Iveco Group joins forces with Hyundai Motor Company
Launched ** pure electric light commercial vehicle in the European market
In early February, Iveco Group and Hyundai Motor Company announced that they had signed an agreement to launch an Iveco brand electric light commercial vehicle to the European market based on Hyundai Motor's Global ELCV platform. The new car will be the latest addition to the Iveco Group's range of electric light commercial vehicles, complementing the group's portfolio of light commercial vehicles together with the iconic daily model.
The signing ceremony was held at the headquarters of Hyundai Motor Company in Seoul, South Korea. The signing ceremony was attended by Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle & Hydrogen Business, Gerit Marx, CEO of Iveco Group, and Luca Sra, President of Trucks Division.
Since the establishment of the partnership in March 2022, Iveco Group and Hyundai Motor have achieved tangible results in the field of hydrogen commercial vehicles, jointly launching innovative models such as the eDaily hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle and the e-way hydrogen fuel cell electric city bus. The new agreement not only marks the deepening of the partnership between the two parties, the further expansion of the environmental protection product line, but also demonstrates the firm determination of both parties to accelerate the transition to carbon neutrality in the mobility and transportation sectors.
The new model, which bears the Iveco brand logo, will be the first export model to be based on Hyundai Motor's next-generation global electric light commercial vehicle (ELCV) platform. The platform is designed for 25 tons to 3Built for the 5-ton commercial vehicle, Hyundai Motor's cutting-edge technology for the next generation of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is designed to meet the growing demand for electrified vehicles in the future with an innovative low-floor design that improves cargo loading and transportation efficiency.
Under the agreement, Hyundai Motor will produce and supply the Iveco brand chassis to the European market**, while the Iveco Group will be responsible for the localization and exclusive distribution of the entire vehicle through exclusive sales channels. Based on Hyundai's global electric light commercial vehicle platform, the new car is expected to be unveiled at IAA Transportation 2024, which will be held from September 16 to 22, 2024.
Luca Sra, President of the Trucks Division of the Iveco Group, said: "The unique partnership between the Iveco Group and Hyundai Motor Company is another important step forward. The launch of this new all-electric vehicle is of great significance to logistics operators in the European market, which focus on urban and suburban transport and distribution. We are confident that this agreement will not only enhance our products**, but will also further deepen our relationship with Hyundai and lay the foundation for continued cooperation and sustainable development of society in the future." ”
Ken Ramnrez, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle & Hydrogen Business at Hyundai Motor Company, said, "We are excited to further enrich our product portfolio by leveraging the new all-electric light commercial vehicle platform. We believe that benefiting from Iveco's in-depth knowledge of the European market, our global EV platform will be a transformative force in the EV market and accelerate Europe's quest for a carbon-neutral future." ”
Joining forces: Iveco Group chooses BASF
As the first partner of the electric vehicle battery** project
At the end of January, Iveco Group announced that BASF, the world's leading chemical company and the largest chemical supplier in the automotive industry, became the first partner to provide the Group's lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
This decision is an important part of the Iveco Group's circular economy strategy. Following the environmental philosophy of "repair, refurbishment, repurposing and repurposing" (4R), the Iveco Group wants to significantly reduce the overall environmental impact of commercial vehicle batteries while extending their service life.
According to the agreement, BASF, which recently opened Europe's first battery materials production and battery center in Schwarzheide, Germany, will be responsible for the operation and management of the entire process of Iveco's lithium-ion batteries for electric vans, buses and trucksThe agreement covers the collection, packaging, transportation and reuse of batteries in several European countries, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Once the batteries have been collected, BASF will machine them into intermediate products called "black powder", from which key raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and lithium will be extracted for use in the manufacture of new batteries. BASF will take this opportunity to build a complete battery value chain in Europe and provide the local battery industry with more environmentally friendly and low-carbon metals.
Angela Qu, Chief Chain Officer of the Iveco Group, said: "The focus on the product life cycle is at the heart of the Iveco Group's sustainability strategy. BASF is a perfect fit for us, as its extensive battery collection network and capabilities in Europe enable us to close the loop from used batteries to new ones. Through this partnership, we will work together to promote the development of a circular economy, reduce carbon emissions and advance the Group's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. ”
Dr. Daniel Sch Nfelder, President and Head of Battery Materials & Battery Materials at BASF, said: "This partnership with the Iveco Group marks our first foray into the battery segment for electric vans, buses and trucks, and is a key step in our expansion of the battery business in the commercial vehicle segment. We will support the closed-loop development of the European market with our battery** reuse solutions and ensure that our products meet the stringent policy requirements of the EU battery regulation, with the circular economy at its core. ”
FPT Industrial
Contributing to the construction of the world's longest immersed tunnel
At the end of January, the Iveco Group announced that its powertrain technology brand, FPT Industrial Scientific, would contribute to the construction of the connection to the Femarn Tunnel. With a total length of 18 kilometres, the tunnel will be the longest immersed tunnel in the world and the fastest route between Scandinavia and Central Europe.
FPT Industrial, through its authorized distributor Bimotor, has supplied the F36 Stage V engine for power generation to CGM, a leading generator set manufacturer. The CGM generator sets, powered by this type of engine, are currently in full operation on the large construction site of the Fehmarn Tunnel.
The Fehmarn Tunnel is co-financed by the European Commission and is expected to be completed in 2029. The tunnel consists of 79 standard sections and 10 special sections. The shipment and connection of these sections requires a large amount of reliable, ready-to-use power supply, which is where FPT Industrial engines and the CGM generator sets they drive come into play.
The construction of the Fehmarn Tunnel will contribute positively to the future development of Europe's sustainable transport network, providing the fastest and most direct route between Denmark and Germany, as well as reducing CO2 emissions and alleviating congestion on existing roads and railways. Contributing positively to this transformative project is fully in line with FPT Industrial's strong commitment to sustainability and further highlights the brand's unique strengths in providing power solutions for different sectors.
Heuliez has received a major order for 200 electric buses
In mid-February, Heuliez, a public transport and high-end bus brand under the Iveco Group, received an order from RTM, an urban public transport operator in Marseille, France, to supply its **200 electric buses, with a contract value of up to 12.5 billion euros.
The signing of this important order marks a key step towards the large-scale electrification of Marseille's urban public transport network. More than one-third of RTM's fleet is expected to be 100% electric by 2027, making a significant contribution to the city's energy transition goals.
RTM's choice for the new generation of GX 337 Elec Heuliez buses will be equipped with roof rails that will enable them to be quickly charged in the depot or during operation via a descending pantograph, providing a flexible and efficient solution for urban public transport needs. The first 35 buses are expected to be delivered by the end of 2024, with the remaining vehicles fully delivered by 2027.
Domenico Nucera, President of the Bus Division of the IVECO Group, said: "We are very proud to be a partner in the major electrification project of the city of Marseille and look forward to supporting the city's public transport and its important transformation towards a more sustainable future. The signing of this large contract once again demonstrates that our e-mobility solutions can effectively meet the carbon reduction targets of public transport operators across Europe. ”