Globacom Partners Eutelsat To Bring Satellite Broadband To Underserved Nigerian Communities

Audi ends 2020 with the most successful quarter in the company’s history

Transportation

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January 12, 2021

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Audi ends 2020 with the most successful quarter in the company’s history

Over 500,000 cars delivered between October and December
A total of 1.69 million delivered worldwide in a challenging year
New best figures in China: 727,358 cars (+5,4%)
Hildegard Wortmann, Board Member for Sales and Marketing: “We aim for further growth in 2021”

AUDI AG ended 2020 with the most successful quarter-year in the company’s history for cars delivered: between October and December the company supplied 505,583 cars to its customers – more than half a million in a quarter for the first time ever.

In a challenging year, marked globally by restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, Audi delivered a total of 1,692,773 models, a fall of 8.3 percent compared with the previous year. In China, however, the company nevertheless attained new best figures with a total of 727,358 vehicles supplied (+5.4 percent).

Audi ends 2020 with the most successful quarter in the company’s history Brandspurng — Audi e-tron S: Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km: 28.4-26.8 (WLTP); 28,2 (NEDC); Combined CO2-Emissionen in g/km: 0

“Thanks to an extremely strong performance internationally by our team, around the middle of last year we emerged from the first wave of corona. Following a strong third quarter, this made a major contribution to the successful final push in 2020,” says Hildegard Wortmann, Board Member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG.

“The global situation continues to be challenging at present. Nevertheless, for 2021 we have set ourselves ambitious targets, aim to achieve continued growth, and view the future with optimism.”

Through the expansion of digital sales and service offerings, for example, Audi Live consultation, the Four Rings brand has reacted flexibly and successfully to the challenges of the corona pandemic. The ongoing digitalization of sales and experience gained during the first wave of coronavirus in spring have contributed strongly to Audi ending 2020 with the most successful quarter-year in the company’s history.

AUDI AG is continuing its transformation into a provider of sustainable premium mobility and is by some distance the biggest maker of electric vehicles among the three German premium brands.

The successful Audi e-tron model (including the Audi e-tron Sportback) registered a significant increase in demand last year, with the growth of 79.5 percent (47,324 cars) compared with the previous year. The Audi e-tron is the global top seller among electric vehicles made by German premium manufacturers.

In Norway, it is even the best-selling of all models. In Germany, the Audi e-tron (including the Audi e-tron Sportback) was able to more than double its sales volume in the final quarter in comparison with the previous year.

In respect of other models in the range, Audi increased deliveries especially for the Audi Q3 (+18.1% in comparison to the previous year) and the Audi A6 (+11.8%). The high-performance models from Audi Sport were also extremely popular with customers: More than 29,300 cars delivered in 2020 marks a new best, and a clear increase of 16.1 percent compared with the previous year.

In China, Audi supplied more cars to customers last year than ever before. A total of 727,358 automobiles represents a rise of 5.4 percent. The fourth quarter, too, was more successful than any previous period, with 214,467 cars supplied (+7.7%). In the largest market for the Four Rings, rapid economic recovery and high demand for individual mobility led to new record figures.

The development was especially positive for the Audi Q2 (+33.8%), the Audi A6 (+41.1%), the Audi A7 (+142.1%), and the Audi A8 (+13.8%).

In the USA 186,620 deliveries of new cars represented a fall of -16.7 percent year on year. Strong consumer demand and the upward trend towards the close of the year demonstrate that the outlook for 2021 is favourable, however.

Rising demand can be seen in the SUV segment above all: the share of SUVs in 2020 was 66 percent, and in the fourth quarter it rose to as much as 74 percent. Significant impulses came in the year as a whole from the Audi Q3 (+83.9%) and the Audi e-tron (+10%). In the final quarter, the sales performance of the Audi Q5 (+15%) and the Audi Q8 (+11%) was particularly strong.

In Europe, car deliveries declined in 2020 by 19.5 percent to 619,723 units. Nevertheless, the trend was positive for the Audi e-tron (+80.6%, including the Audi e-tron Sportback) and the Audi Q7 (+6.3%).

In the fourth quarter, an upwards trend was already evident again, despite increasing restrictions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic: the delivery of 178,891 cars between October and December was a rise of 2.5 percent compared to the previous year.

In Germany, the company supplied 214,427 cars to customers (-21.1%). In Audi’s home market, demand rose clearly again in the fourth quarter: 61,231 vehicles delivered represented a rise of 9.2 percent.

