On April 14, data from the CPCA showed that pickup truck production and sales exhibited typical spring ramp-up characteristics, with exceptionally strong momentum at the end of the quarter. In March 2026, pickup truck market sales reached 70,000 units, up 11.7% YoY and up 72.7% MoM, standing at a high level over the past five years. From January to March, sales totaled 161,000 units, up 7.6%. In March 2026, pickup truck production reached 68,000 units, up 9.3% YoY. From January to March 2026, pickup truck production totaled 162,000 units, up 12.3%.

[US Automakers Accused EU of Trying to Block Pickup Truck Imports] According to the UK's Financial Times, US automakers accused the EU of trying to obstruct imports of large pickup trucks from Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis; the US Ambassador to the EU said the rules the EU planned to revise could violate the trade deal reached with the Trump administration.

In recent years, the most common and straightforward framework for assessing demand across the lithium battery value chain has been to anchor it to EV sales. The logic was simple: the more vehicles sold, the stronger the battery demand; conversely, a slowdown in vehicle sales would imply weaker battery demand. This relationship held true in the early stages of the industry, when EV penetration was rapidly increasing, product structures were relatively simple, and battery demand exhibited a strong linear correlation with vehicle sales. However, this linear relationship is now clearly weakening. Increasing evidence suggests that battery demand is no longer solely determined by vehicle sales , but is increasingly driven by multiple factors, including average battery capacity per vehicle, product mix, commercial vehicle electrification, and export dynamics. 1. The “Vehicle Sales = Battery Demand” Formula Is Breaking Down At its core, vehicle sales represent the number of units sold, while battery demand reflects total energy consumption, i.e., total installed battery capacity. These two metrics only move in tandem when the average battery capacity per vehicle remains stable. Once average battery size increases, or when the sales mix shifts across BEV vs. PHEV, passenger vs. commercial vehicles, the direct linkage between vehicle sales and battery demand begins to decouple. As a result, assessing battery demand today requires answering several additional questions beyond headline vehicle sales: What is the average battery capacity per vehicle? Which vehicle segments are driving incremental growth? Are export flows and regional differences amplifying demand volatility? In other words, the industry is transitioning from a “unit-driven” model to an “energy-driven” model . 2. Rising Battery Capacity per Vehicle: The Primary Driver The most direct reason for the decoupling is the continuous increase in battery capacity per vehicle. This trend is driven by three key factors. First, vehicle upsizing. Both in China and overseas, EV consumption is shifting from basic electrification to enhanced user experience. The rising share of SUVs, pickup trucks, larger sedans, and premium vehicles naturally drives higher battery capacity per vehicle. Larger vehicle size, longer range requirements, and higher performance expectations all translate into higher kWh configurations. Second, the range competition is not over. While the industry has moved beyond the most aggressive phase of “range-at-all-costs,” consumers still place strong emphasis on real-world range, low-temperature performance, highway efficiency, and charging convenience. Even amid intense price competition, automakers are reluctant to reduce battery capacity, as it remains a core determinant of product competitiveness. Third, the growth of premium BEVs and heavy-duty applications. Although EV sales growth is expected to moderate going forward, battery demand is still projected to grow at a faster pace, with increasing battery capacity per vehicle being a key contributor. This reflects a critical shift: vehicles may not be selling faster, but each vehicle is consuming more battery capacity. Therefore, relying solely on slowing vehicle sales growth to infer weaker battery demand may significantly underestimate the offsetting effect from rising battery capacity per vehicle. 3. Product Mix Matters More Than Total Sales Volume Beyond battery capacity, changes in product mix are also reshaping battery demand. For instance, selling one million EVs with a higher BEV share will result in stronger battery demand than the same volume with a higher PHEV share, due to differences in battery size. In other words, shifts between different powertrain technologies directly impact overall battery intensity. Globally, this structural divergence is becoming more pronounced. In Europe, policy adjustments have led to a temporary rebound in PHEVs, which dilutes average battery capacity per vehicle. In contrast, China continues to maintain a high share of BEVs and higher-capacity vehicles, supporting stronger battery demand intensity. Thus, evaluating battery demand today requires understanding not just how many vehicles are sold, but what types of vehicles are driving the growth . 