[Due to Declining Exports to the Middle East, Nissan Motor Will Reduce Production] Nissan Motor Co. plans to cut production due to a decline in exports to the Middle East. According to foreign media reports, the company will reduce monthly production at its plant in Kyushu, Japan, by 1,200 units. This decision was made as challenges in the Middle Eastern market have affected Nissan’s overall manufacturing strategy.

Sumitomo Electric Industries announced that its vanadium redox flow battery energy storage system (BESS) and energy management system sEMSAR have been adopted by the Kuroyama Solar Power Plant in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima Prefecture. The project was designed and constructed by Mitaden Co., Ltd., and a completion ceremony for the "Kuroyama Solar Power Generation Facility Project" was held on April 22.

[Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA): National passenger vehicle retail sales in April this year reached a historical high for April] Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the CPCA, stated in an article that in April, national passenger vehicle retail sales reached 1.75 million units, up 14% YoY and down 9.4% MoM. Cumulative retail sales since the beginning of the year totaled 6.88 million units, up 7.9% YoY. In previous years, domestic auto retail sales followed a pattern of "low in the first half, high in the second half." This year, April retail sales were only slightly lower than the peak of 1.81 million units in April 2018, remaining at a historical high for April over the years. This year, the national trade-in policy was launched early, with subsidies implemented in one step. Market growth was robust at the beginning of the year, leading to relatively mild price wars. The industry's condition improved due to market growth, with April's retail sales YoY growth rate being the highest in the same period of normal years over the past decade. This reversed the characteristic of low retail sales growth in April over the past decade, further weakening the quarterly cyclical fluctuations in the auto market. [National auto trade-in subsidy applications exceed 10 million] According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, as of May 11, 2025, auto trade-in subsidy applications reached 3.225 million, including 1.035 million for vehicle scrappage and renewal and 2.19 million for replacement and renewal. Since the implementation of the auto trade-in policy in 2024, cumulative subsidy applications have exceeded 10 million. (CCTV News) [Nissan abandons plan to build $1.1 billion EV battery plant in Japan] Nissan Motor announced on May 9 that it would abandon plans to build a $1.1 billion EV battery plant on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu. Nissan stated that it is taking actions to turn around its business and exploring all options to restore performance. In January this year, Nissan had announced plans to build an LFP battery plant in Kitakyushu City, investing 153.3 billion yen (approximately $1.05 billion) and creating about 500 jobs. [Lopal: Changzhou Liyuan and Nanjing Liyuan sign sales contracts for LFP cathode materials worth over 5 billion yuan] Lopal (603906.SH) announced that its controlled subsidiary Changzhou Liyuan and controlled grand subsidiary Nanjing Liyuan, together with Cornex New Energy Co., Ltd.'s wholly-owned subsidiaries Cornex New Energy Co., Ltd. (Wuhan), Cornex New Energy Co., Ltd. (Xiaogan), and Cornex New Energy Co., Ltd. (Yichang), jointly signed the "Strategic Cooperation Agreement for Production Material Procurement" and "Supplementary Agreement." It is expected that from 2025 to 2029, Changzhou Liyuan and Nanjing Liyuan will sell a total of 150,000 mt of LFP cathode materials to the buyers, with total sales expected to exceed 5 billion yuan. [Institution: China's power battery installations in April reached 54.1 GWh, up 52.8% YoY] The China Industrial Innovation Alliance for Power Batteries released data showing that in April, China's power battery installations reached 54.1 GWh, down 4.3% MoM and up 52.8% YoY.Among them, battery installations of ternary batteries reached 9.3 GWh, accounting for 17.2% of total installations, down 7.0% MoM and 6.3% YoY. Battery installations of LFP batteries reached 44.8 GWh, accounting for 82.8% of total installations, down 3.8% MoM and up 75.9% YoY. From January to April, cumulative battery installations of power batteries in China reached 184.3 GWh, up 52.8% YoY on a cumulative basis. [Tianhong Lithium: Will Continue to Broaden Product Structure] Tianhong Lithium released a record of investor relations activities, stating that the company will always adhere to an innovative development approach, closely align with national strategies and industry development trends, and actively respond to the ever-changing global trade landscape by leveraging years of accumulated industry experience and its own competitive advantages to enhance its position in the industry. Meanwhile, the company will continue to broaden its product structure, strengthen R&D investment and talent cultivation, improve its strategic layout, and promote the company's sustainable development. 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【Nissan Abandons Plan to Build US$1.1 Billion EV Battery Plant in Japan】Nissan Motor announced on May 9 that it would abandon plans to build a US$1.1 billion electric vehicle (EV) battery plant on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu. Nissan stated that it is taking actions to turn losses into profits and exploring all options to restore performance. In January this year, Nissan had announced plans to build a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Kitakyushu City, with an investment of 153.3 billion yen (approximately US$1.05 billion), creating around 500 jobs.

[SMM Analysis] On January 22, 2025, Nissan Motor Corporation announced plans to build an LFP battery factory in the Hibikinada area of Wakamatsu Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. This project is a key part of Nissan's electrification strategy, aiming to reduce costs and enhance market competitiveness through in-house battery production.

[SMM Analysis] On January 22, 2025, Nissan Motor Corporation announced plans to build an LFP battery factory in the Hibikinada area of Wakamatsu Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. This project is a key part of Nissan's electrification strategy, aiming to reduce costs and enhance market competitiveness through in-house battery production.

[Planned Investment of 7 Billion Yuan! Nissan to Build Battery Factory in Japan] SMM has learned that on January 22, Nissan Motor signed an agreement with Fukuoka Prefecture, Kitakyushu City, and Kitakyushu City to construct a battery factory in the Wakamatsu District of Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, with a planned capacity of 5GWh. It is understood that the project, undertaken by Nissan Motor, will be located in the Hibikinada area of Wakamatsu District, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, covering a land area of approximately 150,000 m², with a total investment of 153.3 billion yen (approximately 7.116 billion yuan). Construction is expected to begin in 2025, with production planned for 2028. Nissan stated that the strategic move to build a power battery factory aligns with the growing global demand for EVs, and Nissan aims to increase the proportion of EVs in its total production from 9% to 40% by 2030.

[Planned Investment of 7 Billion Yuan: Nissan to Build Battery Factory in Japan] Nissan has signed an agreement with Fukuoka Prefecture, Kitakyushu City, and Kitakyushu City to construct a battery factory in Wakamatsu Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, with a planned capacity of 5GWh. It is understood that this Nissan project is located in the Hibikinada area of Wakamatsu Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, covering a land area of approximately 150,000m2, with a total investment of 153.3 billion yen (approximately 7.116 billion yuan). Construction is expected to begin in 2025, with production planned for 2028. Nissan stated that the strategic move to build a power battery factory aligns with the growing global demand for EVs, and Nissan aims to increase the proportion of EVs in its total production from 9% to 40% by 2030.

Overnight, the U.S. initial jobless claims data for the week came in lower than expected, easing market recession concerns.

[Toyota plans to build a new electric vehicle battery factory in Kyushu, Japan] Toyota Motor plans to build an electric vehicle battery factory in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. The Japanese automaker hopes to position Kyushu as a central part of its electric vehicle supply chain and an export base for the Asian region. Toyota's goal is to sell 3.5 million electric vehicles globally every year by 2030.