SP Member News Roundup – January 2023

SP provides a forum for global automotive manufacturers, their large and small suppliers, the US EPA and other government entities from around the world to work together toward a shared vision of an automotive industry with positive environmental impact.

This monthly series collects recent news and updates through January 2023 highlighting efforts of SP member companies and partners to advance initiatives with positive environmental impact.

• AGC Receives Certification from SBTi for its “WB2°C” GHG Reduction Target. AGC Inc. applied to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets and received certification for “WB2°C (well-below 2°C)”. Learn more.
• Major biomethane supply agreement signed with ENGIE to reduce Arkema’s carbon footprint. Arkema has signed a long-term agreement with ENGIE starting on 1 January 2023, for the supply of 300 GWh/year of renewable biomethane in France. This represents one of the largest private biomethane deals in Europe to date. Learn more.
• Cox Automotive Pilots New Mobile EV Battery Health Tool at Manheim Sites Nationwide. Cox Automotive announced the next phase of its pioneering approach to EV Battery Health scoring and diagnostics. The pilot of Cox Automotive’s EV Battery Health mobile app and Bluetooth® dongle will launch at 10 Manheim locations across the U.S. – Pennsylvania, Southern California, San Francisco, Riverside, Nevada, Dallas, Phoenix, Seattle, Nashville and Portland. Learn more.
• Ford Recognized As Energy Efficiency Innovator At Inaugural Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards. Ford was recognized by the Norfolk Southern Corp. as the top honoree at its inaugural Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards, which honors partner companies who are leaders in the categories of Energy Efficiency, Innovation and Environmental Stewardship, with Ford Motor Company taking a top honor. Learn more.
• Ford Announces New Solar Power Plant As Further Step Towards Achieving Ambitious Sustainability Targets.  Ford is looking to the future with a new solar power plant at its Almussafes manufacturing facilities in Valencia, Spain.  Learn more.
• Ford Releases First Sustainable Financing Report, Update On Allocation And Impact Of Green Bond Investments. Ford Motor Company reported first-year actions guided by the sustainable financing framework the company launched in November 2021. The Sustainable Financing Report 2022 highlights how the net proceeds from the company’s inaugural green bond are being allocated to support the design, development and manufacture of Ford’s electric vehicles and create positive social and environmental impacts in the transition to EVs. Learn more.
• GM and Lithium Americas to Develop U.S.-Sourced Lithium Production through $650 Million Equity Investment and Supply Agreement. General Motors Co. and Lithium Americas Corp. announced they will jointly invest to develop the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, which is the largest known source of lithium in the United States and the third largest in the world. Learn more.
• Honda Releases 2022 North American Environmental Report. Honda released environmental impact data for its North American operations covering the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022. This marks the 18th consecutive year that Honda has issued its North American Environmental Report, outlining the company’s environmental sustainability performance across its products and operations. Learn more.
• Stellantis Partners With DTE Energy to Add 400 Megawatts of New Solar Projects in Michigan Through DTE’s MIGreenPower Program. Stellantis and DTE Energy announced a clean energy commitment to add 400 megawatts of new solar projects in Michigan – enough clean energy to power approximately 130,000 homes annually – through DTE’s MIGreenPower voluntary renewable energy program. Learn more.
• Stellantis and Terrafame Agree on Low-Carbon Nickel Sulphate Supply for Electric Vehicle Batteries. Stellantis N.V. and Terrafame Ltd. announced the signing of a supply agreement for nickel sulphate to be used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Learn more.
• Vulcan and Stellantis Explore Geothermal Energy to Supply Rüsselsheim Plant. Stellantis N.V. and Vulcan Energy Resources Limited have signed a binding term sheet for the first phase of a multiphase project to develop new geothermal projects aimed at decarbonizing the energy mix of Stellantis’ Rüsselsheim industrial site in Germany, which is home to both the DS4 and Opel Astra. Learn more.
• Toyota Launches Updated North American Environmental Sustainability Website, Publishes 2022 Annual Report. TMNA launched an updated website to better highlight how the company strives to build this more sustainable future. The website presents Toyota’s annual North American Environmental Reports as well as feature stories and videos that bring to life the people, partnerships and inside stories of innovation behind the company’s progress. Learn more.
• Toyota Announces Collaboration with Oncor to Accelerate EV Charging Ecosystem. Toyota Motor North America and Oncor Electric Delivery have agreed to collaborate on a pilot project around vehicle-to-grid (V2G), a technology that allows vehicles to flow energy from their battery back onto the electric grid. Learn more.
• Toyota and Lexus Offer Lower Emissions EV Charging Program. Toyota Motor North America has recently entered into an agreement with WattTime to provide certain health and environmental impact data to Toyota and Lexus customers with eligible vehicles to enable them to find ideal charging times to reduce emissions when charging at home. Learn more.
• RMI Launches “Virtual Power Plant Partnership”. RMI announced the formation of the Virtual Power Plant Partnership (VP3). VP3 includes founding members Ford, General Motors, Google Nest, OhmConnect, Olivine, SPAN, SunPower, Sunrun, SwitchDin, and Virtual Peaker. Learn more.
• SP Publishes Updated Carbon Reduction & Reporting Guidance with Support of Leading Automotive Suppliers. The Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) today published an updated version of the guidance document, “Carbon Reduction KPIs, Terms & Definitions,” with the additional support of several leading Tier 1 automotive suppliers. Learn more.
• 2022 SP Progress Report. We are pleased to share the attached brief update highlighting a few of the key activities Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) members worked together to address in 2022. Learn more.

SP members may send their environmental sustainability news to info@supplierspartnership.org for consideration in future news roundups. And, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with the latest SP news and updates.