Sales of Russian GAZ Trucks Started in Australia

News: Industry Segments

2021-04-25

Sales of Russian GAZ Trucks Started in Australia

Local dealers have received all-terrain trucks Sadko Next built especially for the local market with altered steering wheel and pedals and with different optics.

The AAV company from Brisbane has become a distributor of GAZ. The model has been introduced in local market under the name GAZ Track Master 4×4.

Tech specs of the Australian version of the truck are identical to its Russian version. It has 4.4 liter turbo-diesel of 150hp. It works with 5-step manual transmission and a transfer case, operated from the head panel. Basic options included cruise-control, air conditioner, multi-media system, snorkel and electric winch. Vehicle can move 2500 kg of cargo.

The cost of a truck is 90,000 Australian dollars, 40% more than in Russia. According to the local distributor, closest competitor price starts at AUD 120 000.

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PSR Analysis: The all-terrain vehicles market is not so big, but it can be used to open a door for other models. Sadko Next has recently introduced by GAZ Group. The vehicle has a good reputation because of a general quality and a moderate cost of ownership. PSR

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

KAMAZ Net Profit Exceeds US$ 20 Million

KAMAZ has reported a net profit of (more than US$ 20 million (1545 million Rubles) for 2020. KAMAZ reported revenue for 2020 of US$ 2.47 billion (185.8 billion Rubles), an increase of more than 16% over 2019. This growth is based on domestic truck sales, the introduction of the K5 range, and an increase in bus and electric bus sales.

Despite the COVID pandemic, in 2020 KAMAZ secured positions in the market and has claimed the status of leading Russian heavy vehicles supplier. The company claims a leader position in the 14+ ton truck market in Russia with a share of 47.5%, up 3.3% over 2019.

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PSR Analysis: Of course, State support measures are a big part of this success. Still, domestic truck and bus production has demonstrated good survival potential even in a major pandemic. PSR

Maxim Sakov is Market Consultant – Russia Operations, for Power Systems Research

India Government Announces Scrappage Policy

Aditya Kondejkar

The central government in mid-April announced its long-awaited vehicle scrappage policy. Under the new policy, in case of failure to get a fitness certificate, commercial vehicles will be de-registered after 15 years. Private vehicles will be de-registered after 20 years if found unfit or in case of a failure to renew registration certificates

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There are approximately 50 lakh vehicles in India that are older than 20 years, approximately 35 lakh vehicles older than 15 years, and approximately 15 lakh older than 15 years without renewed fitness certificate.

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China-led Proton Is Revitalized

Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

Sales of Malaysia’s national carmaker Proton are booming, with its market share in the country reaching 27.3 % in February, hot on the heels of another national carmaker, Produa’s 38.8 %. This is not a single month irregularity; for the full year 2020, the rate is 20.5%. For the full year 2020, the share is 20.5%, almost doubling in just two years from a record low of 10.8% in 2018. This is the first time in seven years that the market share has recovered to the 20% level.

The turning point of the turnaround offensive was a capital/business alliance with a Chinese manufacturer: in September 2017, the company accepted a 49.9% stake from Geely Automobile’s parent company and began importing the right-hand drive version of the X70 SUV, which it produces and sells in China, at the end of 2018. As soon as this became a hit, the company switched to domestic assembly in Malaysia at the end of 2019, and introduced an additional small SUV, the X50, in September 2020.

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Hyundai Group Seals Doosan Infracore Deal

Media outlets in Korea are reporting that Hyundai Heavy Industries is to acquire a 34.97% share in Doosan Infracore from Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction for €630 million (Korean Won 850 billion). Doosan Infracore is the heavy construction division of the Seoul-headquartered Doosan Group.

The transaction does not include Doosan Bobcat, which accounted for 57% of Infracore’s 2019 revenues. The deal will mean that Hyundai will own Hyundai Construction Equipment as well as the Doosan Infracore construction equipment business. Regulatory authorities in South Korea and other countries including China must approve the acquisition; plans call for completion of the acquisition by the third quarter of 2021.

Source: International Construction.com

PSR Analysis: This appears to be a strategy by Hyundai Heavy Industries to gain economies of scale by bringing Hyundai Construction Machinery and Doosan Infracore into the fold, and to expand its market share, especially in the Chinese market.

Hyundai Heavy Industries has positioned the construction machinery division as its core business, the third pillar after shipbuilding and plants. Demand for construction machinery is strong in China, India, and Southeast Asia, and the company is hastening its overseas expansion by expanding its scale through acquisitions in the same industry. Chinese companies such as XCMG and Sany are growing rapidly, supported by domestic demand. Hyundai Heavy Industries seems to have decided that deepening its cultivation of the Chinese market through the acquisition of Doosan’s business is essential for its survival.

