, create up to 1,800 direct jobs, and meet local content requirements for US solar projects.
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Ford’s CEO Jim Farley admitted he was humbled after tearing down the first Tesla and Chinese EVs. If it wants to compete globally, Ford can’t walk away from EVs altogether, so it’s planning to shake things up.
Ford can’t walk away from EVs, or it will lose to China
After taking apart a Tesla Model 3 and several electric vehicles from China for the first time, Farley said he was “very humbled” during a new episode of the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast.
The “shocking” revelation is what pushed Ford to overhaul its EV program. Ford is shifting its focus to smaller, more affordable EVs, which require smaller batteries and fewer materials.
Ford is promising its next-generation electric vehicles will be significantly more efficient and advanced than the current Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. Farley told host Monica Langley that the Mach-E had about 1.6 km of electrical wiring, which led to a larger battery.
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Ford’s CEO has warned several times now that Chinese EV makers pose an “existential threat” to Western brands, including itself.
Xiaomi SU7 (Source: Xiaomi)
After flying a Xiaomi SU7 from Shanghai to Chicago last year and driving it around for a few months, Farley even said he didn’t want to give it up.
“EVs are exploding in China,” Ford’s CEO said on the podcast, adding the Chinese government had its “foot on the economic scale” to promote electric vehicles.
Xiaomi SU7 production (Source: Xiaomi)
Although the US is facing headwinds with the $7,500 federal tax credit now expired and the Trump administration shifting policies, Farley admitted, “We can’t walk away from EVs, not just for the US, but if we want to be a global company, I’m not going to just cede that to the Chinese.”
Ford, like most automakers, is bracing for slower EV sales over the next few months. Farley said on the company’s third-quarter earnings call that he expects electric vehicles to account for just 5% of the US market in the near term.
The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX (Source: Ford)
The “EV market in the US is totally different than we thought,” Farley explained during the podcast, adding buyers are looking for more affordable options rather than the “$70-80,000” EV.
To stay competitive, Ford is betting on its new low-cost EV platform, the Ford Universal EV Platform, which the company says will help unlock more affordable electric cars.
CEO Jim Farley presents the Ford Universal EV Platform in Kentucky (Source: Ford)
The first vehicle Ford plans to launch on the platform is a midsize electric pickup, starting at around $30,000. It’s expected to arrive in 2027. Ford will use lower-cost LFP batteries licensed from China’s CATL. They will be manufactured at Ford’s new plant in Michigan.
According to Lisa Drake, Ford’s vice president of tech platform programs and EV systems, the company intends to match the cost structure of leading Chinese brands.
In the meantime, Ford has paused production of its current electric pickup, the F-150 Lightning. A new report from The Wall Street Journal claims it’s now considering scrapping the EV pickup altogether.
The Mercedes GLB EV will be here in less than a month. With its debut just around the corner, Mercedes offered a first look at the new GLB EV’s interior, and yes, it’s loaded with massive screens.
First look at the new Mercedes GLB EV interior
Mercedes is putting the new electric GLB through the paces at the Mercedes Technology Center (MTC) in Singlefingen, Germany, ahead of its world premiere on December 8.
The testing is conducted in wind tunnels that range in temperature from -40 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, snow cannons shoot various types of snow while high-powered fans generate winds up to 124 mph, simulating fierce blizzard conditions.
Although it’s covered in snow, you can still see that the new EV version maintains a similar boxy design to the current gas-powered GLB.
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If you look a little closer, it appears to have a larger grille design, like the new GLC EV, which Mercedes said “redefines” the face of the brand.
Mercedes also unveiled the new GLB EV’s interior for the first time, which looks pretty similar to the GLC’s. The optional floating MBUX Superscreen is the highlight, extending the entire width of the dash.
The new Mercedes GLB EV during cold-weather testing (Source: Mercedes-Benz)
It also features Mercedes’ new multifunction steering wheel, which reintroduces a rocker switch for the cruise control.
Another new feature is the concave door handle design, which features a floating center panel that opens a storage space. The center console has a similar design, offering an optional wireless charging cradle and cup holders.
The interior of the new Mercedes GLB EV (Source: Mercedes-Benz)
Mercedes said the new SUV offers “noticeably more headroom for first and second row occupants” compared to its predecessor. It will offer standard seating for five, with the option to add a third row for seven.
According to Mercedes, the new GLB takes “interior climate comfort” to the next level. For example, the climate control heats up twice as fast as its predecessor during a 20-minute drive at 19 degrees Fahrenheit. Mercedes said that since it only requires half the energy of the current GLB, it helps maximize range.