Vehicles delivered by AUDI AG	Total
	2020	2019	change vs 2019
World	1,692,773	1,845,573	-8.3%
Europe	619,723	769,585	-19.5%
– Germany	214,427	271,613	-21.1%
– United Kingdom	107,892	139,026	-22.4%
– France	45,728	58,241	-21.5%
– Italy	50,060	64,056	-21.8%
– Spain	37,284	50,904	-26.8%
USA	186,620	224,111	-16.7%
Mexico	9,834	12,458	-21.1%
Brazil	6,680	8,269	-19.2%
Chinese Mainland + Hong Kong	727,358	690,083	+5.4%

Control Risks announces the Top 5 Risks for Business in 2021

Business & Economy

Esan Bolaji

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January 12, 2021

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Control Risks announces the Top 5 Risks for Business in 2021

In 2021, the business will face a globally fragmented recovery from COVID-19; now is the time to embrace risk and focus on the rebound

The COVID-19 pandemic, emerging digital threats, climate change and the US-China relationship are among the Top 5 Risks for business in 2021, published today by Control Risks, the specialist global risk consultancy.

The RiskMap 2021 website: www.ControlRisks.com/riskmap

Underpinning these risks, the danger of missing the rebound in a year of multi-speed recovery is a top risk for business in the coming year.

“There’s no doubt that businesses will continue to face considerable disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, but we believe that the opportunities are real and exciting for many companies in 2021,” comments Control Risks CEO, Nick Allan.

All top 5 global risks are present in Africa but play out in unique ways. In some areas, the continent presents a positive break from the more negative global trends, such as in the regional cooperation shown by the continent in its response COVID-19 and the planned launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

Overall, however, 2021 will be a tough year for a continent that will struggle to recover from COVID-19 as fast as much of the rest of the world. Despite many significant opportunities for investors, the markets they are investing in will be ones characterised by significant operational and political uncertainty.

The investors that will achieve success in 2021 are those that understand that Africa’s post-pandemic landscape will be tangibly changed from what came before, presenting different challenges and new opportunities.

The global Top 5 Risks for Business in 2020

The Top 5 risks are released as part of Control Risks’ annual RiskMap report, a global risk forecast for business leaders and policymakers across the world, published today.

1. A world with long COVID

2021 will be a year of uneven recovery as vaccine rollouts create a world of haves and have-nots, with pockets of forever COVID at the bottom of the pecking order. Much of Africa, unfortunately, will be in the have-not category and companies will face prolonged operational uncertainty as localised restrictions are sporadically imposed in response to virus spikes.

Africa’s economic recovery will also be more gradual, as governments with limited fiscal headroom cannot engage in sustained stimulus spending and must instead rely on under-developed private sectors to drive their recoveries.

2. US-China: stabilisation without normalisation

While 2021 should see superficial stabilisation in the US-China relationship, the straining of the international rules-based system seen over the past few years will not go into full reverse. Competition rather than cooperation will remain the norm in international relations.

In this regard at least Africa represents a welcome break from global trends, as 1 January will see the launch of ACFTA, and although full implementation of a continental free trade area will be slow the fact that Africa is moving in that direction when much of the world is not should be attractive to potential investors.

3. Go green or go bust

An inflexion point is coming for the relationship between businesses and climate change in 2021. No organisation can now afford not to take a stance.

The environment is a critical aspect in a broader area of the ESG agenda. Although no African country bar South Africa has made a net-zero pledge to date – without special funding, governments do not view it as a priority – the continent nonetheless has huge renewable energy potential.

Renewable energy projects connected to microgrids make sense in a continent of small population centres spread over huge areas, and the recent liberalisation of energy markets in many countries has opened up multiple opportunities for private-sector investors. Without government backing, however, the investor may ignore these opportunities for the subsidies and support on offer elsewhere.

4. Digital acceleration hits emerging threats

The remarkable increase in connectivity across Africa – in mobile phone penetration, internet penetration, social media use and data traffic flows – has opened up a vast array of new opportunities. This is evidenced by the rapid growth in the African tech sector over the past few years. But this connectivity also brings risks.

Cybercrime has boomed across Africa, from simple scams to sophisticated attacks on critical infrastructure. Criminal and state actors have also engaged in influence operations, spreading misinformation and inflammatory content that poses reputational risks to companies as well as political players.

Companies in Africa, just like the rest of the world, will have to balance the drive for technological innovation with security, integrity and resilience challenges.

5. Missing the Rebound

The coming year will see strong GDP growth in multiple markets, the roll-out of vaccines and a world hungry to start living again. While progress will be faltering, an uplift is coming – do not miss the rebound.

If 2020 was about survival for many companies, 2021 is the time to focus on opportunity. Under the duress of COVID-19, many companies have flexed, not broken. Through innovation, rapid technology adoption and streamlining, they have emerged stronger, while weaker competitors have fallen.

Those companies that turn the efficiency gains of 2020 into productivity gains, continue to accurately assess trends and show flexibility in adapting their operations will benefit from the coming surge in demand.