4. Commercial Vehicle Electrification: The Most Undervalued Growth Driver If rising battery capacity per vehicle represents the first layer of demand restructuring, then the electrification of commercial vehicles represents the second—and arguably the most underestimated—layer. Passenger EVs typically carry battery packs in the range of tens of kWh, whereas electric heavy-duty trucks, construction vehicles, and specialty vehicles often require 300–600 kWh or more. This means that a single electric truck can generate battery demand equivalent to multiple passenger EVs . Even with a smaller sales base, incremental penetration in commercial vehicles can significantly amplify overall battery demand. Rising oil prices further accelerate this trend by improving the total cost of ownership (TCO) of electric commercial vehicles, particularly in high-utilization, heavy-load, and fixed-route applications. In such scenarios, electrification becomes economically compelling much faster. As a result, while commercial vehicles are not the largest segment by volume, they are likely to become one of the most powerful “energy leverage” drivers of battery demand in the near term. 5. Exports, Inventory Cycles, and Production Scheduling Are Increasing the Mismatch In addition to end-market dynamics, midstream factors such as exports, inventory cycles, and production scheduling are further widening the gap between vehicle sales and battery demand. On one hand, changes in export policies, overseas customer stocking behavior, and shifts in trade flows can either front-load or delay battery and materials production. On the other hand, inventory cycles are once again becoming a central analytical framework. Automakers and distributors are no longer maintaining stable inventory levels; instead, they dynamically adjust stocking based on sales trends and pricing competition. This means that battery production is increasingly influenced by inventory drawdowns, restocking cycles, and order visibility—rather than simply mirroring real-time vehicle sales. Analyst SMM Lithium Battery Analyst Lesley Yang yangle@smm.cn

Ford Motor said on Feb. 17 (local time) that it will introduce a 48-volt electrical architecture for its pickup trucks, a technology commercialized by Tesla in its Cybertruck. The move is part of Ford’s broader plan to invest $5 billion in next-generation battery electric vehicles, as the automaker seeks to improve efficiency, reduce wiring complexity, and enhance overall vehicle performance through updated electrical systems.

[GM Cuts Production Shifts at Canadian Plant, Laying Off Around 500 Employees] General Motors recently announced that it will eliminate approximately 500 jobs in Canada as its Oshawa, Ontario plant reduces one production shift. Previously, Jennifer Wright, a spokesperson for General Motors Canada, stated that starting February 1, the Oshawa vehicle assembly plant would return to a two-shift production schedule, eliminating the temporary third shift that had been added to meet robust post-pandemic demand for pickup truck models and replenish low inventory.

On June 17, 2025, the 2025 SMM (2nd) Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference , hosted by SMM, successfully concluded at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit in Bangkok, Thailand! The conference brought together experts, scholars, corporate representatives, and government officials from the domestic and overseas automotive industries to discuss new trends and models in the development of the automotive industry, share the latest technologies and innovative achievements, promote collaborative development and cooperation within the automotive industry, facilitate the improvement and enhancement of the industry chain, help Chinese automotive industry chain enterprises better understand overseas investment environments, leverage the complementary advantages of various countries and regions in the automotive industry, and jointly support the healthy and sustainable development of the automotive industry! Yossapong Laoonual, Honorary Chairman of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVA) and Director of the Mobility and Vehicle Technology Research Center (MOVE) at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) , stated that Thailand's electric vehicle vision (the 30@30 Policy) sets an ambitious goal of achieving 30% zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the country's total production and 50% in newly registered vehicles by 2030. To achieve this goal, the government provides subsidies to original equipment manufacturers producing cars, pickup trucks, and motorcycles. The planned annual capacity for EVs exceeds 500,000 units, while the actual production in 2024 was 9,688 units, representing a 58-fold increase compared to the entire year of 2023. Although internal combustion engine vehicles still dominate the market, the growth rate of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is very rapid, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 138% for BEVs from 2020 to 2024. By 2024, the market penetration rate of electric four-wheelers had reached 13%. Asst. Prof. Uthane Supatti, Ph.D., Vice Chairman of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) , stated, when referring to the development of charging infrastructure in Thailand, that after 2023, the deployment of charging piles in Thailand has reached a significant turning point. Data shows that the number of charging piles increased by an astonishing 306.2% YoY in 2023. By 2023, the number of charging piles had already surpassed the original target set for 2025. However, there is still significant room for improvement to achieve the 2030 goal, and continued efforts in construction are needed. In addition, Yao Xinying, Director of SMM Steel Product Research , released the SMM Thailand Metal Prices and Thailand Steel Prices to help enterprises identify fair prices and reduce transaction costs. She stated that the Thai manufacturing industry still faces numerous obstacles in price referencing and settlement, such as the lack of authoritative price benchmarks, low price transparency, an imperfect settlement system, and susceptibility to market manipulation. SMM, closely connected with the upstream and downstream of the Thai metal industry chain, has launched the SMM Thailand Metal Prices to facilitate market transactions. Additionally, SMM has specially designed a networking session for automakers, bringing together over a dozen well-known domestic and overseas automakers, including BYD and BMW, to provide dedicated time for supply and demand exchanges between attending guests and automakers, facilitating collaboration discussions! 