We will learn more about the Mercedes GLB EV on December 8. Check back soon for updates.
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Save hundreds in early Black Friday/Singles’ Day savings on Segway EVs to upgrade your commute, starting from $150
Segway has officially kicked off its early Black Friday Sale that will also coincide with Singles’ Day, giving lone riders a great opportunity at hundreds in savings on the brand’s select lineup of e-scooters and accessories. One such notable deal is the E2 Pro Electric Scooter that is dropping to $379.99 shipped, and also matching at Amazon. While it carries a $600 MSRP direct from the brand’s website, you’ll more often find it posted up at $500 in full over at Amazon, with most of the discounts we’ve seen over 2025 having kept costs above $400, save for the few drops to $330 we saw earlier in the year. During these early holiday promotions, you can score it at the second-best price we have tracked, giving you $120 off the going rate and $220 off the MSRP. Head below to browse the full lineup of Segway’s early Black Friday deals.
A great commuter for folks who don’t want to shell out too much money, but still want one of the more premium brands supporting them through travels around town, the Segway E2 Pro electric scooter has you covered for up to 21.7 miles on a single charge, thanks to the 275Wh battery. That battery runs the 750W motor and rear-wheel drive system, with enough power to handle up to 18% inclines while giving you top speeds of 15.5 MPH.
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One notable inclusion here is the Apple Find My integration for greater security, allowing you to keep track of your scooter and hunt it down in case of theft, which has been needed for such models that utilize push-button starts without keys. Your riding experience will also benefit from the front and rear turn signals, anti-skid traction control, 10-inch air-leakage-proof tubeless tires, 2.8-inch integrated LED dashboard for setting adjustments, and more.
Score up to $1,082 in exclusive savings on nine refurbished Anker SOLIX units at new lows starting from $112
We’ve secured a collection of nine exclusive deals on refurbished Anker SOLIX power stations and solar panels from Welbots, which provide up to $1,082 in total savings and even give our readers some new low prices on these units. The largest of these deals is on the Anker SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station down at $1,597.07 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5RBANK6 for an additional 6% savings. The deal on this renewed unit starts with a drop from $2,679 to $1,699, and the exclusive code cuts another $102 off the tag. Last month, we secured similar deals that only took costs down to $1,709, with that rate beaten here by the combined 40% markdown that lands it lower than ever to the best new price we have tracked.
Jackery’s new Explorer 240D 256Wh compact power station returns to $139 low for Singles’ Day, more from $176
By way of its official Amazon storefront, Jackery is offering its new Explorer 240D Portable Power Station at $138.99 shipped, beating out the brand’s direct website pricing by $70. This new model hit the market at the tail end of September with a full $209 price tag, with its initial launch deals to this rate holding on through Prime Day, before keeping above $149 with discounts in the time since. Today’s deal brings you another opportunity to jump on it at the best price we have tracked, saving you $70 in the process. You’ll also find a few bundle options available at discounted rates, too, like the station with a 40W mini solar panel at its lowest rate of $217.54 shipped.
Worx’s 40V 14-inch cordless mower with adaptable Intellicut feature at new $129 low for Singles’ Day
Amazon is now offering the best price yet on the Worx 40V 14-inch 2-in-1 Cordless intellicut Lawn Mower with two 4.0Ah batteries for $129 shipped during Singles’ Day, which has been going strong for us for 2.5 years now, and currently beats out the brand’s direct website pricing by $61. It may carry a $300 MSRP direct from Worx, but at Amazon we’ve been seeing it down at $220 and more recently $199 for long stretches, with discounts having taken things as low as $165 this year. While this deal continues, you’re looking at a total $171 off the MSRP that lands it lower than ever for the best price we have tracked in its history, making it quite the Singles’ Day steal for homeowners and renters who need a means to keep their lawns maintained without running up a significant bill.
Amazon is offering the DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless 6-Tool Combo Kit with two 5.0Ah batteries at $729 shipped, which matches the price we’re seeing from Home Depot. It’s coming down from $1,049 here, and beats out all the discounts we’ve seen during 2025 from Amazon, which mostly kept costs above $815, except for the one-time and short-lived drop to $799. While we have seen it only beaten by the $649 low in the past, you’re still looking at the best price of the last few years, with $320 cut from the tag for the second-best overall price that we have tracked at Amazon.
Lectric XP4 Standard Folding Utility e-bikes with $326 bundle: $999 (Reg. $1,325)
Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with $449 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,448)
Heybike Hauler Single-Battery Cargo e-bike (new low): $899 (Reg. $1,413)
Best new Green Deals landing this week
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.
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