Hyundai Motor Launches ‘Wage Half Price Plant’

For the first time in 23 years, a finished car plant has started operations in South Korea. The operator is Gwangju Global Motors (GGM). This unfamiliar company was established under the leadership of the city of Gwangju in southwestern South Korea, with Hyundai Motor taking a stake, to specialize in contract manufacturing of small cars. The city of Gwangju, which aims to attract industry and create jobs, and Hyundai Motor, which wanted a plant where production can be outsourced at a low cost, coincided in their intentions.

The site area of 455,000 square meters is lined with three buildings: a pressed car body factory, a painting factory, and an assembly factory. Inside the assembly plant, which measures 340 meters by 140 meters, eight colorful car bodies flow smoothly down a three-dimensional production line.

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Italy’s CNH and China’s FAW in Talks Over Truck Maker Iveco

CNH Industrial is in talks with China’s FAW over the future of truck maker Iveco, the Italian-American group said recently after sources told Reuters it had revived previously aborted negotiations.

Source: Reuters    Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Another positive development in the industry during such a gloomy crisis, FAW fits the merger success story I just mentioned about the few surviving companies.  There are for sure many challenges ahead with the acquisition, particularly after the take-over, but there are so much to celebrate if the deal can be finalized.

Both Europe and China are investing in each other’s market, Scania, MAN, Daimler and Volvo are all setting up new factories or strengthening ties with current partners in China. 

And now we see FAW is putting their focus in the European market by engaging with Iveco.  Both sides have seen potential growth on one another’s market.  European truck makers will bring along new concept and technology to China’s market and likes of FAW will bring along cost saving and localization practices for its European counterparts

This is another sign that Chinese companies are moving more and more of their focus on the overseas markets, we will only see more of this coming in the future.  PSR

Qin Fen is Business Development Manager-China for Power Systems Research

Car OEMs Announce US$ 14.3 Billion Investment in Brazil

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 
Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

In the past three months, the aggregate investments announced by automotive manufacturers in Brazil have reached a total of US$ 14.3 billion. The largest individual investment came from Stellantis, committing US$ 6 billion to the country between 2025 and 2030, marking a record sum among major vehicle manufacturers operating within the nation. A significant portion of this investment will be directed towards the development of flex-hybrid models.

This investment influx began in December, with Renault earmarking US$ 500 million for the production of a new SUV in Paraná, featuring engine variants that blend ethanol, gasoline, and electricity. In January this year, General Motors (GM) unveiled investments totaling US$ 1.4 billion aimed at product rejuvenation.

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Hyundai Plans $14.7 Billion for Software Development

FAR EAST: SOUTH KOREA REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

Hyundai Motor Company is getting serious about developing the software needed for automated driving, etc. It has decided to invest $14.7 billion by 2030 and has begun building a development structure and embarking on M&A.

Hyundai Motor Company has achieved record profits through a shift in strategy in conjunction with a generational change. The company plans to further improve profitability in the software field, where customers can add functions to their cars after purchase. But acquiring human resources will be an immediate challenge for Hyundai.

The “Over the Air (OTA)” function, which updates the latest software via the Internet, will be standard on all new models released in 2023 and after. The plan is to establish a system that allows users to be charged according to function updates. The company will first introduce content such as car navigation systems, audio, lighting, and remote-control functions, and then expand into peripheral areas such as auto insurance policies, to diversify and upgrade services in response to customer needs.

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VW To Inject €2.5 billion into Hefei Base

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

Facing intense competition in China’s new energy vehicle market, Volkswagen has decided to increase investment in its Hefei base. On April 11, Volkswagen announced an additional investment of €2.5 billion in its production and innovation center in Hefei to further strengthen its local R&D capabilities.

It has been reported that this investment will also be used to accelerate the development and production of two Volkswagen brand smart electric vehicle models co-developed with Xiaopeng Motors. Volkswagen revealed that the first model, a mid-size SUV, is planned to enter production in 2026.

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Powersports Market Expected To Exceed US$ 50 Billion

Power Systems Research is forecasting global revenue for the Powersports industry to grow from $31.5 billion in 2020 to US$ 50.91 billion in 2030, a CAGR of 6% over the forecasted period.

