Xpeng and Volkswagen Partner to Build Ultra-Fast EV Charging Network in China

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Xpeng Motors and Volkswagen have expanded their collaboration to build an ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging network in China, the companies announced on Monday. This partnership will allow the two automakers to share their fast-charging networks, which together consist of more than 20,000 charging points across 420 cities in China.

The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that enables each other’s customers to use their respective charging stations. In addition, Xpeng and Volkswagen plan to explore the construction of co-branded ultra-fast charging stations to further enhance the EV charging infrastructure in the country.

The collaboration builds on their 2023 partnership, when Volkswagen acquired a 4.99% stake in Xpeng for approximately $700 million. As part of the agreement, the automakers are also working on jointly launching two Volkswagen-branded electric models by 2026. Volkswagen has also developed a new architecture for intelligent and electric vehicles in collaboration with Xpeng, with the aim of offering more affordable EVs in China, its largest market.

 

Brookfield-Owned Clarios Withdraws U.S. IPO Plans

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Clarios International, the car battery manufacturer owned by global investment firm Brookfield, has officially withdrawn its plans for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The company, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, made the announcement on Monday but did not provide further details regarding the decision.

Clarios had initially filed for a U.S. IPO in 2021, with plans to raise up to $1.85 billion and achieve a valuation of approximately $11 billion. However, the company postponed its offering that same year due to market volatility and macroeconomic challenges, citing the need to reassess market conditions.

The decision to withdraw the IPO comes despite an increase in U.S. IPO activity, driven by a bullish equities market and the anticipation of business-friendly policies under the incoming Trump administration. Despite this, Clarios, which produces batteries used in vehicles globally, including in one-third of all cars on the road, decided against moving forward with its public listing at this time.

Brookfield acquired Clarios in 2019 for $13.2 billion, including debt, as part of a major acquisition from Johnson Controls International.

 

NXP Plans to Generate 8-10% of Revenue from India by 2030

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NXP Semiconductors is poised to generate between 8% and 10% of its revenue from India by 2030, driven by the growing demand in the country’s automotive and industrial sectors. Hitesh Garg, head of NXP India, shared this projection at an industry event in Bengaluru, emphasizing that the next three to five years will be crucial for the company as it targets significant revenue growth in the region.

While NXP currently does not disclose its revenue from India, the company views the country as an increasingly important market. India’s expanding automotive industry and the rise of industrial applications for chips are expected to fuel this growth. As a result, NXP is positioning itself to capture market share in the region, which is still a small but fast-growing segment for many global chip manufacturers.

This strategic focus on India comes at a time when NXP’s sales in China have faced uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions, including the expansion of Chinese production in older chip technologies and European tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. In 2023, China represented nearly a third of NXP’s $13.28 billion in sales, with the rest of the Asia-Pacific region accounting for nearly 30%. Garg indicated that any missed opportunities in one market could be offset by expanding in others, like India.

India’s semiconductor industry is still in its early stages, but the government has been working to establish a robust ecosystem, with initiatives like a $10 billion incentive package aimed at growing the local chip market. The country expects its semiconductor market to reach $63 billion by 2026, despite not yet producing its own chips. In September, NXP announced a $1 billion investment in India, which includes a major boost to its research and development efforts. Other companies like Micron are also making investments in the Indian market, signaling growing confidence in the region’s potential.