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Regulatory Changes in 2024 Set New Standards for Emissions and Safety, Accelerate EV Adoption

Regulatory Changes in 2024 Set New Standards for Emissions and Safety, Accelerate EV Adoption

Yahoo22-05-2025

The automotive industry is set for transformative changes by 2025, driven by 2024 developments, including automaker and tech partnerships in electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity. The report covers 2024 model launches, production trends, regulations, and investments, shaping future manufacturing and market dynamics.
Dublin, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Top Trends Driving the Global Automotive Market, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The global automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with 2025 projected to bring new developments influenced by key events in 2024.
This report highlights the factors driving this transformation, including important partnerships among automakers, technology firms, and suppliers, particularly in areas such as electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of new model launches for 2024, showcasing advancements in internal combustion engines, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles (EVs), along with their market positioning. Additionally, it analyzes emerging production trends and new manufacturing hubs, offering insights into the future landscape of vehicle manufacturing.
The report examines regulatory changes introduced in 2024, highlighting their impact on emissions standards, safety regulations, and incentives for EV adoption. It also identifies investments that support developments in EV battery manufacturing, infrastructure expansion, and research into sustainable mobility.
This report presents a structured overview of the crucial trends that will define the automotive industry in 2025, equipping stakeholders with insights into market shifts and emerging opportunities.
Key Growth Opportunities:
Expansion of Generative AI Across the Automotive Value Chain
Accelerated Adoption of Alternate Fuels
Expansion of Chinese OEMs into European EV Manufacturing
Key Topics Covered:
Scope and Segmentation
Research Scope
Definition: Vehicle Types
Automotive Industry: 5 Pillars
Transformation
Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow?
The Strategic Imperative 8T
The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Automotive Industry
Growth Opportunity Analysis
Growth Drivers
Growth Restraints
Growth Environment
Top 10 Prediction for the Global Automotive Market in 2025
Key Milestones in the Global Automotive Industry in 2024
Key Global Automotive Partnerships
Global EV Model Launches by Vehicle Segments: 2019, 2022, 2024, and 2025E
Evolution of Light Vehicle (LV) Segments in Global Production: 2022 vs 2025E
Upcoming Model Launches, 2025
Product Launches in 2025: Europe
Product Launches in 2025: North America
Product Launches in 2025: APAC
Global Production Landscape 2024 and Predictions for 2025
LV Production: Regional Snapshot, 2024
Top 6 Countries and Key OEMs in LV Production
Global EV Production Overview, 2024
Key Takeaways for Global Production Overview
Key Investment Focus Areas for Automotive OEMs, 2025
Recent Production-related Investments: Europe
Recent Production-related Investments: North America
Recent Production-related Investments: South America
Recent Production-related Investments: APAC
Global Automotive Investments: Predictions, 2025
Global Automotive Tariffs and Regulations: Impact and Predictions for 2025
Impact of Tariffs in the Auto Industry: Global Overview, 2024
Impact of Tariffs in the Auto Industry: United States, 2024
Impact of Tariffs in the Auto Industry: Europe, 2024
Impact of Tariffs in the Auto Industry: APAC, 2024
Impact of Tariffs in the Auto Industry: South America, 2024
Impact of Tariffs in the Auto Industry: Middle East, 2024
Impact of Tariffs in the Auto Industry: Africa, 2024
Key Predictions in Global Automotive Regulations, 2025
Growth Opportunity Universe
Growth Opportunity 1: Expansion of Generative AI Across the Automotive Value Chain
Growth Opportunity 2: Accelerated Adoption of Alternate Fuels
Growth Opportunity 3: Expansion of Chinese OEMs into European EV Manufacturing
Appendix & Next Steps
Benefits and Impacts of Growth Opportunities
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wlzgcz
About ResearchAndMarkets.comResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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Diplomatic win for UK hosting US-China trade talks
Diplomatic win for UK hosting US-China trade talks

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time36 minutes ago

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Diplomatic win for UK hosting US-China trade talks

