汽车行业担心最坏的情况，因为对电动汽车的需求未能达到预期

由于数十亿美元已经投入电动汽车，许多制造商在高利率下削减了他们的计划

作者：山姆·史密斯（Sam D.Smith）

17小时前https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-Tesla-Fremont-Factory-2-1024x576.jpg

专家担心，对电动汽车的需求与汽车制造商投入的投资量不同步。虽然电池电动汽车的销量正在稳步增长，但几乎每个主要制造商都投入了数十亿美元，可能无法产生预期的回报。

从行业分析师到特斯拉首席执行官埃隆·马斯克（Elon Musk），每个人都认为高利率是一个令人担忧的问题。“我担心我们所处的高利率环境，”马斯克在财报电话会议上表示。“我怎么强调都不为过，绝大多数买车的人都是按月付款。如果利率居高不下，或者利率更高，人们就更难买车了。

特斯拉宣布正在放慢墨西哥工厂的计划，马斯克认为当前的金融环境是一个原因。与此同时，本田和通用汽车已经取消了一项耗资5亿美元的联合开发项目，该开发项目的核心是制造负担得起的电动SUV。https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2024-Honda-Prologue-927-5-1024x683.jpg

本田Prologue最初被设计为本田和通用汽车共同开发的众多电动汽车之一

在类似的举动中，福特最近宣布将暂时放慢F-150 Lightning的生产速度。Blue Oval 一直在生产三班制的电动卡车，但在 7 月宣布将投资转向商用和混合动力汽车后，F-150 Lightning 将只生产两班制。

由于汽车制造商的需求减弱，用于制造电动汽车的原材料价格急剧下降。根据路透社的一份报告，锂的价格下跌了67%，而钴的价格在2023年下跌了20%，自2022年5月以来下降了一半。

不仅仅是美国制造商感受到了压力。中国已经看到欧洲对其经济实惠的电动汽车的巨大需求，但在国内的情况却不一样。中国电池制造商宁德时代表示，其第三季度是今年迄今为止最疲软的季度，理由是需求下降和竞争加剧。与此同时，在欧洲，大众汽车下调了利润率预期。它也归咎于原材料的套期保值，此后价格下跌。

行业内可能正在敲响警钟，但随着销售数字的逐渐增加，消费者对电动汽车的热情仍在继续。2023 年第三季度，美国电动汽车交付量首次突破 三十万 辆。欧盟的电动汽车销量也增长了14.3%，中国增长了22%。

那么，从长远来看，对电动汽车的快速投资会发挥作用，还是太多太快了？关注这个空间，并在下面的评论中告诉我们您的看法。https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2024-VW-ID.4-3-1024x675.jpg

原文

Auto Industry Fears The Worst As Demand For EVs Fails To Meet Expectations

With billions of dollars already poured into EVs, many manufacturers are cutting back on their plans amidst high interest rates

by Sam D. Smith

17 hours ago

Experts worry that the demand for EVs is out of sync with the amount of investment poured in by automakers. While sales of battery-electric vehicles are steadily increasing, the billions of dollars that have been pumped in by virtually every major manufacturer may not yield the expected return.

High interest rates have been seen as a concern by everyone from industry analysts to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. “I am worried about the high interest rate environment that we’re in,” said Musk, on an earnings call. “As I just can’t emphasize this enough that the vast majority of people buying a car is about the monthly payment. If interest rates remain high or if they go even higher, it’s that much harder for people to buy the car.”

Tesla has announced that it is slowing down plans for a Mexican factory, with Musk sighting the current financial climate as a reason. Meanwhile, Honda and General Motors have scrapped a $5 billion joint development that centered around creating affordable electric SUVs.

The Honda Prologue was originally designed to be one of many jointly developed EVs between Honda and General Motors

In a similar move, Ford recently announced that production of the F-150 Lightning would be slowed down temporarily. The Blue Oval had been churning out examples of the EV truck with three shifts, but following an announcement in July that it would be redirecting investment into its commercial and hybrid vehicles, the F-150 Lightning will only be made in two shifts.

Waning demand from automakers has seen the prices of raw materials used in the manufacture of EVs drop sharply. According to a report from Reuters, prices of lithium have tumbled by 67 percent, while cobalt has fallen 20 percent in 2023, and halving since May 2022.

It’s not just U.S. manufacturers feeling the pinch. China, which has seen immense demand from Europe for its budget-friendly EVs, isn’t faring the same at home. Chinese battery maker CATL said that its third quarter was its weakest of the year so far, citing a drop-off in demand and increased competition. Meanwhile, in Europe, Volkswagen cut its profit margin outlook. It too blamed hedges made in raw materials, which have since seen prices drop.

Alarm bells may be ringing within the industry, but consumers continue to warm up to EVs as sales figures gradually increase. In the third quarter of 2023, U.S. electric vehicle deliveries topped 300,000 for the first time ever. EV sales also increased in the EU by 14.3 percent, and 22 percent in China.

So, will the rapid investment in EVs play out in the long term, or has it been too much too soon? Watch this space, and let us know your take in the comments below.