[5.15 Lithium Battery News] IEA: Global EV Sales Expected to Surpass 20 Million Units by 2025

[Ford Germany Workers Strike Over Massive Layoffs]Workers at two Ford car makers in Cologne, Germany, went on strike on Wednesday to protest the US automaker's plan to lay off thousands of employees in Europe. Ford's layoffs reflect broader changes in the automotive industry, with companies such as Volkswagen, Nissan, and General Motors also initiating layoffs to address new competition from Chinese producers, weak demand, and the high costs of transitioning to electrification.

[IEA: Global EV Sales Expected to Surpass 20 Million Units in 2025, Accounting for Over a Quarter of Total New Car Sales]The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its "Global EV Outlook 2025" report on May 14. The report indicates that despite global economic uncertainties, the EV market continues to grow robustly. It is projected that global EV sales will exceed 20 million units in 2025, accounting for more than a quarter of total new car sales. The report mentions that global EV sales reached 17 million units in 2024, up approximately 25% YoY, and for the first time accounted for over 20% of the global automotive market. In Q1 2025, global EV sales increased by 35% YoY, showing a significant growth trend. The report also shows that the Chinese market continues to lead, with EV sales exceeding 11 million units in 2024, accounting for nearly half of domestic new car sales. Emerging markets such as Asia and Latin America also experienced rapid growth, with annual increases exceeding 60%. The IEA projects that if countries fulfill their energy and climate commitments as scheduled, EVs will account for over 40% of global new car sales by 2030. (CCTV News)

[Dezhong Auto: Expected Growth in Scrap Vehicle Recycling and Dismantling Business This Year, Power Battery Project Expected to Begin Trial Production in H2]Yi Yuebo, the board secretary of Dezhong Auto, stated at the 2024 annual report and Q1 2025 earnings briefing held this afternoon that the company's revenue from the scrap vehicle recycling and dismantling business was 35 million yuan in Q1 2025, and it is expected to achieve significant YoY growth for the full year. Currently, the first phase of the company's power battery project has been completed, and trial production is expected to begin in H2 2025. These two businesses are expected to become the company's main profit growth drivers in the future. (Finance Link)

[JEE Technology: Provides Intelligent Assembly and Testing Equipment for Electric Drive Systems to Xiaomi Auto]JEE Technology stated on an interactive platform that it has business cooperation with Xiaomi Auto in the field of intelligent equipment, providing intelligent assembly and testing equipment for electric drive systems. In the future, the company will maintain close communication with Xiaomi Auto, aiming to achieve more cooperation in the fields of intelligent equipment and motor and electronic control parts. (Finance Link)

[Hyundai Motor Begins Construction of First Middle East Factory in Saudi Arabia, Plans to Start Production in Q4 Next Year]Hyundai Motor held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Saudi factory on May 15, marking the company's first production site in the Middle East. The plant is a joint venture established by Hyundai Motor and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) with a 30% and 70% equity stake, respectively. The factory is scheduled to commence operations in Q4 2026, with an annual production capacity of 50,000 units, encompassing both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) car models. (Financial Associated Press)

[Brazilian Official: BYD's Brazilian Factory Expected to Be Fully Operational by the End of 2026] Augusto Vasconcelos, the Minister of Labor of Bahia State in Brazil, stated in a video on Monday that Chinese EV manufacturer BYD's new factory in Brazil would be "fully operational" by December 2026. He added that the factory should commence vehicle production using semi-finished kits by the end of this year.