🚋 Mobility Futures #16

Happy Monday 👋

The EU raised tariffs on Chinese EV imports to over 45%, sparking a response from Beijing, which launched investigations into EU product imports. Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving unit, is investing $5.6B to expand its robotaxi services across the US, achieving 150,000 weekly trips, a 50% increase since August. Meanwhile, German flying taxi firm Lilium filed for insolvency for key subsidiaries. In India, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved $815M for railway projects to enhance connectivity across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Bihar. Candela’s P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry launched operations in Stockholm, and autonomous driving firm WeRide raised $440M through its IPO, advancing autonomous mobility.

What's new?
HolonIQ’s new Green Skills Map and Workforce section reveal industry-wide sustainability skills and jobs, as well as workforce development initiatives, supporting upskilling for a sustainable economy.

🚘 Ground Mobility

⚡ EU Hikes Tariffs on Chinese EVs, Risks Beijing Backlash. The European Union increased tariffs on imports of electric vehicles from China to over 45%. As a result Beijing launched probes into imports of EU products in apparent retaliation.

🚗 Waymo's $5.6B Investment to Expand Self-Driving Ride Services. Waymo, Alphabet Inc.'s self-driving arm, is accelerating its robotaxi expansion with a new $5.6B investment. This funding aims to broaden Waymo's self-driving ride-hailing service to more US cities. The service, which now completes 150,000 paid trips weekly—a notable rise of 50% from August—reflects the rapid adoption and scaling of autonomous mobility options.

🚗 China Mandates 30% Electric Vehicles for Government Fleets. The Chinese government issued a notification requiring electric vehicles to make up at least 30% of vehicles used by government entities, to boost domestic demand for EVs.

🛬 Aviation

🚫 German flying taxi startup Lilium files for insolvency. Lilium, a German electric flying taxi developer, officially filed for insolvency for its two most important subsidiaries by filing for self-administration proceedings at Weilheim Local Court.

🚀 Xpeng Aeroht Begins Construction of eVTOL Plant in China. Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car division of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, started building a production facility in Guangzhou, China to manufacture electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with an expected annual capacity of 10,000 units.

✈️ Manta Aircraft and Shenyang Aviation partner for hybrid electric regional flights. Italy's Manta Aircraft and China’s Shenyang Aviation are collaborating to develop the ANN Plus, a hybrid electric VTOL/STOL for regional air mobility, combining helicopter versatility and airplane efficiency. A full-scale model will debut at the 2024 China Airshow, with operations targeted across China and South Asia.

🚋 Rail

🚄 Cabinet Panel Approves Railway Projects Worth $815M. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved two railway projects covering Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar with a cost of $815M to enhance connectivity and infrastructural development in these states.

🚄 BEML to Build Indian High-Speed Trains. Bharat Earth Movers (BEML), an Indian public sector undertaking, was awarded a $105M contract to supply two eight-car trains for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed line.

🚆 Tanzania's First Electric Train Boosts Economic Development. Tanzania's first electric train aims to boost economic development across East Africa by improving connectivity and trade. This initiative underscores the competition between the U.S. and China in investing in Africa's rail infrastructure.

🚢 Marine

🚢 World's First Electric Hydrofoil Ferry Begins Operations. Candela's P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry began its first commercial operation in Stockholm, marking a milestone for sustainable maritime transportation.

⚓️ Ammonia-Powered Cargo Ships to Debut in 2026, Facing Cost and Safety Hurdles. The shipping industry is exploring ammonia as an alternative fuel to reduce its carbon footprint, with the first ammonia-powered cargo ships scheduled to enter service in 2026. However, the adoption of ammonia faces challenges related to cost and safety.

⚓ LNG Shipping Rates Tumble As New Vessels Enter Market. LNG shipping rates have hit multi-year lows and may extend losses going into 2025 due to an influx of new vessels entering the market.

🛠️ Skills and Workforce

HolonIQ is now tracking reskilling and upskilling initiatives critical in bridging workforce gaps. Impact industries are rapidly evolving, fueled by technological advancements, decarbonization, geopolitical dynamics, and socio-economic factors. To that extent, these sectors require considerable workforce/professional development initiatives to enhance workers' capabilities, boost economic growth, and promote social well-being. Read on for this week’s insights.

🌱 UK must address green skills shortfall. The City & Guilds Impact Report 2024 revealed a significant increase in demand for green skills, with the organization providing 13,545 certifications in 2023-24. The report showed particularly strong support among business owners (76%) for investment in ecological, environmental, sustainability, and other ‘green skills’ essential to boosting short- and long-term productivity. More than a quarter of business owners (27%) identified green skills gaps in existing roles. 

📖 Cornwall College Empowers Students with Green Skills. Cornwall College is providing a Pre-16 Green Skills Construction Pathway to GCSE students across Cornwall to equip them with skills for a sustainable future. Partnering with local schools, Cornwall College has rolled out a series of workshops, assemblies, and after-school clubs, offering students a practical introduction to sustainable practices. The program has already generated a range of student-led projects, highlighting the efforts young people are making toward a greener future.

🎓 CHIETA Highlights Skills Development, Green Hydrogen Milestones. The Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority successfully trained and upskilled over 75,000 people in the chemical sector, of which 74% are youth. These people have acquired new skills that will significantly improve their employability and quality of life, contributing to employment creation and entrepreneurial opportunities across the country. 

🏫 Milton Keynes College Group Opens New Green Skills Centre. Milton Keynes College Group has opened a new Green Skills Centre, specializing in skills required to install energy storage systems, electric car charge points, and solar panels. The courses have been designed with significant input from employers including SJD Electrical Contractors & Engineers and solar and electric vehicle specialist Eden.

HolonIQ has launched the Green Skills Map, an open-source framework initiated for the purpose of cataloging, evaluating, and contextualizing the different components of the rapidly expanding field of green jobs. This comprehensive taxonomy will serve as a resource for understanding the full spectrum and complexity of green skills required across various sectors, thereby enabling a cohesive approach toward achieving net zero and decarbonizing the global economy. Green Skills Map spans 11 areas, 54 sub-areas, and 243 green skills clusters. A snippet of the map covering four areas has been included above. Explore the full map on greenskills.org.

💰 Deals of the Week

🚗 WeRide's Successful IPO Raises $440M. WeRide, a leading autonomous driving company, completed its initial public offering (IPO) and raised $440.5M.

🚚 LTL carrier Moran Transportation acquires RMX Freight Systems. Moran Transportation, a less-than-truckload transportation provider, acquired RMX Freight Systems, another company in the same industry.

🚕 Singapore's CityFleet Networks Acquires London's Addison Lee for £269M. CityFleet Networks, a Singapore-based transport firm, acquired Addison Lee, the largest premium private hire and chauffeur operator in London, for $326M.

🚌 BasiGo Raises $42M for Electric Bus Solutions in Africa. BasiGo, a Kenyan company providing electric bus solutions in sub-Saharan Africa, raised $42M in funding.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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