Nikola and GM are attempting a partnership that begins with the Badger and promises “cost reductions” at all of Nikola’s programs, including the Badger, Tre, One, Two and NZT. As part of the deal Nikola will use GMs’ Ultium battery system and Hydrotec fuel cells. It’s a slow step toward commercialization of fuel cells for GM after decades of casual dabbling.
General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today announced it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Nikola Corporation for a global supply agreement to provide its Hydrotec fuel cell system for Nikola’s Class 7/8 semi-trucks. (The MoU replaces a transaction announced 8 Sept. 2020. Nikola and General Motors Partner! Nikola Badger Truck to be Engineered and Manufactured by GM)
Despite decades of fuel cell research, GM appears to be far behind Toyota in the market use of fuel cell commercial vehicles – increasingly looking like a mandatory segment for survivors of the commercial truck wars. (Toyota to Use Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Zero Emission Trucking, Toyota, 7-Eleven Japan to Study Fuel Cell Trucks, Toyota and Hino to Develop Heavy-Duty Fuel Cell Truck, JR East, Hitachi, Toyota to Develop Fuel Cell Railway Vehicles) Continue reading
A Grim Covid Reaper Lurks as November US Auto Sales Drop
Click to Enlarge.
New light-vehicle sales fell to 1.19 million light vehicles in November – a likely dark foreshadowing of things to come as the Covid virus runs rampant in the US in a surge of the waning days of the Trump Administration, which ignored the crisis with the result it lost a reelection. One American is now dying every 34 seconds, unemployment is rising so much that 12 million Americans could lose their jobless benefits by year’s end, and an earlier Covid federal relief package expires at the end of December meaning extended unemployment benefits and help for small businesses will evaporate as millions will face evictions. This is not a recipe for improved consumer confidence.
The November 2020 SAAR of 15.6 million units is a decline of -8.4% from November 2019 and -4.5% from October 2020. This was before the Thanksgiving Holiday travel rush that saw Americans ignore or defy the CDC’s recommendation to stay at home. The increasing COVID-19 infections will assuredly continue to set records for the near future.
Continue reading →