Industry Segments | Power Systems Research

2025-12-09

Alternative Power Report, December 2025

In the December 2025 issue of the Alternative Power Report produced by Power Systems Research and authored by Guy Youngs, you’ll find articles on slowing EV Sales, hydrogen power, battery development, China’s shift from diesel powered trucks to electric, and Spain’s growing emphasis on hydrogen power. Read these articles and more in the December Alternative Power Report today. PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

Categories: Alternative Power, Alternative Power Reports, Commercial Vehicles, EV, Hydrogen, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production

2025-12-08

Ford Uses Revised Strategy for Success

Aditya Kondejkar

Ford Motor Company’s decision to re-enter the Indian market marks one of the most closely watched developments in the auto industry this year. After exiting mass-market operations in 2021, due to persistent losses and an increasingly competitive environment, Ford’s return signals a significant strategic recalibration driven by changing market dynamics, India’s rising manufacturing relevance, and the company’s global EV transformation agenda.

Unlike the last decade—when Ford struggled with scale, cost structures, and a limited product pipeline—its new India plan is built around focused investments, platform sharing, premium positioning, and leveraging India as an export and engineering powerhouse.

Shifting from Mass-Market to Strategic Segments
Ford’s earlier struggle stemmed largely from competing in high-volume, price-sensitive segments dominated by Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and later Tata and Kia. The new strategy avoids this path.

Categories: Indian Subcontinent, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production, Sales

Office: India Office

Heli Breaks Ground for Factory in Thailand

Jack Hao

Heli Industrial Vehicles (Thailand) Co., Ltd.’s broke ground for its industrial vehicle assembly and lithium battery pack production factory at the Navaan Nong Khuang Industrial Park in Chonburi Province, Thailand Nov. 27, 2025.

To consolidate and expand its leading position in the global market, actively advance its global strategic layout, and build a global production and supply system, Anhui Heli Co., Ltd. has established a strategic partnership with Siam Motors Parts Co., Ltd., a local Thai enterprise, to jointly establish Heli Industrial Vehicles (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Through this joint venture, the two parties will co-invest in building a new manufacturing base in Thailand, creating an integrated production and sales platform for industrial vehicle complete machines and lithium battery systems.

Categories: Alternative Power, Batteries, Greater China, Industrial, Production, Thailand

Office: China Office

Delays in Agricultural Equipment Delivery Worsen

Akihiro Komuro

The increase in 2025 rice prices has provided farmers with more financial flexibility, leading to a surge in demand for upgrades to agricultural machinery. However, farmers are reporting longer wait times for machinery orders, sometimes up to a year. They are expressing concerns such as, “We can’t plan next season’s operations,” and “If delivery is delayed until next year, can we really count it as an expense for this year?”

Many small- and medium-sized farms had delayed replacing machinery due to prolonged low rice prices, opting instead to repair old equipment or purchase used machinery. The 2025 rice harvest, however, saw more farmers gain financial leeway, increasing the demand for replacing or purchasing new machinery.

While agricultural machinery manufacturers have been increasing production of high-efficiency models, such as smart farm equipment, targeting large-scale agricultural corporations, the supply-demand balance has shifted. This has created a situation in which supply cannot keep pace with the sudden surge in demand.

Source: JA.com

Categories: Agricultural, Japan, Production, Sales

Office: Japan Office

2025 EV Motorcycle Promotion Project Continued

Akihiro Komuro

South Korea’s Ministry of Environment is continuing the “Electric Motorcycle Subsidy Program and Battery Swap Charging Facility Support Program,” which was launched in spring 2025. Its effects appear to be gradually emerging in the market.

Categories: Alternative Power, Electrification, EV, Legislation, Recreational Products, South Korea

Office: Japan Office

EV Motorcycle Market Rapidly Expanding

Akihiro Komuro

According to statistics from the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM) and other motorcycle data, gasoline motorcycle sales are slowing while electric two-wheelers are expanding rapidly. In the third quarter of 2025, the five VAMM member companies (Honda, Yamaha, Piaggio, Suzuki, and SYM) sold a total of 620,000 units, which is a 9.37% decrease compared to the same period last year. Cumulative sales from January to September remained nearly flat compared to 2024, totaling 1.91 million units.

Categories: EV, Production, Recreational Products, Vietnam

Office: Japan Office

Eletra Starts In-House BEV Bus Chassis Assembly

Fabio Ferraresi

Eletra announced an investment of BRL 40 million (approximately US$ 7 million) to expand its factory in São Bernardo do Campo (SP) and build a new in-house chassis assembly line. The initiative will transform Eletra into a full-fledged chassis manufacturer, rather than relying solely on chassis supplied by partners.

Categories: Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Production

Office: Brazil Office

Volvo Launches Dump Truck with 55-Ton Capacity

Fabio Ferraresi

Volvo CE has introduced in Brazil the latest generation of its largest articulated dump truck, the A60. The updated model offers a payload capacity of 55 000 kg and a dump body volume of 33.6 cubic meters — the highest among articulated haulers available locally. It is powered by the Volvo D16J engine, delivering 470 kW (≈ 630 hp) and 2,960 Nm torque, optimized for heavy off-road operations.

Compared with the previous generation, the A60 delivers a 15% gain in fuel efficiency and 5% increase in productivity per loading cycle. The redesign includes improvements in drivetrain, transmission, traction control and operator ergonomics, reflecting Volvo’s renewed lineup update for articulated trucks in Brazil.

Source: Automotive Business Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The upgraded A60 meets rising demand from mining, quarrying and large-scale infrastructure sectors by combining high payload, improved fuel economy and proven off-road capability, translating into lower operating cost per ton transported. Its enhanced drivetrain, traction control and stability — crucial in challenging terrain — should increase uptime and reliability for high-utilization fleets. PSR

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

Categories: Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Off-Highway Equipment, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

EU-US Trade Deal Threatens European Production

Emiliano Marzoli

The EU-US trade agreement is facing intense criticism from European policymakers and industry leaders who deem it unbalanced, unfair, and a “significant policy mistake.” The persistence of high US tariffs and mounting non-tariff barriers are severely hurting Europe’s export-oriented industrial sector. Experts warn the deal has cornered the EU, increasing its dependency on critical raw materials and semiconductors.

Specifically, US Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium derivatives are crippling the machinery sector with complex compliance rules. Failure to comply can trigger punitive tariffs up to 200%, prompting some firms to halt US exports entirely and leading to a sharp drop in sales (e.g., German machinery exports have fallen 18.5%). EU lawmakers are now pushing for amendments, including sunset clauses and safeguards, amid concerns that the current framework is unsustainable.

Source: Euractiv Read The Article

Categories: Europe, Industrial, Legislation, Production, Tariff

Office: Europe Office

EPA Won’t Delay 2027 NOx Rule, Plans Changes

Chris Fisher

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward with the 2027 timeline for its heavy-duty NOx rule—currently set to take effect with the 2027 model year—but says changes are in store.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA), National Tank Truck Carriers, Truckload Carriers Association, and 49 state trucking associations in August penned a letter to EPA, asking the regulator to push implementation to 2031, citing “substantial compliance costs and operational burdens at a time when the trucking industry is already contending with historically difficult market conditions.”

Administrator Lee Zeldin in March announced that the EPA was reevaluating the Biden-era 2022 Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle rule that regulates oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and other emissions beginning with Model Year 2027.

Categories: Commercial Vehicles, Emissions, Legislation, North America

Office: United States Offices

News: Industry Segments

Alternative Power Report, December 2025

EV Motorcycle Market Rapidly Expanding

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