Morgan Stanley anticipates significant changes in the electric vehicle strategies of legacy auto companies, the bank said in a note to clients Tuesday.
Analysts at the firm said legacy OEMs are adding loads of US battery capacity but "may not have the EV products (or the capital) to operate them."
They note that Ford Motor (NYSE:F) is building 86 GWh of combined battery manufacturing capacity in Tennessee and Kentucky, while General Motors (NYSE:GM) is planning to build 162 GWh of battery capacity.
"Seen another way, we forecast GM is currently spending around $27 million per day on EVs (R&D + capex) while Ford is spending approximately $22mm per day. Both expenditures account for nearly 100% of each company’s annual profit," the analysts wrote.
The firm believes the significant changes in EV strategies are an effort to lower or share spending levels or to find ways to spread each dollar of battery spend over a greater number of units.