Sky News understands that the Trump administration approached the UK government to ask if it would host round two of the US-China trade talks. This is a useful 'diplo-win' for the UK. The first round was held in Geneva last month. News of that happening came as a surprise. The Chinese and the Americans were in the midst of a Trump-instigated trade war. President Trump was en route to Saudi Arabia and suddenly we got word of talks in Switzerland. They went surprisingly well. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent and his Chinese counterpart He Lifeng, met face-to-face and agreed to suspend most tariffs for 90 days. But two weeks later, the Trump administration accused Beijing of breaking the agreements reached in Geneva. Beijing threw the blame back at Washington. On Wednesday, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping spoke by phone. The Chinese claimed this call was at the Americans' request. Either way, the consequence was that the talks were back on track. "I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, trade deal," President Trump said this week. From that call came the impetus for a second round of talks. A venue was needed. In stepped the UK at short notice. Beyond being geographically convenient, UK government sources suggest that Britain is geopolitically in the right place right now to act as this bridge and facilitator. The UK-China relationship is in the process of a "reset". Other locations, like Brussels or other EU capitals, would have been less workable. Crucially too, for the UK, this is also potentially advantageous as it seeks to get its own UK-US trade agreement, to eliminate or massively reduce tariffs, over the line. Talks on reaching the "implementation phase" have been near-continuous since the announcement last month, but having the American principals in London is a plus. Sideline talks are possible, but even the presence of the US team in the UK is helpful. Read more from Sky News:Man wrongly deported from US to El Salvador has been returned to face criminal chargesMore than 40 'narco-boat' drug smugglers arrested in major police sting For all the chaos that President Trump is causing with his tariffs, he has instigated face-to-face conversations as he seeks resets. Key players are sitting down around tables - yes, to untangle the trade knots which Trump tied, but this whole episode has pulled foes together around the same table; it has forced relationships and maybe mutual understanding. That's useful. And for this next round, between superpowers, the UK is the host. Also useful.

Asante Provides Financial and Operating Results for the Quarter Ended April 30, 2025
Asante Provides Financial and Operating Results for the Quarter Ended April 30, 2025

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Asante Provides Financial and Operating Results for the Quarter Ended April 30, 2025

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asante Gold Corporation (CSE:ASE | GSE:ASG | FRANKFURT:1A9 | ('Asante' or the 'Company') announces the filing of its financial statements and management's discussion and analysis ('MD&A') for the three months ended April 30, 2025 ('Q1 2026'). All dollar figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. A summary of the financial and operating results for fiscal Q1 2026 are presented in this news release. For a detailed discussion of results for the first quarter, please refer to the Management's Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR+ at and Asante's website at Dave Anthony, President and CEO stated, 'We are pleased to report a significant ramp up in stripping operations during the first quarter, including the highest quarterly material movement at Bibiani in more than two years. Commissioning of the sulphide treatment plant will advance through July with full operations in August. Production and cost metrics were in line with annual guidance as noted in our recent five year outlook, which envisages growth to over 500,000 ounces per year by 2028 and free cash flow generation of over $2 billion through 2029. We look forward to updating investors on our financing process, which we expect to conclude by the end of July 2025.' Quarter ended April 30, 2025 Summary Financial Results Three months ended April 30 ($000s USD) except as noted 2025 2024 Financial Results Revenue 141,982 114,311 Total comprehensive loss1 (20,038) (16,036) Adjusted EBITDA2 30,664 13,026 Operations Results Gold equivalent produced (oz) 51,912 53,379 Gold sold (oz) 48,190 53,600 Consolidated average gold price realized per ounce2 ($/oz) 2,946 2,133 AISC2 2,971 1,879 Notes:(1) Total comprehensive loss attributable to shareholders of the Company(2) Non-IFRS measure. For a description of how these measures are calculated and a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable measures specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in the Company's financial statements, refer to 'Non-IFRS Measures'. Asante's revenue for the three months ended April 30, 2025 was $142 million, a 24% increase from $114 million in the same period in 2024. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by higher gold prices and partially offset by a lower volume of gold sold. In the three months ended April 30, 2025, the Company realized an average gold price of $2,946 per ounce on the sale of 48,190 gold equivalent ounces, compared to $2,133 per ounce on the sale of 53,600 ounces in the same period in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended April 30, 2025 was $30,664, compared to $13,026 in the same period in 2024. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA reflects gold prices at all-time high only partially offset by a lower volume of gold sold. The Company produced 51,912 gold equivalent ounces for the three months ended April 30, 2025, compared to 53,379 gold equivalent ounces in the same period in 2024. The decrease in gold production in the three-month period ended April 30, 2025 compared to the prior year comparable period was due to lower feed grades at Bibiani. Consolidated AISC increased by 58% for the three months ended April 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 primarily due to additional costs at Bibiani resulting from increased stripping in the Main Pit and lower grade ore. Additionally, higher sustaining capital expenditures at Chirano as well as lower consolidated volume of gold equivalent sold contributed to this increase. Bibiani Mine – Summary of the quarter ended April 30, 2025 Results Three months ended April 30 ($000s USD) except as noted 2025 2024 Waste mined (kt) 11,412 2,472 Ore mined (kt) 558 587 Total material mined (kt) 11,970 3,058 Strip ratio (waste:ore) 20.5 4.2 Ore processed (kt) 581 596 Grade (grams/tonne) 1.33 1.65 Gold recovery (%) 68% 65% Gold equivalent produced (oz) 17,241 19,183 Gold equivalent sold (oz) 16,708 19,363 Revenue ($ in thousands) 46,674 41,309 Average gold price realized per ounce1 2,794 2,133 AISC1 3,693 1,752 Note:(1) Non-IFRS measure. For a description of how these measures are calculated and a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable measures specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in the Company's financial statements, refer to 'Non-IFRS Measures'. Total material mined increased by 291.4% in the three months ended April 30, 2025 compared to the three months ended April 30, 2024. In the three months ended April 30, 2025, ore mined totaled 558,133 tonnes, a 4.8% decrease from 586,536 tonnes in the same period in 2024. The increase in total material mined in the three months ended April 30, 2025 and the decrease in ore mined in the three months ended April 30, 2025 reflects the Company's strategy to reduce the waste strip backlog associated with the expansion of the Main Pit, as well as the continued mining activities at the Russel satellite pit. Gold equivalent ounces produced in the three months ended April 30, 2025 was 17,241 compared to 19,183 in the three months ended April 30, 2024. The decrease in the three months ended April 30, 2025 was due to lower grade plant feed, impacted by draws from low-grade stockpiles whilst operations are focused on reducing the backlog of waste stripping. In addition, results were impacted by a high proportion of sulphide ore processed without the benefit of a sulphide treatment plant, which continues to limit gold recovery. AISC increased to $3,693 per ounce in the three months ended April 30, 2025, compared to $1,752 per ounce in the same period of 2024. The increase was primarily due to elevated stripping requirements, lower grade ore processed, and other higher sustaining capital expenditures. Bibiani Mine – Outlook For the year ending January 31, 2026, the Company plans to execute on its growth strategy which includes: The construction, commissioning, and optimization of the sulphide treatment plant with commissioning expected to begin by the end of Q2 2026, and full operations expected to begin in Q3 2026, significantly enhancing gold recovery. Plant throughput expansions including completion of an upgraded crushing system, which has already started and progressing to plan to achieve a throughput increase from 3.0 Mt/y to 4.0 Mt/y and create a robust crushing circuit. Plant upgrades to the carbon-in-leach ('CIL') plant. Road construction connecting Bibiani to Chirano. Backup generator installation to ensure uninterrupted power to operations and reduced plant downtime. Commencement of underground mining. A definitive feasibility study has been completed, with the underground preparation program that already started targeting start of development in Q4 2026. Full production from the underground mine is planned for 2028, with an anticipated delivery of up to 2.6 Mt/year at an average in situ grade of approximately 3.0 g/t Au above the cutoff grade through 2030. Complete the advanced exploration grade control drilling program at Pamunu, Ayiseru, and Asempaneye to facilitate the development of new satellite pits in 2025, with the goal of improving oxide ore feed and maximizing plant throughput. External financing is being arranged to execute this growth strategy. The Company is currently pursuing various financing initiatives, and although there is no certainty that such financing initiatives will be completed, the Company is confident that it will be able to complete such initiatives in the near term. Subject to the availability of sufficient financing, the Company expects to successfully complete the above initiatives and produce between 155,000 and 175,000 gold ounces at Bibiani in the year ending January 31, 2026, including a significant increase in monthly production in the latter part of the fiscal year following