“Governance, policy consistency and rule of law are critical for investors in Africa and deep-rooted challenges remain across the continent in this realm, however, we do see positive change across the region.

Recovery will be an opportunity for governments to address structural constraints and promote new approaches & technologies – the region remains front and centre for many of our clients.

For Control Risks, Africa sits at the heart of our past, present, and future – we continue to invest and see growth across the region” explains Tom Griffin, Partner – Africa and the Middle East, Control Risks.

Why are terms and conditions so complicated?

Opinions

Anifat Ibrahim

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January 12, 2021

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Why are terms and conditions so complicated?

Many people click the “Yes, I Agree” button to terms and conditions (T&Cs) of their mobile applications not because they agree to the T&Cs, but because they want one less thing to worry about as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this has become a pattern among many tech-users.

We can say that people are meant to read these T&Cs, but are the T&Cs presented in ways users can read and comprehend them easily? For instance, a software update on a mobile device comes with a 3-pager T&Cs, saying what?

This is not to say that tech-users are justified for not reading the T&Cs they agree to, but a call on tech companies to be more transparent in their dealings with the users.

Users are not the same. They vary in their level of sophistication, educational status, profession and language abilities. Therefore, the same 3-pager T&Cs easily comprehended by a lawyer may not be easily interpreted by an uneducated person. So, why can’t tech companies keep their T&Cs simple and straight to the point?

In this day of data protection and privacy, tech-users who click the “Yes I Agree” button to T&Cs display some level of trust and loyalty to tech companies. Hence, these tech companies mustn’t break the customers’ trust.

Anifat Ibrahim, Research Associate | Project Management Professional (PMP).

2020 Sukuk Supply Resilient with Momentum to Continue into 2021

Business & Economy

Esan Bolaji

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January 12, 2021

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2020 Sukuk Supply Resilient with Momentum to Continue into 2021

Fitch Ratings – 12 January 2021: Global sukuk supply is expected to accelerate in 2021 following a resilient 2020 as issuers seek to refinance maturing debt and fund large budget needs, Fitch Ratings says. The easing of GCC investment restrictions following the normalisation of relations between Qatar and its neighbours will also contribute to higher volumes.

Innovative and diverse issuances like green, sustainable, transition and hybrid sukuk are likely to continue to attract wider investor demand.

Sovereigns in key Islamic finance jurisdictions are expected to remain major contributors to overall sukuk volumes. Issuance from first-time sovereign issuers, financial institutions and corporates are set to increase as they face challenging conditions and take advantage of the current lower cost of funding.

Qatari sukuk volumes are expected to gradually rise after the normalisation of relations between Qatar and its GCC neighbours, and the eventual easing of investment restrictions for Islamic investors based in countries such as Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Sukuk issuances with maturities of more than 18 months from the GCC region, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey and Pakistan fell slightly by 1.9% y-o-y to reach USD41.3 billion in 2020. The volume of total outstanding Fitch-rated sukuk reached USD118.6 billion, 12.9% higher y-o-y. Green & Sustainable sukuk supply increased sharply by 96.2% y-o-y to reach US$8.4 billion.

However, the rating outlook for sukuk remains challenged. The proportion of sukuk from issuers with Negative Outlooks increased sharply to 23.4% (2019: 1.5%), mainly due to Covid-19-related disruption and low oil prices. Only one international sukuk publicly defaulted in 2020: NMC Health plc (unrated by Fitch). About 81.3% of sukuk were investment grade.

The ICE Benchmark Administration has announced a consultation on the cessation of a number of USD Libor reference tenors being delayed from December 2021 to June 2023, to give extra time for the transition. However, the bulk of the sukuk market is fixed-rate and largely unaffected.

Tesla Stock Skyrocketed by Over 740% in 2020, Sold Nearly 500K Cars

Business & Economy

Esan Bolaji

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January 12, 2021

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Tesla Stock Skyrocketed by Over 740% in 2020, Sold Nearly 500K Cars

Tesla has achieved meteoric growth in market value and stock price in 2020. Over the 12-month period, its market cap increased by over $500 billion year-to-date (YTD).

As a result, it rose higher than the cumulative market cap of the top eight automakers globally. These include Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, GM, Peugeot, Honda and Fiat Chrysler.

According to the research data analyzed and published by Stock Apps, as of January 12, 2021, Tesla’s market capitalization is $834.17 billion. Comparatively, Toyota has a market cap of $213.86 billion, GM has $61.63 billion while Hyundai has $50.94 billion and $48.80 billion for Honda.

Market Cap of the Top Automaker Companies As of January 2021

Tesla Stock Skyrocketed by Over 740% in 2020, Sold Nearly 500K Cars Brandspurng1 — Source: Marketwatch

Fiat Chrysler’s market cap is $36.01 billion, Ford $35.81 billion, Peugeot $24.00 billion and Nissan $20.51 billion.

