(AOF) – GM announces that it has hired Kurt Kelty, as vice-president in charge of batteries: this “world-renowned battery expert” led the strategy of Elon Musk’s group in this area from 2006 to 2017. He will be responsible for developing a new approach for GM’s battery strategy covering both “the use of raw materials, research, development and investment in new technologies, the commercialization of cells and packs, as well as end-of-life opportunities.
This will enable GM to be able to “more quickly provide customers with profitable, less expensive and more efficient electric vehicles,” the press release specifies.
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A French market in good shape
The French automobile market recorded its tenth consecutive month of growth in October 2023 with 152,383 registrations of new passenger vehicles (+22% year-on-year). It increased by 16.49% over the first 10 months of 2023, with 1.44 million registrations, almost as many as in 2022 (1.52 million) but much less than the level of 2019 (2.2 million ). However, the forecast indicators are not good because new orders fell by 13% at the end of September 2023. The slowdown in orders could be explained by inflation, the rise in interest rates, and more prudent management of their cash flow by companies (half of the market). If Stellantis (Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Opel, Jeep) remains the leader of the French market, with a market share greater than 28%, the Renault group (Renault, Dacia, Alpine) benefited from good performances in October 2023, with almost 31% additional new registrations over one year. The French group represents 24.6% of the private car market.