advancement of the planned waste stripping program and completion of the sulphide treatment plant. Chirano Mine –Summary of the quarter ended April 30, 2025 Results Three months ended April 30 ($000s USD) except as noted 2025 2024 Open Pit Mining: Waste mined (kt) 1,742 2,734 Ore mined (kt) 321 612 Total material mined (kt) 2,063 3,347 Strip ratio (waste:ore) 5.4 4.5 Underground Mining: Waste mined (kt) 204 210 Ore mined (kt) 461 460 Total material mined (kt) 665 670 Ore processed (kt) 929 840 Grade (grams/tonne) 1.31 1.47 Gold recovery (%) 86% 86% Gold equivalent produced (oz) 34,671 34,196 Gold equivalent sold (oz) 31,482 34,236 Revenue ($ in thousands) 95,308 73,002 Average gold price realized per ounce1 3,027 2,132 AISC1 2,587 1,951 Note:(1) Non-IFRS measure. For a description of how these measures are calculated and a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable measures specified, defined or determined under IFRS and presented in the Company's financial statements, refer to 'Non-IFRS Measures'. Ore mined from open pit mining decreased by 47.6% in the three months ended April 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Ore mined decreased in the three months ended April 30, 2025, due to decreased ore mining activity as a result of a focus on stripping activities at the Mamnao central, and Aboduabo open pits. Ore mined from underground mining was relatively constant in the three months ended April 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Obra, Suraw and Akwaaba were the contributors of underground material in the three months ended April 30, 2025 whilst development started at Akoti Far South to establish another stopping area, improving flexibility. Ore processed increased by 10.6% in the three months ended April 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The increase was mainly due to greater power availability and realised benefits from plant throughput improvement project initiatives. In the three months ended April 30, 2025, ore grade processed decreased to 1.31 grams per tonne (2024 - 1.47 grams per tonne) due to proportionally more plant feed from low grade stockpiles rehandled in 2025 as opposed to open pit ore in the comparable period. The increased in ore processed, offset by lower ore grades, resulted in marginal increased gold equivalent ounces produced of 34,671 ounces in the three months ended April 30, 2025 compared to 34,196 ounces in the three months ended April 30, 2024. AISC increased to $2,587 per ounce in the three months ended April 30, 2025 compared to $1,951 per ounce in the same period of 2024. This increase was primarily driven by higher sustaining capital expenditures and higher indirect costs associated with production as well as lower volume of gold equivalent sold. Chirano Mine – Outlook For the year ending January 31, 2026, the Company plans to execute on its growth strategy which includes: Execution of process plant projects as planned to improve performance and increase the annual mine production rate to 4Mt/annum. This includes vibrating screen for primary jaw crusher installation, run-of-mine bin refurbishment, apron feeder upgrade, cyclone feed hopper upgrade, carbon regeneration kilns upgrade, mill 2 feed end and half shell replacement, installation of 12-ton acid wash and elution columns, installation of thermic oil heaters, water storage facility construction, TSF1 SE stage 2 raise and TSF3 construction. Underground development of the Akwaaba, Tano and Akoti far south mines to ensure robust underground ore delivery. Development of exploration drifts towards the north to explore and target the reclassification of the resource at Sariehu and Mamnao underground mines and to reaffirm the north mine concept of existing continuity between Obra and Sariehu underground deposits. Start of Aboduabo open pit oxide mining. Ongoing underground exploration projects at the Suraw, Obra and open pit mine life extension projects at the Sariehu/Mamnao area are progressing as planned. The Company expects to produce between 155,000 and 175,000 gold ounces at Chirano for the year ending January 31, 2026. Qualified Person Statement The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by David Anthony, Mining and Mineral Processing, President and CEO of Asante, who is a "qualified person" under NI 43-101. Non-IFRS Measures This news release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS'), including 'all-in sustaining costs' (or 'AISC'), 'earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization' (or 'EBITDA'), and free cash flow. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and should be read in conjunction with Asante's consolidated financial statements. Readers should refer to Asante's Management Discussion and Analysis under the heading "Non-IFRS Measures" for a more detailed discussion of how Asante calculates certain of such measures and a reconciliation of certain measures to IFRS terms. About Asante Gold Corporation Asante is a gold exploration, development and operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and mines in Ghana. Asante is currently operating the Bibiani and Chirano Gold Mines and continues with detailed technical studies at its Kubi Gold Project. All mines and exploration projects are located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and operators, with extensive experience in Ghana. The Company is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghana's Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on the Company's website at About the Bibiani Gold Mine Bibiani is an operating open pit gold mine situated in the Western North Region of Ghana, with previous gold production of more than 4.5 million ounces. It is fully permitted with available mining and processing infrastructure on-site consisting of a newly refurbished 3 million tonne per annum process plant and existing mining infrastructure. Asante commenced mining at Bibiani in late February 2022 with the first gold pour announced on July 7, 2022. Commercial production was announced November 10, 2022. For additional information relating to the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Bibiani Gold Mine, please refer to the 2024 Bibiani Technical Report filed on the Company's SEDAR profile ( on April 30, 2024. About the Chirano Gold Mine Chirano is an operating open pit and underground mine located in the Western Region of Ghana, immediately south of the Company's Bibiani Gold Mine. Chirano was first explored and developed in 1996 and began production in October 2005. The mine comprises the Akwaaba, Suraw, Akoti South, Akoti North, Akoti Extended, Paboase, Tano, Obra South, Obra, Sariehu and Mamnao open pits and the Akwaaba and Paboase underground mines. For additional information relating to the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Chirano Gold Mine, please refer to the 2024 Chirano Technical Report filed on the Company's SEDAR profile ( on April 30, 2024. For further information please contact: Dave Anthony, President and CEOFrederick Attakumah, Executive Vice President and Country Director info@ 604 661 9400 or +233 303 972 147 Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: production, free cash flow and all-in sustaining costs forecasts for the Bibiani and Chirano Gold Mines, estimated mineral resources, reserves, exploration results and potential, development programs, expansion and mine life extension opportunities, completion and timing of plant upgrades, commencement of underground mining, and completion and timing of external financing by the Company. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: the impact of inflation and disruptions to the global, regional and local supply chains; tonnage of mineralized material to be mined and processed; future anticipated prices for gold and assumed foreign exchange rates; the timing and impact of planned capital expenditure projects, including anticipated sustaining, project, and exploration expenditures; risks related to increased barriers to trade, including tariffs and duties; ore grades and recoveries; capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates; our mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour-related disruptions at any of our operations; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for our operations are received in a timely manner; our ability to secure and maintain title and ownership to mineral properties and the surface rights necessary for our operations, including contractual rights from third parties and adjacent property owners; whether the Company is able to maintain a strong financial condition and have sufficient capital, or have access to capital, to sustain our business and operations; and our ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the duration and effect of local and world-wide inflationary pressures and the potential for economic recessions; fluctuations in the price of gold; fluctuations in currency markets; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); risks relating to the credit worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other parties with whom the Company does business; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; employee relations; relationships and claims by local communities; changes in laws, regulations and government practices in the jurisdictions where we operate, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and political, legal or economic developments in countries where the Company may carry on business, including legal restrictions relating to mining, risks relating to expropriation; variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, the Company's inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business and growth strategies, and those risk factors identified in the Company's management's discussions and analysis and the most recent annual information form. The reader is referred to the Company's public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR ( Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the securities exchanges on which the Company is listed, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. 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The only ‘Made in America' smartphone maker has a message for Apple about manufacturing in the Trump tariff era