Moreover, Tesla’s stock price grew by a whopping 743% during the year according to Marketwatch. After opening 2020 at $84.90, it closed at $705.67 on December 31, 2020. As of January 12, 2021, it is trading at $818.50, up by 654.01% over the trailing 12-month period.

Among the key catalysts to this meteoric rise was its addition to the highly coveted S&P 500 index on December 21, 2020.

Wall Street is, however, split on what 2021 has in store for the stock. According to JP Morgan analysts, it will plummet by 87% in 2021 to a value of $90 per share. Goldman Sachs is optimistic, projecting a modest rise to $780 by the end of the year.

Wedbush has a 12-month price target of $715 but gives a bull case price of $1,000. CFRA Research is also bullish with a $750 target. But RBC Capital Markets projects a drop of more than 50% to $339.

Tesla’s Sales Jump by 36% YoY in 2020

The Elon Musk automaker released its sales report for the fourth quarter and the full year 2020 on January 2, 2021. According to the report, the volume of sales made Q4 2020 its best quarter ever.

During the three-month period, it had a total of 180,570 deliveries against Wall Street’s estimate of 174,000. Total production volume for the quarter reached 179,757.

For the full year, there were 499,550 deliveries, narrowly missing the target of half-a-million deliveries. In comparison to 2019, that marked an increase of 36%. Production volume for the full year totaled 509,737, surpassing its goal of 500,000.

The entry-level Model 3 and Model Y crossover dominated the sales, accounting for 86% of all deliveries for the full year. Luxury sedan Model S and the Model X SUV split the remaining 14%.

Tesla Targets $20 Million in Annual Sales

According to the Washington Post, automakers sold around 15.9 million new cars during the year, marking a 4.7% drop from 2019. In that case, Tesla’s nearly 500,000 deliveries make up about 3% of the total.

Furthermore, Tesla’s sales in 2020 were only a small fraction of the volume of vehicles sold by the aforementioned automakers.

GM reported total sales of 2.5 million cars in the US as well as light trucks during the year, down from 2.9 million in 2019. The final quarter of 2020 was the strongest Q4 for GM since 2007, as it sold 771,323 cars in the three-month period.

Toyota’s total car and light truck sales in the US in 2020 amounted to 2.1 million, down by 11% from the previous year. The automaker got a boost from December sales, which shot up by 20% due to robust demand for pickup trucks and SUVs.

Based on a joint forecast by LMC Automotive and JD Power, pickup trucks and SUVs were estimated to account for 79% of total auto sales in 2020. The figure rose from 75% in 2019.

Tesla, however, leads the pack when it comes to plug-in electric vehicles. According to data published by Statista, Tesla Model 3 was the best-selling plug-in electric vehicle globally in 2019. With unit sales surpassing 300,000 in that year, it sat well ahead of second-placed BAIC-EU Series, whose unit sales totaled 111,000.

Similarly, Model 3 was the global best-seller at the end of September 2020. At the time, it had lifetime sales totalling 645,000 according to Inside EVs. The Nissan LEAF was second with 490,000 unit sales while Tesla Model S took the third spot with 305,000.

It is worth noting that while Nissan LEAF has been in the market for about a decade, the Tesla Model 3 is only three years old.

Tesla announced that over the next decade, it plans to achieve an annual sales target of $20 million. By 2023, it plans to sell an EV car at $25,000, which could be a game-changer for the industry.

1,236 Nigerians Die in Road Accidents in Q3 2020 – NBS

Transportation

Esan Bolaji

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January 12, 2021

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The road transport data (Q3 2020) report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data revealed that 3,066 road crashes occurred in the third quarter of 2020.

Major cause of road crashes

According to the statistics bureau, speed violation is reported as the major cause of road crashes in Q3 2020 and it accounted for 57.26% of the total road crashes reported, Wrongful overtaking followed closely as it accounted for 7.11% of the total road crashes recorded while Dangerous Overtaking recorded the least of the total road crashes reported.

People Killed?

Similarly, a total of 1,236 Nigerians got killed in the road traffic crashes recorded in Q3 2020. Out of the total Nigerians that got killed, 1,176 are adults representing 95% of the figure while the remaining 60 Nigerians are children representing 5%.

Gender involved?

976 male Nigerians, representing 79%, got killed in road crashes in Q3 2020 while 200 female Nigerians, representing 16% got killed.

Vehicle types

A total of 4,893 vehicles were involved in road traffic crashes in Q3 2020. Car is reported to be the major type of vehicle involved in road crashes and it accounted for 30.30% of the vehicles involved in road crashes reported followed by Motorcycle and Minibus as they both accounted for 22.60% and 15.50% respectively.

