CATL and Octopus Form Joint Venture to Develop Battery Swapping Network for Electric Trucks in Europe

The Ministry of Commerce and eight other departments jointly issued the Notice on Several Measures for Cultivating and Expanding Consumption in the Automotive Aftermarket. The measures cover six major areas and 17 specific actions, including standardizing and developing automobile modification in an orderly manner, supporting the development of the RV and camping industry, fostering new business forms for traditional classic cars, optimizing the supply of automotive repair and insurance services, actively developing automotive racing sports, and promoting the innovative and integrated development of car rental.

Some of the European Union’s top cobalt users warn that planned rules to protect workers’ health will instead threaten the bloc’s push to bolster its mineral supply chains and industries like energy and defense. The European Commission will on Tuesday decide whether to approve legislation to reduce workers’ exposure to cobalt dust and particles to safeguard against cancers and other respiratory illnesses. But companies involved in the supply chain say the proposed limits are too strict, costly and challenging to meet, and risk closing businesses and diverting investments away from the EU.