Latest news with #hybridVehicles
Globe and Mail
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
Precious metals: platinum edition
Platinum has recently captured market attention with a notable price breakout, definitively pushing above US$1,100 per ounce, after spending much of this decade rangebound between US$850-$1,100 per ounce. A primary catalyst for this shift in platinum's fortunes lies in the evolving landscape of the automotive industry. For years, the anticipated dominance of electric vehicles (EVs) cast a long shadow over platinum demand, given that approximately one-third to nearly half of its use is in catalytic converters for internal combustion engines. However, a significant pivot is underway. Auto original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are now re-evaluating and scaling back ambitious EV targets, instead placing a renewed emphasis on hybrid engines. Growing demand This may be a considerable boon for platinum, not only because hybrids still incorporate catalytic converters, but critically, these vehicles demand more platinum per unit. The start-stop technology and extended battery-only operation in hybrids mean their catalytic converters often run at lower temperatures, requiring a higher concentration of platinum to maintain optimal efficiency. Beyond the automotive sector, robust jewelry demand is providing substantial support to platinum's price. Historically, a price increase might dampen jewelry sales, but in the current environment, particularly in key markets like China, demand remains strong. A significant factor here is the compelling price disparity between platinum and gold. With platinum currently trading at approximately one-third the price of gold, a substantial gap exists, making platinum jewelry an attractive alternative. This stark difference suggests that jewelry demand is not only supportive of the current breakout but has the potential to further bolster the demand side of the equation. Platinum/gold ratio shifting Adding another layer to this positive narrative is the recent upward trend in the platinum-to-gold ratio. This ratio, which had seen a prolonged decline partly fueled by the 'platinum is dead' narrative linked to EV expectations, is now signaling a change in investor sentiment. The recent movement of platinum outpacing gold suggests that investors are increasingly looking for value beyond traditional safe havens and may be diversifying into platinum as a store of value. In summary, platinum's recent price surge is underpinned by several powerful forces. These include a turn to positive net long positions among traders, a fundamental shift in the auto industry towards hybrid vehicles, sustained strong jewelry demand driven by an attractive price differential with gold, and a notable re-evaluation of platinum's investment appeal relative to gold. Collectively, these factors suggest a robust and potentially lasting upward trajectory for the metal. John Kratochwil, MBA, is Senior Analyst at AGF Management Ltd. specializing in the Materials (ex-Chemicals) and Real Estate sectors. Notes and Disclaimer Content copyright © 2025 by AGF Ltd. This article first appeared in AGF Perspectives. Reprinted with permission. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds, or investment strategies. Commentary and data sourced from Bloomberg, Reuters and other news sources unless otherwise noted. The commentaries contained herein are provided as a general source of information based on information available as of June 10, 2025. It is not intended to address the needs, circumstances, and objectives of any specific investor. The content of this commentary is not to be used or construed as investment advice, as an offer to buy or sell any securities, and is not intended to suggest taking or refraining from any course of action. 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Globe and Mail
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
Ford Stock (NYSE:F) Rises With May Sales Numbers
When legacy automaker Ford (F) first revealed plans to supply all its customers with employee pricing, it was a bold move. A lot of people wondered how it would turn out. And the numbers for May suggest that it went pretty well indeed. Investors were certainly pleased with how it all boiled down, because they sent Ford shares up over 2% in Tuesday afternoon's trading. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter May 2025 brought with it a whopping 16.3% increase in sales against May 2024's numbers. These numbers were led by a 17.2% surge in sales of internal combustion vehicle models. Since these cars are usually the leaders in sales anyway, their surge allowed for a massive gain overall. This was vital, as Ford also posted a 25% drop in the sales of all its electric vehicles. Round things out with a 29% jump in hybrid car sales, and the picture was complete. Admittedly, some of those sales are likely customers front-loading, moving up purchases originally planned for later in the year to take advantage of the employee pricing. And with price hikes likely to come in the second half of the year, future sales may not be so productive. A Captivating Range Those hybrid vehicles are starting to catch a lot of notice, as one report noted that the range on the hybrid F-150 is proving more impressive than imagined. That report found that, despite driving in and around Seattle—which is pretty much a guarantee of stop-and-go urban driving—the vehicle still managed to get around 700 miles on a single tank of gasoline. It certainly helps that the F-150 in question got around 23 miles per gallon, which is respectable for a large-size truck. Throw in the fact the F-150 also has a wallet-busting 30.6 gallon tank—a fill-up for that one would run over $90 in many places—and the longevity of this vehicle becomes almost impossible. Plus, the tester in question reported that the battery life in the vehicle was more than sufficient to keep devices charged while traveling, especially with BlueCruise active. Is Ford Stock a Good Buy Right Now? Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on F stock based on two Buys, 12 Holds and three Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 17.04% loss in its share price over the past year, the average F price target of $9.71 per share implies 4.62% downside risk. See more F analyst ratings Disclosure
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota debuts new software system in revamped RAV4
TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota unveiled its latest RAV4 on Wednesday and said the compact sport utility vehicle would be its first model to feature its Arene software development platform. "The RAV4 marks a start in our journey in building software-defined vehicles," Simon Humphries, Toyota's chief branding officer, said. In the new RAV4, the platform has helped with the development of software powering the new multimedia system's cockpit voice agent and centre display, as well as advanced safety technologies. Launched in 1994, the RAV4 has become one of Toyota's most popular models worldwide, with more than a million vehicles sold last year. Toyota plans to launch the sixth-generation RAV4 in North America, Japan and Europe in the current business year to end-March 2026. It will also have variants with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The plug-in hybrid vehicles will have a battery-only range of 150 km (93 miles). Toyota is considering producing the latest version of the vehicle in the United States instead of an earlier plan to export from Japan and Canada, people familiar with the matter have said, rethinking its supply chains to lessen the hit from U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles. The current version of the RAV4 is made in Kentucky, Japan and Canada. Toyota said at the time it had nothing to announce.
CNA
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- CNA
Toyota debuts new software system in revamped RAV4
TOKYO :Toyota unveiled its latest RAV4 on Wednesday and said the compact sport utility vehicle would be its first model to feature its Arene software development platform. "The RAV4 marks a start in our journey in building software-defined vehicles," Simon Humphries, Toyota's chief branding officer, said. In the new RAV4, the platform has helped with the development of software powering the new multimedia system's cockpit voice agent and centre display, as well as advanced safety technologies. Launched in 1994, the RAV4 has become one of Toyota's most popular models worldwide, with more than a million vehicles sold last year. Toyota plans to launch the sixth-generation RAV4 in North America, Japan and Europe in the current business year to end-March 2026. It will also have variants with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The plug-in hybrid vehicles will have a battery-only range of 150 km (93 miles). Toyota is considering producing the latest version of the vehicle in the United States instead of an earlier plan to export from Japan and Canada, people familiar with the matter have said, rethinking its supply chains to lessen the hit from U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles. The current version of the RAV4 is made in Kentucky, Japan and Canada. Toyota said at the time it had nothing to announce.
Car and Driver
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
View Exterior Photos of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV
Read the Full Story Toyota first introduced a plug-in hybrid version of the RAV4 called the Prime in the previous generation. It was later renamed the RAV4 PHEV, and now the plug-in model is continuing into the new generation with numerous upgrades.