Data on the category of vehicles involved in road crashes in Q3 2020 reflected that 61% of vehicles are commercial (2,987), 37.80% are private (1,849) and 1.10% are government with 56 vehicles involved.

TradeDepot Highlights Smaller Packs And Increased Food Spending As Top Trends That Will Shape Nigeria’s Retail Sector In 2021

Retail - Brick & Click

Esan Bolaji

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January 12, 2021

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TradeDepot Highlights Smaller Packs And Increased Food Spending As Top Trends That Will Shape Nigeria’s Retail Sector In 2021

12 January 2021 – TradeDepot, the B2B eCommerce platform for consumer goods in Africa, has today released new insights from its market data that highlights the trends that will shape Nigeria’s retail sector in 2021.

According to TradeDepot, the impact of the pandemic, rising inflation, border closures and other issues drove significant changes in behaviour for retailers, distributors and manufacturers in 2020.

As the sector settles into the new year, TradeDepot predicts that some of the main trends that shaped 2020 – particularly smaller packaging for consumer goods and increased spending on food and essential goods due to dwindling disposable income and people spending more time at home – will continue to influence behaviour across the market.

The retail sector is the third-largest contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and more than 90 percent of the sector is made up of informal retailers.

TradeDepot has built a network of more than 50,000 micro retailers, working with global distributors and manufacturers like Nestlé, Unilever, GB Foods and Danone to make household supplies such as milk, soap, detergent and other essentials more accessible and affordable.

The top insights from TradeDepot’s data include:

Key trends from 2020

Across the retail sector, the pandemic led to an increase in store owners exploring alternative channels of reaching, acquiring and servicing customers – especially online and social media. Demand for TradeDepot’s services increased by 500%, with a 300% increase in transaction value and volume on the back of the pandemic.
Consumer buying patterns shifted slightly towards more food items, with growth in purchase of food and essentials as opposed to other categories. TradeDepot’s data revealed a 10% increase in the overall contribution of food items to the distribution volumes, compared with 2019.
In the drinks category, the lockdown impacted the ability of manufacturers and distributors to sell into bars, restaurants and clubs, which usually account for up to 60% of their revenue. As a result, many shifted their attention to Mom and Pop, convenience stores etc to cushion the impact
In the detergent category, price increases driven by inflation led many manufacturers to either introduce or expand production capacity for smaller packs (25g, 90g, 190g, etc) to drive more volume in the consumer segment of the market, which accounts for 65% of the market. The pandemic also saw the introduction of more hygiene-related products to help curtail the spread of the virus

What do these trends mean for the Nigerian retail sector in 2021

We foresee manufacturers adapting to rising inflation and dwindling disposable income by extending the trend of smaller packs to other product categories
Manufacturers will explore more alternative route-to-market channels with capabilities to build retail networks and offer logistics-as-a-service to mitigate the risks that come with serving new customer bases
We expect an increase in the number of challenger value brands and new market entrants offering lower-priced products in key categories as consumers get increasingly price-conscious and more eager to experiment with new, lower-priced products.
We also anticipate a rise in products and services designed to help consolidate and improve the industry. There could be more competition higher up in the value chain with more platforms designed to provide auxiliary services like goods packaging and processing etc.
With the pandemic still ongoing, we envisage that people will continue to take a cautious approach to mingle in crowds and will spend more time at home than in previous years, As a result, spending on food and essential goods is likely to increase

Challenges and opportunities for 2021

There are challenges with data aggregation because it is a relatively new discipline in this space but so there’s an opportunity for companies with the right capabilities to capture this and utilise it to cater to the audience. Structured access to short term inventory financing at minimal interest rates will also help stimulate growth
There are also challenges with infrastructure and logistics, which makes it difficult for store owners to meet the demands of the customers and grow their businesses.
Access to working capital is still the biggest challenge most retailers face in trying to grow their business. There has been some progress with financial services for consumers in recent years and there is potential for many of the learnings to be adapted for retailers

According to Onyekachi Izukanne, CEO and Co-Founder of TradeDepot,

“The retail sector is one of the strongest pillars of the Nigerian economy but the absence of data and verifiable insight often makes it difficult to assess the opportunities and challenges that abound in the space.

The sector is also hampered by infrastructure and logistics issues that undermine the efforts of the industrious business owners. With some more support from the government, public institutions and private sector players, there is the potential to transform the Nigerian retail market and achieve a quick win for boosting the nation’s GDP”.

TradeDepot is an end-to-end distribution platform that aims to connect the world’s top consumer goods companies directly to retailers on the streets of Africa’s cities. With a network of over 50,000 micro retailers across Nigeria, TradeDepot’s aim is to build the largest retail distribution network in Africa.

