

News
CATL’s $5B North American battery production plans land in U.S., several sites being vetted
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co (CATL) said in March 2021 that it would invest $5 billion into potential electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing sites in North America. CATL is now moving closer to locking in a plant in the United States, according to an exclusive report from Reuters, which said the Chinese battery maker is now vetting sites in South Carolina and Kentucky.
CATL is now in talks to serve BMW AG and Ford Motor Company. BMW and Ford have assembly plants in North Carolina and Kentucky, which makes a potential partnership with CATL both likely and ideal, considering the location alone. Talks are currently ongoing, according to two anonymous sources.
The reports follow CATL’s plans to spend $5 billion in North America to establish a massive cell plant capable of manufacturing 80 gigawatt-hours annually.
South Carolina would provide CATL with the quickest turnaround for battery cell production to begin, which is slated for 2026, if the Chinese battery maker chooses this location for the plant. CATL Chairman Zeng Yuqun said earlier this week that the company was looking to localize production for the companies it supplies batteries for overseas. CATL had started mass production of battery cells for customers in overseas markets, Yuqun said during the company’s earnings call earlier this week. The company was strategizing to lock in its reputation as a major battery supplier to automakers outside of China.
Localizing production would be advantageous to this narrative, but it could also help ease bottlenecks in logistics and raw materials output. The strategy could also be used to cut some costs as CATL announced this week it would be raising prices in Q2.
CATL continues to ramp the output of EV battery cells as the demand for EVs globally continues to increase. Wood Mackenzie, a consulting firm, said CATL is on track to increase cell output by three times by 2025.
Tesla, which has a supply deal with CATL, was not discussed in the report for the potential plants in South Carolina or Kentucky. However, BMW was willing to comment, stating that it was “intensively examining the possibility of establishing a battery factory.” It did not explicitly state it was in discussions with CATL but did say it was in talks with “several partners.” BMW operates an assembly plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and already has a partnership with CATL in Europe. CATL’s first cell manufacturing plant outside China will open in Arnstadt, Germany, later this year and will serve BMW, among other car companies.
The plant is expected to have an initial capacity of 8 gigawatt-hours and cost $1.89 billion.
Ford declined to comment but is relevant as it operates two vehicle assembly plants in Louisville, Kentucky. Ford also has plans to build two battery plants in a joint venture with SK in Glendale, Kentucky.
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News
Tesla announces massive new achievement with 8 million cars produced
Tesla’s 8 millionth car comes just 8 months after it built its 7 millionth car.

Tesla announced a massive new achievement in relation to its automotive division as it has officially built 8 million cars globally.
The 8 millionth car rolled off production lines at Gigafactory Berlin on Friday, the company announced. The car was an Ultra Red Model Y, images show:
Produced our 8 millionth vehicle at Giga Berlin pic.twitter.com/gv1moWhwTH
— Tesla (@Tesla) June 6, 2025
The car comes just about eight months after Tesla built its 7 millionth car at the Fremont Factory last October, a major accomplishment considering the claims of a lack of demand from the media.
Additionally, Tesla was able to achieve this major threshold with a stoppage in production at each of its four production facilities earlier this year. The manufacturing halt was attributed to a production line changeover for the new Model Y crossover.
The car has been the best-selling vehicle in the world for two consecutive years, and the company pausing production for two weeks, yet still managed to produce one million cars in eight months is impressive.
Tesla currently only produces the Model Y at Gigafactory Berlin, but the car is also manufactured at Gigafactory Shanghai, Gigafactory Texas, and the Fremont Factory.
It is the only model to be produced at all four of Tesla’s global manufacturing plants, which span across three different continents.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk and Donald Trump to speak with each other Friday: report
White House aides have scheduled a call between the CEO and U.S. President on Friday.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s feud seems to be thawing, at least to some degree.
As per a recent Politico report, White House aides have scheduled a call between the CEO and U.S. President on Friday.
Musk vs. Trump
Musk turned into a staunch critic of Trump amidst the administration’s efforts to pass the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which the CEO claimed would add trillions to the country’s deficit. Trump, for his part, claimed that Musk turned on him due to the adverse effects of the proposed bill on his companies.
The spat between the two powerful men became so notable that Musk called for the impeachment of Trump on X. He also claimed that Trump was in the Epstein list. The U.S. President, for his part, threatened to cancel billions of dollars worth of government contracts with Musk’s companies such as SpaceX.
Potential Truce
As per Politico, however, White House aides have stepped in to temper the tensions and broker peace between the two powerful men. When asked by the outlet about his ongoing feud with the CEO, Trump reportedly stated that “it’s okay” and that “it’s going very well, never done better.” The U.S. President also highlighted his favorability ratings, stating that his “numbers are through the roof.”
While the CEO was very aggressive against Trump in his X posts, he did back down somewhat after some time. When hedge fund manager Bill Ackman argued that Trump and Musk should make peace for the benefit of the United States, the CEO responded with, “You’re not wrong.” Musk also walked back on his decision to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which is essential to NASA’s operations.
Investor's Corner
Goldman Sachs reduces Tesla price target to $285
Despite Goldman Sach’s NASDAQ: TSLA price cut to $285, Tesla boasts $95.7B in revenue & nearly $1T market cap.

Goldman Sachs analysts cut Tesla’s price target to $285 from $295, maintaining a Neutral rating.
The adjustment reflects weaker sales performance across key markets, with Tesla shares trading at $284.70, down nearly 18% in the past week. The analysts pointed to declining sales data in the United States, Europe, and China as the primary driver for the revised outlook. In the U.S., Tesla’s quarter-to-date deliveries through May fell mid-teens year-over-year, according to Wards and Motor Intelligence.
In Europe, April registrations plummeted 50% year-over-year, with May showing a mid-20% decline, per industry data. Meanwhile, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reported a 20% year-over-year drop in May, despite a 5.5% sequential increase from April. Consumer surveys from HundredX and Morning Consult also shaped Goldman Sachs’ lowered delivery and EPS forecasts.
Goldman Sachs now projects Tesla’s second-quarter deliveries to range between 335,000 and 395,000 vehicles, with a base case of 365,000, down from a prior estimate of 410,000 and below the Visible Alpha Consensus of 417,000. Despite these headwinds, Tesla’s financials remain strong, with $95.7 billion in trailing twelve-month revenue and a $917 billion market capitalization.
Regionally, Tesla’s challenges are stark. In Germany, the German road traffic agency KBA reported Tesla’s May sales dropped 36.2% year-over-year, despite a 44.9% surge in overall electric vehicle registrations. Tesla’s sales fell 29% last month in Spain, according to the ANFAC industry group. These declines highlight shifting consumer preferences amid growing competition.
On a positive note, Tesla is making strategic moves. The Model 3 and Model Y are part of a Chinese government campaign to boost rural sales, potentially mitigating losses. Piper Sandler analysts reiterated an Overweight rating, emphasizing Tesla’s supply chain strategy.
Alexander Potter stated, “Thanks to vertical integration, Tesla is the only car company that is trying to source batteries, at scale, without relying on China.”
As Tesla navigates these delivery challenges, its focus on innovation and supply chain resilience could help it maintain its edge in the electric vehicle market despite short-term hurdles.
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