Global Powersports Market
All-Terrain Vehicles, Side-by-Side, Powerboats, Snowmobiles and Heavyweight Motorcycles

Drivers-of-Demand. There are many factors driving the global powersports market growth:

  • Increased all-terrain vehicle popularity.
    • These include the rising participation in recreational activities, like surfing, off-road driving, and snowmobiling.
    • According to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association around $36 Billion is spent directly and indirectly on snowmobiling in the US and Canada each year.
    • ATVs have lesser age restrictions, lower maintenance costs, are easier to maneuver due to low vehicle weight and are more affordable
    • Rise in use of powersports to boost adventure tourism traveling to new locations for gaining new experiences, with controlled risk components and personal challenges in wild & exotic environments.
    • People are raising the bar for racing by introducing new terrains and challenges.
    • The market in Europe is expected to showcase exponential growth backed by government policies that promote recreational and off-road leisure activities.
    • Global governmental initiatives to boost the tourism industry by assisting recreational clubs in enhancing their service offerings are creating a favorable environment for the market participating in the construction of dedicated infrastructure for recreational and amusement purposes.
  • Technological innovations have played a major role in developing vehicles.
    • New products have increased comfort, power, engineering, and safety.
    • Utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) have improved durability and adaptability for off-road riding.
    • Growth in investments and rapid innovations in the automotive sector have resulted in improved performance of powersports vehicles. This has resulted in improved vehicle efficiency, reduced noise and higher power of vehicles. Companies are also focusing on developing electric products for quieter more powerful riding.
  • Growing consumer disposable incomes make it easier for customers to purchase leisure and recreational power equipment.
  • Data prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) show that outdoor recreational activities accounted for US$ 374.3 billion in 2020, which is 1.8% of the overall U.S. GPD in 2020.

Agrishow 2022 Sells US$ 5 Billion in Ag Equipment

Following two years with the show canceled because of COVID-19, the 2022 edition of the biggest agricultural segment trade show reached US$ 5.5 Billion (R$ 11.2 Billion) in equipment sales, including Agricultural Machines, irrigation equipment and storage equipment. A total of 193,000 people visited the show, including our team of PSR representatives in South America. This year’s sales are 287% over the R$ 3.9 Billion sales posted in 2019.

Source: Info Money    Read The ArticlePSR Analysis: The result indicates the continuous growth of the Agricultural Equipment Market and the overall Agricultural Business in Brazil. A record harvest is expected in 2022 with 6.4% increase forecasted over 2021. The forecast for next 10 years is more crops with higher productivity–that means more technology with new machines.  PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director-Business Development, South America, for Power Systems Research

2030 PWC Market May Hit $3.01 Billion

Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

Personal watercraft (PWC), often known as a jet ski, is a watercraft that can carry as many as three people. A PWC Sit-Downs is defined as a vessel specifically designed to haul up to three riders in a sitting position, one in front of another. A PWC Stand-Up is a type of PWC designed for one rider standing or kneeling on the watercraft.

The PWC has wide uses, ranging from recreation and racing to many types of utility. PWCs are used to help with rescue missions as they are small, fast, and easy to operate. Local and county law organizations use PWCs to ensure the safety and security of persons engaged in watersports.

Market Size. According to Power Systems Research, the global market size for PWCs is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% between 2022 and 2030. Global revenue for 2030 is forecasted to be $3.01 billion.

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VW To Build $3 Billion EV Plant in East China

Jack Hao
Jack Hao

VW China has increased its share in the electric vehicle joint venture JAC Volkswagen to 75% and obtained joint venture management rights. At the same time, it has obtained a 26% stake in the EV battery maker Gotion High-Tech to support the future electrification of the group. The total investment of the above two projects is estimated to be about €2 billion.

The plant, which has an estimated investment of US$3.06 billion (20 billion yuan) from both Volkswagen and JAC Motors, will be finished by the end of 2022, and its first vehicle will roll off the assembly line in 2023.

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Venture Firm Raises 4.2 Billion Yen for Electrification Projects

FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

PowerX, Inc. says it has raised 4.15 billion yen in funding for two electrification projects: one is to develop its own “Power ARK,” a ship that carries electricity, and the other is to build a large-scale storage battery factory in Japan.

The idea behind the Power Transfer Vessel is to store electricity in container-shaped storage batteries and transmit it by ship, with an eye toward the expansion of offshore wind farms. Conventionally, power is transmitted from offshore wind farms to land via submarine cables, but the aim is to develop the Power Transfer Vessel that can replace submarine cables. This will make it easier to construct power plants offshore in windy distant seas. The construction of submarine cables that pass high-voltage electricity is environmentally hazardous, but the Power Transfer Vessels are cheaper than cables and will enable power transmission to be realized sooner.

Power Ark 100. The first vessel, the “Power ARK 100,” will have a length of approximately 100 meters and will be equipped with 100 storage batteries in the form of shipping containers, enabling it to store 220 MWh of electricity. This is roughly equivalent to one day’s worth of electricity for one city (22,000 households). In the event of a large-scale power outage or other disaster, the ship will serve as a contingency power source. Larger vessels are also planned, and a 220-meter-long vessel capable of carrying 3,000 containers would be able to transport 5,660 MWh of electricity.

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