Rolls-Royce & UK Space Agency Launches First Study Into Nuclear Power For Space Exploration

Energy & Power

Esan Bolaji

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January 12, 2021

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Rolls-Royce & UK Space Agency Launches First Study Into Nuclear Power For Space Exploration

Rolls-Royce has signed an innovative contract with the UK Space Agency for a study into future nuclear power options for space exploration. This first contract between both organisations represents an exciting opportunity to define and shape the nuclear power solutions required in space in the decades to come.

Rolls-Royce is the only company in the world with a singular focus on creating mechanical, electrical and nuclear power solutions that will be essential in tackling the challenges of the future. Space is one such challenging and growing sector in which Rolls-Royce believe power, propulsion and thermal management will play a significant role.

Rolls-Royce & UK Space Agency Launches First Study Into Nuclear Power For Space Exploration

Dave Gordon, UK Senior Vice President, Rolls-Royce Defence, said:

“We are excited to be working with the UK Space Agency on this pioneering project to define future nuclear power technologies for space. We believe there is a real niche UK capability in this area and this initiative can build on the strong UK nuclear network and supply chain.

“We look forward to developing this and other exciting space projects in the future as we continue to develop the power to protect our planet, secure our world and explore our universe”

Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “As we build back better from the pandemic, it is partnerships like this between business, industry and government that will help to create jobs and bring forward pioneering innovations that will advance UK spaceflight.

“Nuclear power presents transformative possibilities for space exploration and this innovative study with Rolls-Royce could help to propel our next generation of astronauts into space faster and for longer, significantly increasing our knowledge of the universe.”

Rolls-Royce has a rich heritage in nuclear and is well-positioned to lead this specific work package to define future nuclear power solutions for space.

The multi-domain applicability of emerging nuclear power solutions will mean the options outlined by Rolls-Royce will also have strong commercial and defence terrestrial use-cases, creating world-leading nuclear power capability for multiple markets and operator needs.

Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:

“Space nuclear power and propulsion is a game-changing concept that could unlock future deep-space missions that take us to Mars and beyond.

“This study will help us understand the exciting potential of atomic-powered spacecraft, and whether this nascent technology could help us travel further and faster through space than ever before.”

Innovative power and thermal management alongside novel nuclear technologies, digital capabilities and engineering know-how have considerable application in Space; from the manufacturing and launch of space vehicles to powering the increasing demand for on-orbit activities, in-situ resource utilisation and exploration.

Rolls-Royce has existing, a proven capability in these fields as well as significant experience in electrification and the provision of other high-density and sustainable power solutions, which will all support the growing space sector.

Globeleq Acquires Private Power Generation Company in Nigeria

Energy & Power

Esan Bolaji

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January 12, 2021

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Globeleq Acquires Private Power Generation Company in Nigeria

Globeleq, a leading independent power generation company in Africa, has confirmed it will take a 74% majority equity stake in an existing Nigerian power business called CPGNL Limited (CPGNL), which will be rebranded as Globeleq Power Solutions Nigeria Limited.

The current owner of the business, the Clean Energy Group, will retain the remaining 26% shares. CPGNL has a portfolio of assets which serve commercial and industrial customers mostly in the southwest of Nigeria.

These include 12 operating plants with a total capacity of 58 MW, three plants in construction (9 MW total capacity), as well as approximately 100 MW of projects in development.

The local team’s depth of knowledge will complement the existing expertise at Globeleq and provides an immediate operational presence in the country.

Fabio Borba, Managing Director at Globeleq, who led the transaction, noted:

“This investment demonstrates our commitment to look beyond the conventional generation methods and provide cleaner, more reliable electricity solutions directly to industries in the country. This all helps to produce a flow of capital that supports jobs, improves lives and aids the transformation of the economy.”

Globeleq’s CEO, Mike Scholey added:

“Commercial and industrial manufacturers will have more sustainable options to connect their businesses. Our investment will drive growth and support the Government’s industrialization agenda. We look forward to welcoming the new team into the company and bringing together the best of our organizations.”

Dipi Khilnani, Chairman of Clean Energy Holdings added:

“We are very excited about Globeleq’s entry into the business. We are confident we will deliver competitive, environmentally positive solutions to the growing demand in Nigeria, particularly given Globeleq’s extensive experience and track record across the continent. As a business, we have always had a strong commitment to the development of Nigeria and this investment significantly strengthens our capability.”

Globeleq’s entry will provide additional investment to develop and grow the existing pipeline of projects, drive operational excellence and set up the business towards a low carbon future. Upcoming technical improvements to the existing operations and implementing new technology will focus on efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint by displacing diesel and introducing solar generation elements.