The only ‘Made in America' smartphone maker has a message for Apple about manufacturing in the Trump tariff era

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timean hour ago

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The only ‘Made in America' smartphone maker has a message for Apple about manufacturing in the Trump tariff era

Todd Weaver has an important message for Apple as it faces growing demands by President Donald Trump to reshore some of its smartphone production: Don't listen to the conventional wisdom. Experts have long said that manufacturing iPhones in the U.S., rather than Asia, as Apple does, would be logistically impossible and ridiculously expensive. But Weaver argues companies can indeed do it successfully, and at a similar or only slightly higher cost—if given several years to navigate the inevitable complications. Weaver should know: His startup, Purism, is among the few, if not the only business, that assembles smartphones in the U.S. In fact, the U.S. pedigree is the main selling point of his company's Made in America device, the Liberty Phone. 'It is challenging to do this in the U.S.,' Weaver acknowledges. 'It's probably the reason I'm the only one.' And yet, he says his company has managed to make it work and has been profitable for the last two years—a real world example of what's possible on a hot-button topic in which political talking points and vested interests often dominate the debate. President Donald Trump recently put U.S. smartphone production in the spotlight as part of his global trade war. On May 23, he used social network Truth Social to publicly attack Apple for importing iPhones into the U.S., rather than making them domestically, and then threatened the company with a 25% tariff if it continued to do so. Whether any of the import taxes will become permanent is unclear given Trump's whiplash decision-making and court challenges by third parties. Still, Apple has long assembled its iPhones overseas, mainly in China, and has resisted relocating any of that production to the U.S. In April, when Trump announced his tariffs, Apple went so far as to shift the sourcing of most U.S.-bound iPhones to India, which faced lower import taxes. U.S. assembly was never publicly mentioned as a possibility. In the past, Apple CEO Cook explained the reluctance by saying the abundance of skilled labor and top-notch suppliers overseas would be difficult to reproduce at home. Weaver's company, of course, is no Apple, which has sold more than 2 billion iPhones globally since introducing the first models in 2007. The devices unleashed a new era in the tech industry in which mobile devices became the prime focus. Purism, in contrast, has sold just tens of thousands of phones since debuting its first model in 2018, according to Weaver. And the company is barely-known outside the world of tech nerds. Its Liberty Phone, manufactured near San Diego, comes with U.S.-made electronics installed on a metal chassis from China. It retails for $1,999. Another phone, the Librem 5, is mostly the same design, except it's made in China with Chinese parts, and costs $799. The company also produces tablet computers, laptops, and servers. Purism pitches its Made in America device as more secure and privacy friendly than those from major manufactures like Apple. Because all the critical parts and assembly are domestic, it's easy to verify that they haven't been tampered with by a foreign adversary that wants to snoop or stuff them with explosives. The phones also run on a Linux-based open source operating system. Anyone with technical know-how who is worried about the security can review the code—unlike with more popular phones, which come with operating systems that can't be easily inspected. Additionally, Purism's phones come with three kill switches that lets users physically disconnect their device from cell service, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, along with its microphone and camera. When turned on, the switches sever the electrical circuit to the features they control and make it impossible for them to be accessed by hackers, Weaver said. Toggling on Airplane Mode, as users often do on more mainstream phones, is less secure, he said, because it's a purely software feature that doesn't cut power to the device's chips. Customers who are especially security conscious can pay extra to have their devices shipped with 'tamper evident tape' on the packaging, among other options, to flag any monkey business during transit. Purism's biggest customers are government agencies, many of which require high security, and individual consumers. The company's clients, Weaver said, include the FBI and the House Select Committee on Intelligence. Weaver said the cost of manufacturing the Purism's two phones is largely the same, despite one being made overseas and the other domestically. The phone that's made in China costs around $600 for parts, manufacturing, and assembly while the U.S.-made one comes in at $650. 'Producing goods in China vs. the U.S. is the same plus or minus 10%,' said Weaver, based mostly on automation. The difference between what Purism charges customers for its two phones is partly due to the higher profit margin the company collects for its U.S.