Tesla A battery company Materials suppliers have revealed the difficult situation facing electric vehicles. South Korean battery company L&F disclosed that the value of a Tesla battery materials supply contract announced in February 2023 has decreased from 3.83 trillion won (approximately US$2.9 billion) to 9.73 million won (approximately US$7,400), a reduction of 0.025% of the original contract.
This contract was once considered a major step for Tesla to expand its 4680 battery production, but now that this crucial link has encountered problems, it means Tesla... The Cybertruck, which uses its own 4680 battery and relies on it, is facing serious difficulties.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the high-nickel cathode material covered by the contract was originally scheduled for delivery between January 2024 and December of this year, for use in Cybertruck batteries. However, the development of Cybertruck has been repeatedly delayed, and the actual delivery volume has been very limited. In addition, broader policy and economic factors have all affected the final supply situation.
Tesla 's Big Trouble
Tesla CEO Elon Musk once claimed that the 4680 battery was key to halving battery costs and making electric vehicles cheaper, but he later abandoned the plan, and the Cybertruck may be the key to this change.
The sales performance of the Cybertruck has been a major concern in the industry this year. In March, Tesla began offering discounts to boost sales; in June, Tesla further intensified its efforts by introducing a 0% interest rate policy to promote sales.
On the other hand, the Cybertruck's Texas Gigafactory has an annual production capacity of 250,000 vehicles, but its current annual sales are only 20,000 to 25,000 units. In September, Tesla also discontinued production of its cheapest Cybertruck model, further highlighting the electric truck's predicament.
This also casts a dark shadow over the future of the 4680 battery. The 4680 battery is considered a crucial component for Tesla to achieve its goal of affordable electric vehicles, but this type of battery is still difficult to mass-produce, and its only application scenario is a pickup truck with dismal sales.
However, some industry insiders predict that Tesla's future Cybercab taxi may also use 4680 batteries, but this is not enough to make the market optimistic about the battery. The Cybercab is expected to be released early next year, but Tesla has not yet solved the problem of Level 4 autonomous driving, which means that the production of this taxi may be even more limited than that of the Cybertruck.
(Article source: CLS)
