🚋 Mobility Futures #17

Happy Monday 👋

The newly elected US president proposed tariffs as high as 200% on vehicles imported from Mexico, with potential extensions to imports from Asia and Europe, indicating a significant shift that could disrupt existing EV policies and impact automakers globally. Simultaneously, Joby Aviation and Toyota conducted their first air taxi demonstration flight in Japan, a step towards commercializing Joby's 200 mph electric air taxi. Toyota’s $500M investment supports the aircraft's certification and manufacturing. In Europe, PKP Intercity secured $530M from the EU for modernizing its rail fleet, including new locomotives and upgrades to 248 carriages by 2026. Additionally, the first conversion of methanol-powered container ships has been completed, advancing emission reduction in maritime shipping. In China, DeepRoute.ai received $100M in funding from an automaker to support autonomous driving technology.

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

⚠️ The incoming US president Threatens Automakers with High Tariffs, Reversal of EV Policy. The newly elected US president US President repeatedly warned that he would impose high tariffs of 200% or more on vehicles imported from Mexico, and could also impose tariffs on vehicles from Asia and Europe. This could negatively impact automakers.

🚗 EVs Account for One in Five New Cars Sold in October. New Automotive, an organization, stated that the EV market has grown significantly, with EVs accounting for 20% of new car sales in October, exceeding the level required to comply with the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.

💼 Nissan Announces Major Restructuring Plan. Nissan's CEO announced that the company will cut 9,000 jobs, sell part of its stake in Mitsubishi Motors, and reduce global capacity by 20% to save $3B.  Nissan will also sell 10% of its Mitsubishi Motors stake to realign resources and expand its EV lineup, boosting sales.

🛬 Aviation

✈️ Joby and Toyota Conduct First Air Taxi Flight. Joby Aviation and Toyota completed their first international exhibition flight in Japan, showcasing Joby’s electric air taxi, which can reach speeds of 200 mph. Toyota’s $500M investment will support the aircraft's certification and commercial production.

🚗 CycloTech to Fly BlackBird Flying Car Demonstrator in 2025. CycloTech, a company working on flying cars, plans to conduct the first flight of its BlackBird flying car demonstrator in early 2025.

✈️ Metro Aviation Orders 20 BETA Alia eVTOLs. Metro Aviation, an air medical services operator, ordered 20 BETA Alia eVTOLs, aiming to integrate them into its air medical services for hospital and emergency scene transports. This all-electric aircraft enhances mobility for rural and urban areas, providing zero-emission operations and reduced costs.

🚋 Rail

🚆 $530M for Fleet Modernization and Train Upgrades at PKP Intercity. PKP Intercity, a Polish railway company, received $530M from the European Union to modernize its fleet and upgrade trains, including purchasing new locomotives and improving 248 carriages by 2026 to enhance travel quality.

🚅 Alstom Starts Producing New Electric Locomotives in Kazakhstan. Alstom launched a large-scale project to produce 117 new electric freight locomotives in Kazakhstan by 2028, partnering with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and investing $53M in new service centers.  

🚆 Germany Unveils Hydrogen-Powered Train Superior to Hyperloop. Germany unveiled a hydrogen-powered train that is claimed to be better than the Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation system. 

🚢 Marine

🚢 World's First Methanol-Powered Container Ship Conversion Completed. A large container ship been successfully converted to run on methanol, marking a significant milestone in the maritime industry's efforts to reduce emissions.

⚓️ Maritime Robotics Plots Autonomous Future for Shipping Industry. Maritime Robotics, a Norwegian company, is developing automation technology to enable autonomous maritime operations with crew onboard for increased efficiency and safety.

🛥️ Japan's First Commercial Hydrogen Boat to Set Sail at Expo. Iwatani Corp. announced the completion of a hydrogen-powered boat that will transport passengers during the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo, marking a milestone in Japan's sustainable transportation.

🛠️ 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.

📖 LinkedIn has released its Green Skills Report 2024. The report reveals an 11.6% increase in the demand for green talent this year, outpacing a 5.6% growth in supply. Jobseekers with green skills are hired 54.6% faster, led by the US and Ireland. Demand is largely driven by the utilities, construction, and manufacturing sectors. However, only 1 in 10 women currently have a green skill compared to 1 in 5 men. LinkedIn urges governments to prioritize green upskilling in climate policies, advocating for COP29 to emphasize workforce investment for climate goals.

🌱 Proposition 4 has passed in California. $10 billion in climate bonds have been approved, to combat wildfires and create green jobs. It allocates $1.5B for wildfire preservation and $3.8B for water protection. Community colleges will expand training in clean energy, green construction, water management, and EV maintenance, preparing students for careers in climate resilience. Prioritizing disadvantaged communities, this measure supports workforce development in climate jobs, enhancing California’s environmental and economic future by enabling partnerships between community colleges and green industry employers.

⚡ Bute Energy has launched its Net Zero Skills Strategy. This program is tackling Wales’ green skills gap by engaging students and fostering upskilling partnerships. This initiative addresses the need for 25,000 green roles by 2050, reaching over 7,000 students with workshops, creating internships, and funding advanced education in green fields. Collaborating with Careers Wales and Cardiff University, Bute Energy supports green workforce readiness. Amidst a UK-wide green skills shortfall, this program underscores the critical need to cultivate a workforce prepared for the net-zero transition.

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

🚗 DeepRoute.ai raises $100M from the automaker. DeepRoute.ai, a Chinese autonomous driving technology developer, raised $100M in funding from an unnamed automaker.

💰 Hala Mobility Secures $6M in Pre-Series A Funding. Hala Mobility, an electric vehicle-as-a-service platform, secured $6M in its pre-Series A funding round.

✈️ ATL Partners-backed Aero Accessories acquires Aero Instruments and Avionics. Aero Accessories, a provider of aerospace component maintenance, repair, and overhaul services backed by ATL Partners, acquired Aero Instruments and Avionics.

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