Close menu




February 27th, 2024 | 07:15 CET

BYD, Edison Lithium, Nikola - Electromobility continues to advance

  • Mining
  • Lithium
  • Batteries
  • Electromobility
Photo credits: pixabay.com

The German government's decision to stop the environmental bonus has caused a drastic decline in new registrations of electric cars in Germany. After almost 55,000 battery-powered vehicles in December, the number dropped to 22,500 in the first month of the year. According to ADAC, citing data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, the percentage share of electric vehicles in total new registrations plummeted from 22.6% to 10.5%. By contrast, the situation outside Germany looks considerably more positive. Around 1,120,000 new registrations were registered in the US in 2023, representing a growth of 54%. China remains by far the largest market, with 6.66 million electric vehicles sold, and the growth curve continues to rise at 24%.

time to read: 4 minutes | Author: Stefan Feulner
ISIN: BYD CO. LTD H YC 1 | CNE100000296 , Edison Lithium Corp | CA28103Q2080 , NIKOLA CORP. | US6541101050

Table of contents:


    BYD - Doubles share buybacks

    The Chinese market leader in electric vehicles believes that the share price level is favorable for buying back its own shares. When looking at the current share chart and the generally positive company news, BYD's management could be right. Since reaching the all-time high in June 2022, the share price has halved and is trading close to the annual lows from 2022 and 2023 at USD 24.50. A drop below the striking support level of USD 21.90 would generate a sharp sell signal, potentially reaching the USD 18 zone.

    BYD CEO Wang Chuanfu now wants to take action against the current downward trend and suggested increasing the amount of A-shares to be repurchased as part of a planned buyback to USD 56 million. In addition, local media reported that BYD will announce a target of 4 million units sold for 2024, with a higher sales forecast of 4.2 million given to suppliers, including 2 million all-electric vehicles and 2.2 million plug-in hybrid units.

    In the past financial year, the Company, co-financed by Warren Buffett, sold 3,024,417 vehicles. The technology group intends to achieve this increase primarily by boosting sales of models in the lower-price segment. The Glory Edition for the Qin Plus, the Chaser 05 and the Dolphin have already been launched on the market as more affordable vehicles, and updated versions for the Han and the Tang are due to follow at the end of the month.

    Edison Lithium - Anti-cyclical pearl collector

    In 2023, the number of new battery-powered vehicles exceeded 10 million for the first time, with the global market share climbing to 14%. According to the Statista Research Department, the goal is to have 116 million electric vehicles worldwide by 2030. Compared to 2020, this would mean a tenfold increase. Currently, the automotive supply is dominated by lithium-ion batteries, but interest in sodium-ion battery formulations is increasing significantly among automotive companies and could lead to a shift in the long term. Large companies such as Northvolt, Tesla, and BYD are already experimenting with sodium-ion batteries initially intended for stationary applications.

    The exploration company Edison Lithium is ideally positioned to act as a future supplier of raw materials for the battery industry. The Canadian company focuses on the procurement, exploration and development of cobalt, lithium, alkali and other energy metal concessions.

    To benefit from the increasing demand for sodium-ion batteries, Edison Lithium already secured several concession areas with potential sodium sulphate deposits in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan last year through an agreement with project generator Globex Mining.

    In return, the Company intends to divest most of its lithium activities in Argentina to focus more sharply on North America in the future. Just two years ago, Edison acquired Resource Ventures S.A. for CAD 1.8 million. The subsidiary owns the rights to over 148,000 hectares of lithium brine claims in the renowned South American Lithium Triangle. At the end of 2023, a Letter of Intent was signed with Meteor Energy, which intends to purchase the subsidiary Resource Ventures for USD 5 million, representing a quadrupling of the purchase price. In addition, a subsidiary is to be created before the contract is concluded, into which the Pipanaco claims and one of the LEXI claims, around 20% of the total portfolio, will be incorporated. This ensures that Edison will continue to have lithium deposits in its broadly diversified portfolio. In contrast, the market capitalization of Edison Lithium is just USD 1.58 million.

    Nikola - The next attempt

    Will the crisis-ridden manufacturer of battery and hydrogen-powered trucks still manage a turnaround, or will the lights go out at its headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah? At least there is still hope when looking at the figures for the fourth quarter.

    Nikola's net loss decreased to USD 153.6 million or USD 0.14 per share, compared to minus USD 222.10 million or USD 0.46 per share in the same period last year.

    After adjustment for special effects, the loss per share amounted to USD 0.11, exceeding analysts' average estimates of USD 0.13. Sales climbed by 111.1% to a still low of USD 11.53 million but fell short of the USD 13.2 million forecast by financial experts. Truck production fell from 133 to 42 units, while deliveries rose from 20 to 35 trucks.

    The Company also commented on the recall of forklift trucks announced in August 2023 due to problems with the batteries. It remains on track to deliver the first redesigned electric forklifts with new battery packs to customers by the end of the first quarter. CEO Girsky expects all recalled trucks to be back in the end customer fleets by the end of the second quarter or the beginning of the third quarter.

