[5.14 Lithium Battery News] Yahua Group Terminates Lithium Concentrates Offtake Agreement with Core

[Tinci Materials: Currently, the company is actively promoting localized capacity construction in the US and Morocco]Tinci Materials stated on an interactive platform that it is currently actively promoting localized capacity construction in the US and Morocco, continuously expanding overseas markets for electrolytes and LiPF6. (Cailian Press)

[Yahua Group: Terminates Lithium Concentrates Offtake Agreement with Core]Yahua Group (002497.SZ) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Yahua International, and Lithium Development, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Core, have signed a "Settlement, Termination, and Release Agreement" to terminate the original Lithium Concentrates Offtake Agreement and its supplementary agreement. The Finniss lithium mine project operated by Core has been suspended, and it is unable to supply lithium concentrates. The company has established a diversified channel layout combining self-controlled mines and externally purchased ore, building a stable lithium resource security system. The termination of this agreement will not impact the company's normal production and operations, nor will it harm the interests of the company and all its shareholders. (Cailian Press)

[GM and LG Energy Solution Collaborate to Develop New-Type LMR Prismatic Batteries]General Motors (GM) announced that it, together with LG Energy Solution, will commercialize lithium-rich manganese-based (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs through a new battery technology breakthrough. GM aims to become the first automaker to deploy LMR batteries in EVs. Ultium Cells, a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, plans to commence commercial production of LMR prismatic battery cells in the US by 2028, with pilot production expected to take place at LG Energy Solution's plant by the end of 2027. According to reports, battery engineers from GM and LG Energy Solution have developed a new-type LMR prismatic battery cell that achieves a 33% increase in energy density compared to the best-performing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells, while maintaining similar costs. (Cailian Press)

[BTR: All Solid-State Battery Materials Have Met the Technical Conditions for Mass Production]BTR released a record of investor relations activities, stating that all solid-state battery materials it has developed have met the technical conditions for mass production and can be applied in digital and power applications. However, actual mass production will need to align with the validation cycles and demand rhythms of downstream battery cell manufacturers and end-user automakers. 2024 is a representative year for the semi-solid-state battery system, with actual shipments, installations, and end-use applications of solid-state battery products, indicating that the mass production of semi-solid-state battery materials is expected to occur soon. Currently, the industry generally regards 2027 as the time node for the large-scale mass production of all-solid-state batteries.

[Honda Delays Canadian EV Investment Plan by About Two Years Due to Current Slowdown in EV Demand]Due to the current slowdown in EV demand, Honda has delayed its Canadian EV investment plan by about two years. Honda originally planned to establish a comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) industry chain in Canada by investing approximately CAD 15 billion (including investments from joint venture partners), supporting the global initiative to achieve 100% of auto sales from battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) by 2040.

[Mazda Delays Release of FY2025 Forecast Due to US Auto Tariffs]Mazda has postponed the release of its consolidated financial forecast for fiscal year 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026). The company believes that the opaque business environment caused by the US government's tariff hikes on automobiles is ongoing, making it "difficult to calculate at this stage." Mazda is considering releasing the fiscal year forecast when it discloses its financial results for April to June 2026, scheduled for early August.