Iveco kicks off 2024 by forging two significant alliances in the electric vehicle sector. The first is with South Korean automaker Hyundai for a platform dedicated to electric commercial vehicles weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tons, targeting the segment just below Iveco's Daily. Iveco will leverage Hyundai's Global eLCV platform to develop a model tailored for the European market. The two brands have been collaborating since March 2022 on developing hydrogen-powered vehicles, including the eDaily Fcev and the e-Way Fcev city bus.
The new light-duty vehicle will be battery-powered and feature a low-floor design. The Iveco-branded vehicle will be the first to utilize the new Global eLCV platform. A statement explained that "as part of the collaboration, Hyundai will produce and supply the cab chassis with the Iveco brand for the European market, and the Iveco Group will customize and distribute the complete vehicles exclusively through its sales channels." Iveco will unveil the new model at the IAA in Hannover, scheduled from September 16 to 22, 2024, in Hannover, Germany.
The second major partnership announced by Iveco in January 2024 is with BASF, focusing on the reuse of lithium electric batteries from commercial vehicles. This agreement is part of the 4R strategy – Repair, Refurbish, Reuse, and Recycle – aimed at extending battery life and reducing their environmental impact. Bosch will organize and manage the entire battery recycling process at its plant in Schwarzheide, Germany.
The agreement includes the collection, packaging, transport, and recycling of batteries across various European countries, including France, Germany, and Great Britain. After collection, BASF will mechanically process the batteries into black mass, from which critical raw materials – such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium – can be extracted and recovered for use in the production of new batteries.
