[SMM Tin Express: Minde Electronics: Guangxin Microelectronics Phase I Capacity Increased to 40,000 Wafers/Month, MFER and VDMOS Now in Mass Production]

Last year, Ford Motor lost to BYD in global auto sales for the first time. Ford's wholesale sales declined by nearly 2% last year, falling slightly below 4.4 million units, which fell short of the 4.6 million units in sales reported by BYD in January. Data disclosed by the US automaker on Tuesday confirmed that BYD had risen to sixth place in the global auto sales ranking, one position ahead of Ford. Although Ford's US sales increased last year, it lost ground in Europe, particularly in the Chinese market.

Automaker Stellantis (STLA.N) is seeking to exit its US battery joint venture with South Korea's Samsung SDI. This comes after the company announced last week an asset impairment of over €22 billion (approximately $26 billion) as it gradually scales back its EV deployment and strives to preserve cash. Exiting the joint venture could be costly and protracted. Stellantis may also sell its stake to a third party. Following Trump's policy moves to undermine plug-in vehicles, EV and battery projects have put pressure on the company, and CEO Antonio Filosa is working to contain related losses. Stellantis and Samsung established the Indiana joint venture in 2021, committing to invest $2.5 billion and create 1,400 new jobs in Kokomo. The plant, Samsung's sole battery factory in the US, began operations in 2024 and has started producing some battery cells for ESS.

[SMM Tin Morning Brief: The Most-Traded SHFE Tin Contract Maintained a Fluctuating Upward Trend During the Night Session, with Various Segments of the Industry Chain Generally Entering a Holiday State]