(AOF) – Stellantis and Samsung SDI today announced that they have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the construction of a second battery production plant in the United States, as part of their existing joint venture StarPlus Energy. The plant, scheduled to start in 2027, will have an initial annual production capacity of 34 gigawatt hours (GWh). In May 2022, Stellantis and Samsung SDI announced plans to build a first battery manufacturing plant in Kokomo, Indiana, USA, which is expected to start in the first quarter of 2025.
“This new plant will help achieve our ambitious goal of bringing at least 25 new electric vehicles to the North American market by the end of the decade,” said Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis. “We continue to increase our production capacity in the United States in collaboration with our partner Samsung SDI and we are laying the next milestones to achieve our commitment to carbon neutrality by 2038.”
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Key points
– Sixth largest automotive group in the world – 3rd in the United States with 11% market share and 2nd in Europe with 18%, born in January 2021 from the Peugeot-Fiat Chrysler Group merger;
– Turnover of €179.6 billion achieved under 14 brands – Alfa Romeo, Chrysler Citroën, DS, Jeep, Opel, Peugeot, etc. -, mainly in North and South America and in Europe;
– Business model adapting the group to the new uses of motorists and to the electrification of vehicles (world positions in electric vehicles) via digital transformation, the internal culture of performance (high industrial competitiveness) and social responsibility;
– Capital with 4 main shareholders: the holding company of the Agnelli Exor family for 14.4%, the Peugeot family for 7.2%, the Chinese Dongfeng for 5.6% and BPI France for 5.66%, John Elkann chairing the board of directors of 11 members and Carlos Tavares being managing director;
– Sound financial position: €61.3 billion in available industrial liquidity and €61.3 billion in equity, against a debt of €34 billion.
Challenges
“Dare forward 2030” strategic plan:
– maintenance of a balance point at less than 50% of invoicing and operating margins of more than 2 digits,
– doubling of revenues including a quadrupling in the high end, ¼ achieved outside Europe and North America (€20 billion in China) and 1/3 from online sales,
– software strategy of 20 billion in turnover and approximately 40% gross margin;
– Innovation strategy:
– increase in battery capacity to 400 GWh,
– combination of fuel cells/hydrogen for large utilities,
– new venture capital fund of €300 million for advanced technologies,
– collaborative ecosystem, with more than 160 co-financed projects and more than 1,000 partners – autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification and state-of-the-art propulsion,
– academies in digital & data and electricity and 9 digital hubs;
– Environmental strategy of carbon neutrality in 2038 via a 50% reduction in 2030 vs 2021:
– 100% electric vehicles in Europe and 50% in the United States;
– new circular economy division – purchase of reconditioner Stimcar, launch of regional circular hubs from 2023, SUSTAINera label – aiming for €2 billion in revenue by 2030,
– investment in the “sustainable” Los Azules copper mine in Argentina,
– Integration of the Share now specialist -5 million customers worldwide;
– Securing the battery ecosystem by 5 giga-companies in Europe and North America and by vertical integration of raw materials;
Challenges
– Reduction of semiconductor shortages by the end of 2023;
– Spin-off from the strategic partnership with Archer in the production of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft;
– Advances in financing activities in the United States and Europe, with high profitability;
– After a 29% increase in revenues in the 3rd quarter, confirmation of the 2022 objective of a double-digit operating margin and positive free cash flow.
– 2022 dividend of €1.34 and buyback of shares for €1.5 billion.
A paradoxical performance
Data from EY highlights that the performance of the world’s top 16 manufacturers was particularly strong in 2021. While the average margin has fallen for three years in a row, from 6.3% in 2017 to just 3.5% in 2020, this margin stood at 8.5% in 2021. This level is a ten-year record. However, the context was particularly hectic for manufacturers, faced with unprecedented shortages of components. Global sales fell by 14% in 2020, the year of the health crisis, to rebound by only 5% in 2021. However, last year, players were able to reap the benefits of their efforts on the structure of their fixed costs.