Worldwide PC Shipments Grew 10.7% in Q4 of 2020 and 4.8% for the Year – Report

Telecom & IT

Esan Bolaji

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January 12, 2021

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Worldwide PC Shipments Grew 10.7% in Q4 of 2020 and 4.8% for the Year – Report

Continued Consumer Demand Results in Highest Global PC Market Growth in a Decade

Worldwide PC shipments totaled 79.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2020, a 10.7% increase from the fourth quarter of 2019, according to preliminary results by Gartner, Inc. For the year, PC shipments reached 275 million units in 2020, a 4.8% increase from 2019 and the highest growth in ten years.

“The worldwide PC market saw a strong finish to 2020, recording a third consecutive quarter of year over year growth, although there continued to be supply shortages due to this high demand,” said Mikako Kitagawa, research director at Gartner.

Worldwide PC Shipments Grew 10.7% in Q4 of 2020 and 4.8% for the Year - Report

“Robust consumer PC demand again drove sales, particularly in regions where governments maintain stay-at-home orders as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. Prior to 2020, consumers had been shifting to a phone-first focus, yet the pandemic reversed this trend.

PCs have resurfaced as an essential device as consumers, including younger children, are relying on them to for work, school, socializing and be entertained from their homes.

“Business PC spending was again weaker this quarter, as the urgent purchases for remote work peaked earlier in the year. However, in certain regions like China where economic recovery from the pandemic has already begun, business growth was slightly stronger.”

While Gartner does not include Chromebook shipments in its traditional PC market results, the fourth quarter of 2020 was another remarkable period of growth for Chromebooks, with shipments increasing around 200% year over year to reach 11.7 million units. In 2020, Chromebook shipments increased over 80% to a total of nearly 30 million units, largely due to demand from the North American education market.

The top three vendors in the worldwide PC market remained unchanged from the previous quarter, although Lenovo continued to widen its lead over HP. Reflecting the trend seen throughout 2020, consumer-oriented vendors such as Apple, Acer and Asus gained market share (see Table 1).

Table 1. Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q20 (Thousands of Units)

Company	4Q20 Shipments	4Q20 Market Share (%)	4Q19 Shipments	4Q19 Market Share (%)	4Q20-4Q19 Growth (%)
Lenovo	21,491	27.1	17,713	24.7	21.3
HP Inc.	15,683	19.8	16,155	22.5	-2.9
Dell	13,199	16.6	12,127	16.9	8.8
Apple	6,893	8.7	5,250	7.3	31.3
Acer Group	4,741	6.0	4,035	5.6	17.5
ASUS	4,570	5.8	3,975	5.5	15.0
Others	12,813	16.1	12,493	17.4	2.6
Total	79,392	100.0	71,749	100.0	10.7

Notes: Data includes desk-based PCs, notebook PCs and ultramobile premiums (such as Microsoft Surface), but not Chromebooks or iPads. All data is estimated based on a preliminary study. Final estimates will be subject to change. The statistics are based on shipments selling into channels. Numbers may not add up to totals shown due to rounding.
Source: Gartner (January 2021)

Regional Overview

The U.S. PC market had another strong quarter, registering 20.6% growth year over year. Despite economic and political disruptions in the region throughout the fourth quarter of 2020, the consumer PC market continued to perform well, led by surging mobile PC demand. For the full year, the U.S. PC market experienced its highest growth in 20 years.

“Though many states did not re-issue stay-home orders until December, U.S. consumers continued to largely avoid travel, while many U.S. schools were either closed or ran hybrid online classrooms,” said Ms. Kitagawa. “Therefore, consumer spending shifted to items that could enhance life at home, including PCs.”

HP secured the top spot in the U.S. PC market based on shipments with 28% market share. Dell followed with 25.2% of the U.S. PC market share (see Table 2).

Table 2. Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q20 (Thousands of Units)

Company	4Q20 Shipments	4Q20 Market Share (%)	4Q19 Shipments	4Q19 Market Share (%)	4Q20-4Q19 Growth (%)
HP Inc.	5,323	28.0	4,884	31.0	9.0
Dell	4,792	25.2	4,192	26.6	14.3
Lenovo	3,460	18.2	2,458	15.6	40.8
Apple	2,713	14.3	2,055	13.0	32.0
Microsoft	1,010	5.3	836	5.3	20.8
Others	1,730	9.1	1,352	8.6	28.0
Total	19,029	100.0	15,778	100.0	20.6

Notes: Data includes desk-based PCs, notebook PCs and ultramobile premiums (such as Microsoft Surface), but not Chromebooks or iPads. All data is estimated based on a preliminary study. Final estimates will be subject to change. The statistics are based on shipments selling into channels. Numbers may not add up to totals shown due to rounding.
Source: Gartner (January 2021)

Total PC shipments in EMEA reached 23 million units in the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of 6.9% year over year, while the Asia Pacific reached 25 million units, an 8.3% year over year growth. Consumer demand in both EMEA and Asia Pacific countries was particularly strong. Stabilized business PC spending due to China’s economic recovery also helped drive strong growth in the Asia Pacific.

