Plugin Sales In Europe Rise To 20%, Stellantis Opens $4.9B Battery Plant in Ontario
Despite a shrinking auto market, plugin vehicle registrations in Europe rise. Plus, a Windsor, Ontario Battery Plant will serve as an EV tech hub for Stellantis.
Every automaker experienced some kind of sales stagnation due to the pandemic, and ensuing supply chain issues. However, a report from CleanTechnica suggests that plug-in vehicle sales continue to see consistent growth despite the overall market. In their report, BEV’s make up for 57% of those registrations, with the other 43% being plug in hybrid vehicles. Still, BEV’s saw a 79% year over year growth in that same period.
Tesla makes up a majority of those sales with the Y and 3, but with smaller streets in Europe, it’s no surprise that the Fiat 500e rounds up third place. Kia and Hyundai, who have benefited from a microchip supply advantage, are not too much further behind. Those top 5 make up about 20% of the EV market in Europe, with other manufacturers contributing to an overall sales number of 159,650 units.
Fuel prices have traditionally been high in Europe, and the current supply chain disruptions only cause additional pain at the pump, making plugin vehicles ever more appealing.
Stellantis and LG Energy Solutions create joint venture to open Canada’s first EV battery plant.
With $4.9B in investment from Stellantis, LG Energy Solutions and the Canadian government, Canada will have its first battery EV plant. According to CBC, the Windsor, Ontario plant will produce batteries for the North American market. Mark Stewart, COO of Stellantis says the plant will product a “substantial amount” of batteries for EV cars. Annual production capacity will reach about 45 gigawatt hours. Pictured below, Ontario mayor, Doug Ford, says “it’s the largest investment in the history of our province.”
Stellantis, which is the parent company to Chrysler would benefit from the Windsor plant, being just across the Canadian border from Detroit. Cross border trading is now open, and the Canadian market is currently offering up to $5,000 in incentives for EV buyers. It’s enough of a chunk of change for Stellantis to make the $4.9B bet on electric cars.
Additional EV commitments from Stellantis come in the form of another EV plant to be built in the US. That announcement will happen in the coming weeks, but there’s no indication where that factory may be built just yet.