2024-01-22
In a recent interview with EPBR News Agency, the Chinese carmaker BYD announced its strategic initiative to comprehensively verticalize its electric vehicle production operations in Brazil. This encompasses the entire value chain, ranging from lithium exploration and processing to battery manufacturing, culminating in the production of both buses and automobiles.
In 2022, the penetration rate of new energy units in the commercial vehicle market exceeded 10%, and the penetration rate of heavy-duty trucks was close to 5%. The new energy subsidy policy was scheduled to be withdrawn at the end of 2023, but data for the January to October period is basically the same as the previous year. The share of new energy units for the commercial vehicle segment is far lower than the market share of 30.4% for new energy passenger vehicles.
With the accelerated adjustment of China’s transportation structure, it is expected that by 2025, the national railway and water freight volume will increase by 10% and 12%, respectively, compared to 2020, while the road freight volume will relatively decrease. In this context, bulk and ultra long-distance road transportation will gradually exit the market, and the advantages of short and point-to-point road trunk transportation with radii of around 500 kilometers and 300 kilometers will be further highlighted.
2024-01-19
Engine maker Cummins is recalling 600,000 Ram trucks as part of a huge US$2 billion settlement with federal and California authorities for using illegal software to cheat results of diesel emissions tests.
Research by IDTech predicts that by 2044, hydrogen fuel cell cars will represent only about 4% of the total zero-emission passenger vehicles market. While the research predicts that hydrogen fuel cell cars would be a “very small portion” of the car market, IDTech also forecasted that about one fifth of zero-emission trucks would run on hydrogen.
Greater upfront costs for FCEVs over both combustion engine vehicles and BEVs, and increasing running costs makes an fuel-cell car a hard sell for consumers. IDTech cited lack of hydrogen refueling as a significant factor holding back FCEV
2023-12-17
Energy and the environment are the issues that will redefine the trucking industry over the next decade. That’s what Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, told a room full of industry experts in November at the annual Cummins-Meritor and Pressure Systems International fleet technology event held in San Antonio, Texas.
But he said the timeline the industry has placed on the adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEV) and to achieve zero emissions are “completely unachievable.”
“It takes time. We’re not going to get there starting in 2030. We’re not going to meet that by 2035. It ain’t gonna happen,” Spear said, “and when it fails, it’s not only going to be embarrassing, it’s going to cost a lot of people their jobs. To me, that’s just unacceptable.”
Volkswagen Trucks and Bus announced that it will return in January from collective vacations to resume production in two full shifts, marking a return to a pre-April status.
Since April, alternating worker groups have managed the production line and remote work, with workers undergoing training courses during off-duty periods. This measure was essential due to a 37.8% decline in truck production and a 35.2% decrease in bus chassis production from January to October.
From January onwards, production will resume at full capacity, assuming positive market expectations.
Source: AutoData Read The Article
After a slowdown in October, Argentina’s vehicle production rebounded in November, reaching 56,500 units—an 8.9% increase from the previous month and 6% higher than November 2022.
Yearly production stands at 573,700vehicles, up 14.8% from the same period last year.
Exports rose 1.5% in the eleven months of this year, totaling 304,000 units. November’s 30,300 shipments increased by 6.4% from October but decreased by 3.1% compared to November 2022.
Registrations for the year reached 430,600, a 10.9% increase over 2022. In November, 35,7,00 units marked a 15% decrease from October but a 15.6% increase from November last year.
Source: AutoData Read The Article
PSR Analysis: Although the market is demanding more than in 2022, part of the growth in November is related to more working days, totaling 21, compared to October. The new government in Argentina also helps to improve the popular optimism which impacts positively on the decision to buy a new vehicle. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development-South America, for Power Systems Research
2023-11-16
XCMG has signed a letter of intent to invest in Pouso Alegre, in the south of the state. XCMG also plans to invest in the creation of a research and development center in the state.
Source: Brazil Mineral Read The Article
PSR Analysis: The letter of intent reaffirms the intention of XCMG to gain market share in Brazil, not only on the Off Highway Electric Truck segment, but also in Brazil’s On Highway Truck segment they entered in May 2023. XCMG, the world’s third largest CE producer, threatens CAT, Komatsu and Volvo in the OH Tuck segment and plans to become a player in the On Highway market. It should be noted that XCMG already has a 500,000 square meter plant in Pouso Alegre and probably has enough space to make the investment only for equipment and tools for assembly. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development South America, for Power Systems Research
During the first 10 months of 2023, Brazilian On Highway Vehicle production faced challenges, with an increase in imports of approximately 58,000 units from January to October and a simultaneous drop in exports by more than 52,000 vehicles. The outcome was a stagnation in production, as only 1,950,000 passenger cars, Minivans and SUVs, light commercial vehicles, trucks, and bus chassis were produced. This marked a decrease of 0.6%, equivalent to almost 12,000 vehicles, compared to the same period in 2022, as reported by Anfavea on Nov. 8, 2023.
With a capacity of 53 passengers, Marcopolo’s model, the Audace Fuel Cell, is a road unit. The version of the product made in China that has been exhibited and already approved for Europe, carries the cylinders in the luggage rack. Kent Phang, the Sales Director of Allenbus, partner of Marcopolo on the FC vehicle, says there is also an option to place the hydrogen cylinders over the body. With four cylinders, the vehicle exceeds 500 kilometers, according to the company. With six cylinders it is possible to reach 900 kilometers.
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