2025-11-17
Stellantis has begun exporting the Brazil-made Ram Rampage to Europe, marking the first Ram vehicle developed and manufactured outside North America to reach the continent.
Ford has confirmed that the Ranger PHEV will be launched in Brazil in 2027 with a market-specific configuration: a 2.3-liter turbo flex-fuel engine combined with an electric motor and a rechargeable battery.
The model, already available in Europe with an 11.8 kWh battery and a 75 kW electric motor, delivers combined torque around 70 kgfm and maintains the 3,499-kg towing capacity of conventional versions. For Brazil, the flex adaptation is expected to raise system output above the 278 hp declared for the gasoline-only European version.
The PHEV variant will be produced in South America—most likely at Ford’s Pacheco plant in Argentina—and will feature exclusive 18-inch wheels, lateral charging port, PHEV badging and the Pro Power Onboard auxiliary power system. Ford will thus become the first automaker to offer a flex-fuel plug-in hybrid midsize pickup in the Brazilian market.
Source: O Estado de São Paulo Read The Article
PSR Analysis. The introduction of a flex-fuel PHEV Ranger adds a new technological layer to Brazil’s midsize pickup segment, reinforcing Ford’s electrification strategy while leveraging the country’s ethanol advantage. The program also expands regional industrial capability, as the PHEV will join other Ranger versions produced in Argentina.
Although the Ranger PHEV may set a new benchmark for performance and efficiency, its competitive impact will hinge on pricing, battery supply, and customer acceptance relative to upcoming electrified rivals such as BYD’s Shark and the expected hybrid Amarok derivatives. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development, South America, for Power Systems Research
2025-11-16
The signs of a freight recovery that appeared early this year are gone, replaced by a tough market where recovery will have to come from a supply-side correction, American Trucking Associations’ Chief Economist Bob Costello said at ATA’s 2025 Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.
Costello delivered a blunt and sobering economic warning: new tariffs, persistent stagflation, and a slowing labor market have created “absolutely unsustainable” conditions for many carriers, and the only way out, at least near-term, is to erase capacity from the highway.
“It’s not easy to talk about because it’s people’s livelihoods, but it’s a necessary evil,” Costello said, noting that freight demand is unlikely to improve anytime soon. “This has got to be a supply-driven change in the market.”
The current 18% effective tariff rate, nearly six times higher than it was during the first Trump administration, is a level not seen since the 1930s. Costello warned that the industry is only in the “bottom of the second or top of the third inning” of feeling the impact. “Any benefits of putting tariffs on foreign goods… are years in the future, but the cost hits much quicker,” he said.
2025-11-13
In the November 2025 issue of the Alternative Power Report produced by Power Systems Research and authored by Guy Youngs, you’ll find articles on General Motors halting production of Hydrogen fuel cells; China develops all-solid-state EV batteries with 620 mile range; plummeting battery prices will push BEVs below parity soon, and Chinese battery breakthrough could extend lithium cell lifespan by 9,000 hours. Read these articles and more in the November Alternative Power Report today. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
2025-10-21
St. Paul, MN— The Power Systems Research Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) decreased from 117 to 107, or -8.5%, for the three-month period ending Sept. 30, 2025, from Q2 2025. The year-over-year (Q3 2024 to Q3 2025) loss for the PSR-TPI was, 109 to 107, or -1.8%.
The PSR-TPI measures truck production globally and across six regions: North America, China, Europe, South America, Japan & Korea and Emerging Markets.
This data comes from OE Link™, the proprietary database maintained by Power Systems Research.
2025-10-20
In China this year, green construction machinery is seeing rapid growth, and demand across multiple scenarios is becoming unmistakable. EVE Energy is delivering full-scenario solutions for earthmoving equipment, aerial work platforms and specialized machinery. After six years of shipments in the construction-machinery segment, EVE Energy now ranks second nationwide; individual vehicles have logged more than 16,000 operating hours, and the company’s products are fitted to over 60 OEMs including LiuGong, SANY and Lingong.
According to data from the Construction Machinery Association, domestic sales of new-energy construction equipment are expected to surpass one million units by 2028, and the incremental market for green machinery is opening up rapidly—yet pain points remain: bulky batteries, short cycle life and complex assembly.
2025-10-19
Stellantis has started production of the Ram Dakota pickup at its plant in Córdoba, Argentina, with market launch in Brazil expected for 2026. The model shares its platform with the Fiat Titano, which in turn is derived from the Changan Kaicene F70 architecture, also marketed as the Peugeot Landtrek.
The Dakota will use the 2.2-liter Multijet turbodiesel engine produced in Argentina and will be positioned between the Rampage and the Ram 1500 in the regional lineup. The new pickup reinforces Stellantis’ regional manufacturing integration, as both the vehicle and its powertrain are produced within Mercosur. According to Herlander Zola, the company’s new President for South America, “this launch is a concrete example of how local integration drives regional competitiveness.”
Source: Automotive Business Read The Article
PSR Analysis. The Ram Dakota marks a key move in Stellantis’ regional integration strategy, combining vehicle and engine production in Argentina to boost scale efficiency and cost competitiveness within Mercosur. Positioned between the Rampage and the Ram 1500, it strengthens Stellantis’ mid-size pickup lineup and leverages shared architectures across brands and partners to reduce development costs. The model also supports Ram’s brand expansion in South America’s one-ton pickup segment, challenging Toyota, Ford, and VW with a more localized and accessible product. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development, South America, for Power Systems Research
Volkswagen has completed the adaptation of its São José dos Pinhais (PR) plant to produce a new mid-compact pickup, positioned to compete directly with Fiat Toro. The factory, which also builds the T-Cross, resumed operations in October after modernization works and now has capacity for about 125 vehicles per day. The company confirmed that supplier sourcing and integration are already defined, and pre-series units are expected in early 2026, with full production ramp-up to follow.
Source: Automotive Business Read The Article
PSR Analysis. Volkswagen’s new pickup project aligns with the strong growth of mid-size and lifestyle-oriented pickups, a segment that has been capturing share from heavier one-ton trucks and compact SUVs. By positioning its model between the Saveiro and Amarok, VW targets customers seeking passenger-car comfort with light-commercial versatility, a trend led by Fiat Toro and Chevrolet Montana.
Local production in Paraná enhances cost competitiveness and supply-chain agility, while allowing VW to re-enter one of the fastest-growing and most profitable vehicle segments in Brazil, crucial for sustaining volume and profitability in the post-sedan era. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development, South America, for Power Systems Research
Iveco has unveiled the Daily Multifuel concept, a light commercial vehicle capable of operating on ethanol, CNG, or biomethane. It’s positioned as a low-emission alternative to diesel for urban cargo transport. Tested in 3.5- and 7.2-ton versions, the model uses the FPT Industrial F1C 3-liter Otto-cycle engine, rated at 100 kW (136 hp) and 35.7 kgfm of torque. The engine integrates dual fuel-injection systems — one for liquids such as ethanol and another for gaseous fuels — and was developed in cooperation with Unesp, UFPA, and UNIFEI.
2025-09-16
In the September 2025 issue of the Alternative Power Report produced by Power Systems Research and authored by Guy Youngs, you’ll find articles on another major OEM dropping EV plans, an article on falling battery prices, a new more powerful and flexible EV battery from CATL, India’s EV pickup revolution and much more. Read the September Alternative Power Report today. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
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