    However, market participants interpreted the forecast negatively, causing Nikola's share price to plummet into the red. Analysts were forecasting revenues of USD 21 million for the first quarter of 2024. Nikola, on the other hand, forecast revenue of between USD 12 million and USD 14 million.


    BYD sets an example by doubling the buyback program to stop the share's slide. Nikola was able to reduce its net loss in the past financial quarter. Edison Lithium is expanding its portfolio to include sodium deposits, aiming to diversify its supply chain for the battery industry.


    Conflict of interest

    Pursuant to §85 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), we point out that Apaton Finance GmbH as well as partners, authors or employees of Apaton Finance GmbH (hereinafter referred to as "Relevant Persons") may hold shares or other financial instruments of the aforementioned companies in the future or may bet on rising or falling prices and thus a conflict of interest may arise in the future. The Relevant Persons reserve the right to buy or sell shares or other financial instruments of the Company at any time (hereinafter each a "Transaction"). Transactions may, under certain circumstances, influence the respective price of the shares or other financial instruments of the Company.

    In addition, Apaton Finance GmbH is active in the context of the preparation and publication of the reporting in paid contractual relationships.

    For this reason, there is a concrete conflict of interest.

    The above information on existing conflicts of interest applies to all types and forms of publication used by Apaton Finance GmbH for publications on companies.

    Risk notice

    Apaton Finance GmbH offers editors, agencies and companies the opportunity to publish commentaries, interviews, summaries, news and the like on news.financial. These contents are exclusively for the information of the readers and do not represent any call to action or recommendations, neither explicitly nor implicitly they are to be understood as an assurance of possible price developments. The contents do not replace individual expert investment advice and do not constitute an offer to sell the discussed share(s) or other financial instruments, nor an invitation to buy or sell such.

    The content is expressly not a financial analysis, but a journalistic or advertising text. Readers or users who make investment decisions or carry out transactions on the basis of the information provided here do so entirely at their own risk. No contractual relationship is established between Apaton Finance GmbH and its readers or the users of its offers, as our information only refers to the company and not to the investment decision of the reader or user.

    The acquisition of financial instruments involves high risks, which can lead to the total loss of the invested capital. The information published by Apaton Finance GmbH and its authors is based on careful research. Nevertheless, no liability is assumed for financial losses or a content-related guarantee for the topicality, correctness, appropriateness and completeness of the content provided here. Please also note our Terms of use.


    Der Autor

    Stefan Feulner

    The native Franconian has more than 20 years of stock exchange experience and a broadly diversified network.
    He is passionate about analyzing a wide variety of business models and investigating new trends.

    About the author



    Related comments:

    Commented by Nico Popp on October 23rd, 2025 | 07:30 CEST

    Battery metals before the hype? Battery clusters are emerging in Québec: Northern Graphite, Graphano Energy, and General Motors

    • Mining
    • graphite
    • Batteries
    • BatteryMetals
    • Electromobility
    • renewableenergies

    Graphite is a crucial material for battery anodes. Natural graphite, in particular, is in high demand and scores with its unique properties. As China tightens export restrictions on raw materials and focuses on supplying finished batteries, Western automakers like General Motors are growing increasingly concerned about supply security. At the same time, innovation is needed to remain competitive against low-cost Chinese producers. Currently, there is only one operating graphite mine in all of Canada, despite the material's strategic importance. We explain the background and introduce a potential beneficiary that has so far flown under the radar of many investors.

    Read

    Commented by Nico Popp on October 23rd, 2025 | 07:20 CEST

    Next DRONE BOOST ahead: NEO Battery Materials, Kratos Defense, AeroVironment

    • Batteries
    • BatteryMetals
    • Electromobility
    • Defense
    • Technology

    Drones have become indispensable in modern warfare. That much is now clear. NATO and EU countries are therefore pooling considerable resources for unmanned systems: this year, NATO allies decided to increase defense spending to a total of 5% of economic output. Germany alone announced that it would invest EUR 10 billion in drones of all kinds in the coming years. These massive investments underscore that there is no way around drones. To ensure the supply of high-performance drones, battery technology is increasingly coming into focus. China dominates this field and has recently restricted military exports. The up-and-coming Canadian company NEO Battery Materials is closing the gap.

    Read

    Commented by André Will-Laudien on October 23rd, 2025 | 07:15 CEST

    Defense and metals in correction! Enter now with a 100% chance at Almonty, thyssenkrupp, TKMS, Hensoldt, and Mutares

    • Mining
    • Tungsten
    • Defense
    • Technology

    That happened fast. After a temporary surge in defense and metal stocks, investors are taking profits. This is understandable, as some stocks, such as Almonty Industries, had risen by over 1,000% in just 10 months. Now it is time to let the market settle and, with renewed confidence, return to the most sought-after sectors of 2025. Of course, it is recommended to diversify across many regions and sectors, such as AI, high-tech, or precious metals, to keep portfolio volatility low. Here are a few examples that have gained relevance in recent days.

    Read