The globe is on the verge of a potentially disastrous climate disaster. And the only way to avoid that is to reduce emissions. Over the last two years, companies have grown by leaps and bounds in the fight for emissions-free transportation. The electric vehicle revolution is only getting begun.
Here are 5 favorite EV manufacturers to keep an eye on in 2022!
1 - Tesla Motors
Tesla will confront increasing competition in 2022 and beyond, as automakers around the world introduce new electric vehicles. Tesla's Giga Berlin plant in Brandenburg is planned to begin production in the first half of 2022, with 30,000 vehicles delivered. As the economy in Berlin improves, Tesla Shanghai will gradually reduce Model Y exports to Europe, saving more for domestic sales. Model 3 sedans will continue to be exported from Shanghai to Europe.
However, production of the Cybertruck has been delayed until at least late 2022, with volume production not beginning until 2023. Production of the all-electric Semi big-rig truck is also expected to begin soon. The Semi would be the first class 8 vehicle with a payload capability of 80,000 pounds. It would be available in two versions, one with a 300-mile range and the other with a 500-mile range.
The stock soared 76 percent from the beginning of 2021 to an all-time high of 1,243.49 on Nov. 4, however it wasn't a smooth ride. Since Elon Musk polled his Twitter followers on Nov. 6 about selling a 10% share in the company, Tesla stock has dropped dramatically. Since then, Musk sold nearly $13 billion worth of his Tesla stock.
Tesla continues to be the EV behemoth that everyone is chasing. Tesla stock is a long-term winner, with a market capitalization that surpasses that of electric vehicle competitors and even traditional automakers. Tesla's place as a long-term auto industry champion will be cemented if sales continue to soar in 2022, with pricing remaining high despite no new models and much increased competition.
2 - Ford
Aside from brand-new electric versions of its best-sellers, the F-150 and famous Mustang, Ford is also carving out a niche in the hydrogen competition. The Ford Edge HySeries, the world's first-ever fuel cell hybrid plugin electric vehicle, was recently presented.
This year, the stock price of Ford has risen dramatically. The company's share price has risen from $8.52 to $19 since the beginning of 2021, reflecting a more than 100 percent increase in value.
Ford F150 Lightning Model 2022
3 - Rivian
Rivian, a California-based electric car manufacturer, became the latest highly anticipated EV to join the market last month. Ford, for example, spent $820 million for Rivian's Series B and D offerings, as well as $415 million for the electric vehicle maker's convertible debt offering. Ford today has a 12.5% share in Rivian and 10.5 percent of the voting power, thanks to those early investments valued over $13 billion.
Amazon has also jumped on board, investing $1.35 billion in four rounds of Rivian's fundraising and also purchasing $490 million in convertible debt before purchasing 2.56 million shares worth $200 million at the IPO. After the IPO, Amazon holds an 18.5 percent investment in Rivian and 16.9 percent of the voting power.
4 - Li Auto
Li Auto is a Chinese electric vehicle upstart to keep an eye on. Li has adopted a unique approach to the electric car sector, backed by Chinese giants Meituan and Bytedance. Rather of choosing for all-electric vehicles, it offers customers the option of an attractive crossover hybrid SUV. This cutting-edge vehicle can run on gasoline or electricity, easing the burden on drivers who may not have access to a charging station or a petrol station.
Li-Auto's SUV
5 - Apple
Apple is rumored to have set a target of producing a completely self-driving car by 2025, however it has yet to announce a production partner for the project. Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, finally spoke up about the project earlier this year though many aspects remain hazy. It's already close to a $3 trillion valuation.