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Worldwide PC shipments totalled 275 million units in 2020, a 4.8% increase from 2019 (see Table 3). This was the highest annual growth for the worldwide PC market since 2010.

Table 3. Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2020 (Thousands of Units)

Company	2020 Shipments	2020 Market Share (%)	2019 Shipments	2019 Market Share (%)	2020-2019 Growth (%)
Lenovo	68,507	24.9	63,182	24.1	8.4
HP Inc.	58,357	21.2	57,949	22.1	0.7
Dell	45,029	16.4	44,095	16.8	2.1
Apple	22,454	8.2	18,337	7.0	22.5
Acer Group	16,264	5.9	14,743	5.6	10.3
Asus	16,424	6.0	14,449	5.5	13.7
Others	48,111	17.5	49,797	19.0	-3.4
Total	275,147	100.0	262,552	100.0	4.8

Notes: Data includes desk-based PCs, notebook PCs and ultramobile premiums (such as Microsoft Surface), but not Chromebooks or iPads. All data is estimated based on a preliminary study. Final estimates will be subject to change. The statistics are based on shipments selling into channels. Numbers may not add up to totals shown due to rounding.
Source: Gartner (January 2021)

“Despite some supply chain issues at the beginning of 2020, COVID-19 coupled with consistent consumer demand created tremendous growth opportunities for PCs throughout the year,” said Ms. Kitagawa.

“This momentum is likely to continue through at least the first half of 2021, but it remains to be seen if it will sustain in the post-pandemic era as it will depend on the permanency of the changes driving demand.

For instance, online education may continue even after schools open, consumers may still buy groceries online, and some businesses may continue full- or part-time remote work. If these scenarios persist, then PCs will return to consumers’ daily lives as an essential device.”

These results are preliminary. Final statistics will be available soon to clients of Gartner’s PC Quarterly Statistics Worldwide by Region program. This program offers a comprehensive and timely picture of the worldwide PC market, allowing product planning, distribution, marketing and sales organizations to keep abreast of key issues and their future implications around the globe.

Learn more about how to lead organizations through the disruption of coronavirus in the Gartner coronavirus resource centre, a collection of complimentary Gartner research and webinars to help organizations respond, manage, and prepare for the rapid spread and global impact of COVID-19.

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world’s leading research and advisory company and a member of the S&P 500.

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Hildegard Wortmann, Board Member for Sales and Marketing: “We aim for further growth in 2021”

AUDI AG ended 2020 with the most successful quarter-year in the company’s history for cars delivered: between October and December the company supplied 505,583 cars to its customers – more than half a million in a quarter for the first time ever.

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1. A world with long COVID

2. US-China: stabilisation without normalisation

3. Go green or go bust

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5. Missing the Rebound

Many people click the “Yes, I Agree” button to terms and conditions (T&Cs) of their mobile applications not because they agree to the T&Cs, but because they want one less thing to worry about as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this has become a pattern among many tech-users.

Tesla has achieved meteoric growth in market value and stock price in 2020. Over the 12-month period, its market cap increased by over $500 billion year-to-date (YTD).

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The road transport data (Q3 2020) report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data revealed that 3,066 road crashes occurred in the third quarter of 2020.

Major cause of road crashes

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12 January 2021 – TradeDepot, the B2B eCommerce platform for consumer goods in Africa, has today released new insights from its market data that highlights the trends that will shape Nigeria’s retail sector in 2021.

The top insights from TradeDepot’s data include:

Key trends from 2020

What do these trends mean for the Nigerian retail sector in 2021

Challenges and opportunities for 2021

According to Onyekachi Izukanne, CEO and Co-Founder of TradeDepot,

Dave Gordon, UK Senior Vice President, Rolls-Royce Defence, said:

Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:

Globeleq, a leading independent power generation company in Africa, has confirmed it will take a 74% majority equity stake in an existing Nigerian power business called CPGNL Limited (CPGNL), which will be rebranded as Globeleq Power Solutions Nigeria Limited.

Fabio Borba, Managing Director at Globeleq, who led the transaction, noted:

Globeleq’s CEO, Mike Scholey added:

Dipi Khilnani, Chairman of Clean Energy Holdings added:

Continued Consumer Demand Results in Highest Global PC Market Growth in a Decade

Regional Overview

Table 2. Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q20 (Thousands of Units)

COVID-19 Drives Highest Consumer PC Demand in 10 Years

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