》Click to view the live video of the conference 》Click to view the live photo gallery of the conference 》Click to view the special coverage of the conference Opening Remarks Speaker: Logan Lu, CEO of SMM 》Click to view details of the on-site speech Guest Speaker Session Speech Topic: Latest Policies in Southeast Asia's Automotive Industry Guest Speaker: Yossapong Laoonual, Honorary Chairman of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVA) and Director of the Mobility and Vehicle Technology Research Center (MOVE), King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) Thailand's EV Vision (30@30 Policy) Thailand's EV Vision (30@30 Policy) sets an ambitious target of achieving 30% zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the country's total production and 50% in new vehicle registrations by 2030. To achieve this, the government is providing subsidies to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) producing cars, pickup trucks, and motorcycles. 2024 Capacity and Market Performance The planned annual production capacity for EVs exceeds 500,000 units, with actual production in 2024 reaching 9,688 units, a 58-fold increase compared to the full year of 2023. Despite internal combustion engine vehicles still dominating the market, the growth rates of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have been very rapid, with BEVs achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 138% from 2020 to 2024. By 2024, the market penetration rate of electric four-wheelers has reached 13%. Infrastructure Development By 2024, the ratio of electric passenger vehicles to charging stations is 28, and the number of DC charging piles has exceeded the 2025 target by 40%. These charging piles are mainly distributed in gas stations, department stores, office buildings, and other locations. Challenges Faced In Thailand's four-wheeled EV market, Chinese OEMs have already taken a dominant position and are benefiting from the 30@30 policy. To enhance the competitiveness of the local automotive industry, local auto parts suppliers should actively integrate into the global supply chain and collaborate with Chinese OEMs to improve price competitiveness and enhance technological capabilities. 》EVA Thailand Shares: Thailand's EV Outlook - Opportunities and Challenges Automotive Brand Building and Differentiation Strategies in the Southeast Asian Market Guan Xin, Deputy General Manager of Changan Automobile's Southeast Asia Division Zhang Cong, General Manager of Geely Radar Thailand Pichayuth Vongpattanasin, Vice President of Omoda&Jaecoo (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Roundtable Discussion: Pathways for Building and Optimizing Localized Supply Chains in Southeast Asia Guests: Martin Knoss, Regional President for Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles, and Off-Road Vehicles in the ASEAN Market Segment, Powertrain Solutions Division, Robert Bosch Automotive Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Peter Klöpfer, Senior Manager, Rutronik Yoshinobu Egawa, Head of China Region, SIIX Corporation Ma Ming, General Manager, Joyson Safety Systems (Thailand) Guan Xin, Deputy General Manager of Changan Automobile's Southeast Asia Division Speech Topic: SMM Thailand Metal Price Launch & Thailand Steel Price Release - Discovering Fair Prices and Reducing Transaction Costs Guest Speaker: Yao Xinying, Director of Steel Product Research, SMM Why Launch SMM Thailand Metal Prices? The Thai manufacturing industry still faces numerous obstacles in terms of price reference and settlement. 1. Lack of an authoritative price benchmark Thailand lacks an independent third-party price publishing platform, resulting in a lack of unified and credible price reference standards for metal trading. This makes it difficult for buyers and sellers to reach fair pricing agreements, exacerbating market price confusion. 2. Low price transparency Due to the absence of professional price information disclosure channels, metal trading price data is scattered and not publicly available. Market participants are unable to obtain timely and accurate market information, increasing the difficulty of price discovery and the risk of trading decisions. 