MG Motors Plans To Make India An Export Hub

Aditya Kondejkar

MG Motor India is considering the possibility of exporting shipments from India to markets such as South Africa and the UK along with tapping other right-hand-drive markets across the globe. Despite the current semiconductor shortage, MG motors plans to prepare for a long-term vision of increasing its exports from India. The start  of the company’s South Africa operations has been delayed due to Covid-19.

MG motors has started exporting their vehicles to Nepal, and the company is preparing for the long term to make India an export hub for the neighboring markets. The carmaker has already dispatched its first batch of Hector SUVs to Nepal and plans to add Astor and ZS EV to the lineup in the Himalayan country next year.

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Cummins Announces Hydrogen and Electrified Portfolio in Brazil

When completing 50 years in Brazil, Cummins announces the arrival of the New Power unit in South America. This includes Electric propulsion, NG Engines, cleaner Diesel Engines, Fuel Cell and mainly Hydrogen.

Source: M&T Magazine     Read The Article

PSR Analysis:  As part of its global strategy, Cummins in South America, leads in the first phase in market niches with NG Engines and follows with other new solutions in the following phases.   PSR

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

VWCO To Invest US$ 400 million in Four Years in Brazil

The amount is expected to be directed mainly to new technologies, such as for the Proconve P8 introduction in 2023, new technologies for Connectivity and development of sales and aftersales areas.

Source: O Estado de São Paulo     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The investment is higher than the former investments cycles but keeps the same line and makes the company one of the most important players in the Truck and Bus industry in South America. With this announcement, VWCO confirms its belief in the Brazilian Market and indicates its willingness to keep its market share lead. PSR

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

JCB To Expand Production Capacity in Brazil

JCB plans to invest R$ 120 million (US$ 20 million) in its factory located in Sorocaba, State of São Paulo, with the objective of increasing annual production capacity from 4,000 to 10,000 units by 2026. JCB expects to grow 50% in sales volume this year, compared to last year’s results, and more than double the sales.

Source: Valor Economico      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: With the increased production volume from new products made in Brazil, such as Wheel Loaders, JCB should be above 80% capacity. With the market growth forecast for Brazil, it will be necessary for JCB to increase production capacity. The scenario is slightly different for other players who have higher capacity in their plants in Brazil. PSR

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

DATAPOINT: North American Golf Cars 2021 Production: 56,200 Units

56,200 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of golf cars to be produced in North America  during 2021. In this report, we consider North America to be the United States.

This information comes from industry interviews and from two proprietary databases maintained by Power Systems Research: EnginLink™ , which provides information on engines, and OE Link™, a database of equipment manufacturers.

Market Share:  With 42% of total units produced, Yamaha Motor leads in production of gas-powered Golf Cars in the United States.  In second position is Textron (EZGO) with 32%; third, is Club car with 26%.

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VinFast Launches Two EVs, Announces US HQ and Manufacturing Plant

Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

VinFast has selected Los Angeles as its US headquarters and recently shared plans to begin manufacturing in the U.S. in 2024. VinFast is the automotive manufacturing subsidiary of VinGroup, a Vietnamese conglomerate that develops everything from real estate to technology and healthcare. The VinFast subsidiary was founded in 2017.

VinFast is working to deliver its flagship EV, the VF e34, later this year in Vietnam. When that happens, it will be the first-ever EV sold in the entire Vietnamese market.

Last month, we reported that VinFast was ambitiously entering markets overseas, beginning with the US, Canada, and Europe at the same time.

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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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Important Russian Mega-Project in Doubt

Maxim Sakov
Maxim Sakov

The government is considering cancelling construction of the high-speed railway between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

One alternative being considered is the replacement of the high-speed railway for selected cargo between the two cities. This option is lobbied by Russian Railways.

The plans to build a high-speed railway between Moscow and St. Petersburg were announced last August. The project was included in the federal budget for 2022-2024. Completion of construction work was expected in 2027.

Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The most obvious reason for uncertainty of a mega-project like this, is a shortage in the budget. However, the Russian budget now is healthy and has a growing surplus. So, the Russian government may be considering a scenario where this money is required somewhere else. If this assumption is correct, it’s a crisis scenario.   PSR

Maxim Sakov is Market Consultant-Russia Operations for Power Systems Research

Assembly of Russian Railway Machine Kits Started in India

Technical specialist of Sinara Transport Machines (STM) has started work on assembly of RTM-32 kits in India. They also will supervise trial starts of finished machines. Kit assembly works are performed under a State program “Made in India”, if there is a localization level of 51%.

Based on Russian kits, there will be made rail padding and straightening machines, which are used during railway construction, repair, and maintenance. Also, the machines are working with wooden and concrete rail ties. Assembly is based on the production plant of San Engineering & Locomotives Co. Ltd, located in Bangalore which is acting as STM partner in the project.

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