-made device. People who want stronger security are often willing to pay extra for it, Weaver said. It also covers the extra overhead from some customers wanting to verify that Purism's supply chain is secure and the small additional cost of U.S. manufacturing. Purism's assembly line is in Carlsbad, Calif., where up to a dozen workers put together devices. The area is home to a pool of skilled labor thanks to the local defense industry and manufacturing for other mobile carriers. That relatively modest assembly line is a major contrast to the factories that make iPhones, operated by contract manufacturers, mostly in China. Those facilities can be the size of several football fields and employ over 100,000 people who work around-the-clock shifts. Weaver said the U.S. is at a huge disadvantage to China when it comes to skilled workers, who make up a significant part of the workforce in smartphone factories. The only way to reverse the shortage and lay the groundwork for companies to reshore their production is to encourage more people to learn skills that are useful in the manufacturing process, he said. 'If you go over to China you can find buildings and buildings of thousands of electronics engineers. If you look here, you can find maybe five total,' Weaver said. Apple, for example, would risk a catastrophe if it suddenly, in 2026, needed to ramp up staffing in the U.S. to produce millions of iPhones, he said. Training enough people for such a massive undertaking would take years. Weaver said Purism, founded in 2014, took several years to develop its domestic supply chain. The company's small size means it only needs limited quantities of components, which makes it impossible to achieve the economies of scale that come from producing huge numbers of devices. Manufacturing in the U.S. also comes with higher labor costs than in China. But with the help of automation, those extra costs can be kept to a minimum by reserving human labor for tasks performed after production is complete, such as soldering, assembly, repairs, and testing. Apple, on the other hand, would need vast amounts of components to keep its assembly line humming. While the company would likely be able to cut deals with domestic suppliers for most iPhone parts, some, such as high-quality cameras, may be impossible to quickly source in the U.S. and it would therefore have to import them, Weaver said. One analyst has said iPhones could end up costing $3,500 if made in the U.S., to account for the extra costs and hassles. Weaver agrees that it would cost Apple substantially more to produce iPhones in the U.S., if it had to move production quickly. But given enough time, Apple could substantially reduce the cost after developing a new supply chain, finding enough workers, and by relying on extensive automation. For Apple, opening a domestic manufacturing plant would therefore need to be a years' long process, Weaver said. That's why he criticized Trump's tariffs for taking effect almost immediately. Yes, many of those tariffs have since been delayed. But the takeaway for businesses is that they can't plan ahead. And yet, that's exactly what's required for something as complex as shifting manufacturing to the U.S. Trump's tariffs would be far more effective if phased in over many years, Weaver said. In that scenario, companies would have a clear and increasing incentive to reshore production—without being punished right off the bat. Weaver argues his U.S. manufacturing effort is already paying off and that it will gain momentum over time. He hopes the recent scandal involving U.S. officials using the chat app Signal to discuss a military strike against Yemen, and then accidentally inviting a journalist to join them, will help lift sales by encouraging the federal government to focus more on security. Weaver wouldn't get into the specifics of Purism's financials other than to say it has millions in annual revenue and turned profitable in 2023. The Liberty Phone is its biggest seller. Wayne Lam, an analyst with market research firm TechInsights, gave a mixed take on Purism's prospect. In an email, he said: 'They can be a successful niche player, but the odds of success are lower thanks to the bigger brands. They won't be able to compete in the consumer market but government/enterprise/military are all niche markets they can address.' To fund the expansion of his business, Weaver is trying to raise additional investment after taking in $16 million in funding over the years. Some of that money would go to fixing a shortcoming with his phones. Because they don't use Apple's iOS or Google's Android operating systems, they are incompatible with many of the most popular mobile apps like Uber. To get such apps work on its devices, Purism must make technical tweaks for each one. Purism can at least claim one small advantage over the giant companies that dominate the smartphone industry. If Trump's tariffs become permanent, it won't feel much impact from its U.S.-made phone, while the big players and their foreign-made devices could be hammered. 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