》SMM Thailand Metal Price Launch Event & Thailand Steel Price Release - Discovering Fair Prices and Reducing Trading Costs Roundtable Discussion: Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain - Import and Local Matters (Services, Prices, Landing Support Possibilities) Dong Rujun, Senior Overseas Market Manager, SMM Wu Zhengguo, Operations Director, Taichengfa Co., Ltd. Wu Zhongxian, Deputy General Manager, International Trade Company, CITIC Pacific Special Steel Group Co., Ltd. Bai He, General Manager, RTM International Aluminum Division, Mitsubishi Corporation Yingzhang Liang, Head of Sustainability, Metals & Mining, Asia Pacific, Bloomberg Intelligence Shine Peng, Sales General Manager, FedEx Speech Topic: Accelerating the Development of Thailand's EV Ecosystem Guest Speaker: Asst. Prof. Uthane Supatti Ph.D., Vice Chairman, Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) Transformation of Transportation Modes in Thailand Traditional transportation modes include speedboats, traditional buses, and traditional trains. After improvements, electric taxis, electric buses, and electric motorbike taxis have emerged. Following electrification development, subways, trams, and electric boats have also come into people's view. Thailand's EV Vision - The "30@30" Policy Thailand has set EV adoption and production targets for 2025 and 2030. By 2030, the following goals will be achieved: zero-emission vehicles will account for 30% of Thailand's total vehicle production; zero-emission vehicles will account for 50% of the country's vehicle usage. Passenger Vehicle Production: As of 2024, Thailand's total sedan production reached 1,468,997 units, a YoY decrease of 20%. Among them, passenger vehicle production was 558,440 units, a YoY decrease of 13.5%. Pure electric passenger vehicle production was 9,688 units, a YoY surge of 5,807.3%. 》Current Status of Thailand's EV Industry - How to Accelerate the Development of Thailand's EV Ecosystem? Roundtable Discussion: Accelerated Electrification and Localization Progress of Core Components in Thailand Xiaolong Xu, Deputy General Manager, Inovance United Power System (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Zhibiao Fu, Plant Manager, Shanghai Edrive (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Tongkarn Kaewchalermtong, Chair of the Transport and Logistics Working Group, ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO) Sizhan Chen, Chairman of the Automotive Parts Industry Association, Federation of Thai Industries, and Deputy Secretary General, Thai Auto Parts Manufacturers Association Haofeng, Business Director, Gotion High-tech (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Presentation Topic: Industrialization Breakthrough of Ultra-Thin Soft Magnetic Materials for High-Efficiency Drive Motors Guest Speaker: Lugang Zhan, Executive Deputy General Manager, Hunan Hongwang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (At the speaker's request, this presentation will not be publicly available) Roundtable Discussion: Charging Pile Infrastructure: Unlocking the Last Mile of Southeast Asia's New Energy Revolution Liming Zhao, Overseas Sales Director for Southeast Asia, Teld International Soravis Sithicharoen, Charging Pile Business Head, Gentari Green Mobility Thailand Chavarin Chavarangkul, Charging Pile Head and Sales Director, Innopower Company Limited Presentation Topic: Operational Status of Lithium Carbonate Futures Guest Speaker: Bing Leng, Deputy General Manager, GFEX (At the speaker's request, this presentation will not be publicly available) Presentation Topic: Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC): A Hub of Prosperity Opportunities Guest Speaker: Songwut Apirakkhit, Executive Head of Next-Generation Automotive Sector, Eastern Economic Corridor Roundtable Discussion: Investment Models in Southeast Asia: Pros and Cons of Joint Ventures and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries Weien Lin, Director and Deputy General Manager, Thai Long United Automotive Co., Ltd. Kuixian Lin, Founder of Jiahua Group and CEO of NexV, Sdn Bhd Bin Zhao, President, Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone Development Co., Ltd. June 17 Main Conference Presentation Topic: Rizhao Steel's ESP Automotive Steel Supports Green and Efficient Development in the Automotive Industry Guest Speaker: Xutao Zheng, Deputy Director of Technology and Quality Department, Technical Center Director, Rizhao Steel Holding Group Co., Ltd. (At the speaker's request, this presentation will not be publicly available) Roundtable Discussion: How Southeast Asia's Local Supply Chain Serves European and US Markets Tuan Vi, Vice President of Supply Chain and Logistics for Asia Pacific, Schaeffler Vietnam Sridhar Ramakrishna, Application and Engineering Director, Tenneco Presentation Topic: Smart Logistics Systems and Technologies Facilitating Global Supply Chain Expansion Guest Speaker: Chunlong Jin, Deputy General Manager, Shanghai Boyi International Logistics Co., Ltd. (At the speaker's request, this presentation will not be publicly available) Roundtable Discussion: Potential Synergies in Battery Cell Chemical Materials Across Southeast Asia Logan Lu, CEO, SMM Tony, General Manager, Sunwoda EV Energy (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Rui Liu, Chairman, Innovate (Malaysia) New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. Changxi Jin, Sales Director for Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, Electrolyte Division, Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology Co., Ltd. Shuzhan Yang, Deputy General Manager, BTR New Materials Group Co., Ltd., and Chairman, BTR Indonesia Automaker Demand Matching Session At the 2025 SMM (2nd) Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference , SMM has specially designed a networking session for automakers, bringing together over a dozen renowned domestic and overseas automakers to provide attendees with dedicated time for supply and demand discussions and collaboration opportunities! 》Click to view the list of automakers participating in the exchange meeting Sign-in 》Click to view more highlights from the event With this, the 2025 SMM Southeast Asia (Thailand) Automotive Supply Chain Conference has come to a successful conclusion Thank you for the support of all industry colleagues See you next year! 》Click to view the special report on the 2025 SMM Southeast Asia (Thailand) Automotive Supply Chain Conference