On the other hand, Doosan Heavy Industries has been in the red for six consecutive fiscal years through 2019, as its mainstay heavy electric machinery division has been underperforming due to the government’s policy of freezing nuclear power plants. While receiving support from government-affiliated financial institutions, the company has been selling off its non-core businesses in order to rebuild its business. So far, the company has sold off businesses including construction companies, real estate, and hydraulic equipment. Once this sale is completed, the company is expected to be able to achieve a certain degree of financial improvement. PSR

Akihiro Komuro is Research Analyst, Far East and Southeast Asia, for Power Systems Research

Japanese OEMs Agree on Battery Specs for Electric Motorcycles

Four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki, said they have agreed to share the same battery specifications for electric motorcycles. By sharing the same removable replacement battery, they will increase convenience. The battery charger to be developed in the future will also be standardized.

For small scooters, it is difficult to increase the size of the battery to extend the cruising range due to the small size of the vehicle, and thus the frequency of recharging is high. The detachable battery type will be more convenient, as it can be exchanged for a fully charged battery at the battery exchange station.

Source: The Nikkei

PSR Analysis: In April 2019, the four companies set up a consortium to discuss battery commonality; agreeing to commonality is an achievement. This was the minimum necessary point to reach in order to prevent confusion caused by conflicting specifications, such as whether to use VHS or Beta. In addition, there had never been a case in the past where four companies had worked together to accomplish something, and in this sense, it was probably significant.

Standards have been agreed upon for battery structure, characteristics, protection circuits, communication protocols for charging, and stations that will serve as exchange infrastructure. However, the size, weight, capacity, and shape of the batteries are outside the scope of the cooperative area and will be handled by each company, in other words, a competitive area.

The agreement is related to replaceable batteries (and replacement stations) for first-class mopeds (under 50cc) and second-class motorcycles (under 125cc). As for the electrification of medium and large motorcycles, all four companies will continue to develop technologies and products as before.

In my opinion, it has taken two years to build this consensus, which is far too long. Taiwan’s Gogoro, KIMCO’s Ionex, and others have already released many EV bikes, and recharging stations have become widespread, especially in urban areas, and the bikes are already functioning as a part of our daily lives. As international competition intensifies, there will be more and more cases where the traditional Japanese sense of speed will not be able to cope. PSR

Akihiro Komuro is Research Analyst, Far East and Southeast Asia, for Power Systems Research

Brazil OEMs Forecast CE Sales Growth of 20% in 2021

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Volvo CE and Case Construction are aligned to affirm CE sales in Brazil will grow 20% in 2021 despite of the effects of the pandemic. With 18% growth of sales in Q1 2021 over the same quarter of 2020, CE executives are optimistic about full year sales.

Source: M&T      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: First quarter of 2020 was a strong sales quarter over 2019 because the pandemic impact was not present until March 16, 2020.

This makes the result of Q1 2021 18% above Q1 2020 really strong and makes executives optimistic about FY 2021 results. In addition to that, the foundation of the segment is robust, with the construction industry activity growing because of strong housing demand, infrastructure bids being restarted and mining growing significantly.    PSR

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

MWM Launches Family of NG Engines

MWM Engines and Power Gen, part of the Navistar group, has announced the launch of a new line of Acteon Engines powered by Natural Gas. The engine family has been developed in Brazil and features 4 cylinders and 6 cylinders with 4.8L and 7.2L displacement.

Source: Automotive Business     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: With this move, MWM meets Power Gen customers demand or NG powered Gen Sets and increases portfolio to attend OEMs aiming to launch NG powered vehicles and equipment without investment in Engines Development. As NG becomes a competitive and cleaner fuel alternative for Brazil, MWM put the bets on the right place to attend better the customers demand. PSR

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

MAN Marine Engines Certified To Operate Globally

Natasa Mulahalilovic
Natasa Mulahalilovic

MAN Energy Solutions, one of the leading marine engine manufacturers in the range between 730 and 2000 hp (5370 to 1397 kW), says that all of its engines now comply to the globally required major current emissions standards.

All engine models from i8-730 to V12-2000 are certified with the US EPA Tier III, the EU IMO Tier II and RCD 2013/53/EC. The current China Marine Recreational Stage I standard has been upgraded to the Stage II based on the US Tier III standard requirements.

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NA Powersports EV Update

Read the complete report in April PowerTALK™ News

EDITOR’S NOTE. Power Systems Research tracks the global trend of electrification of industrial equipment. This is one of a series of reports on these trends.

Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

Polaris INDUSTRIES, Minneapolis, is planning to debut a new electric Ranger utility side-by-side in December 2021. The Ranger will be the first electric vehicle Polaris has developed through their partnership with Zero Motorcycles. 

The electric Ranger is the first product in Polaris’s long-term plan to accelerate its leadership in powersports electrification. Production will take place in Polaris’s Huntsville, AL facility.

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), which owns popular brands such as Can-Am, Rotax, Sea-Doo and Ski-Doo, plans to offer electric models in each of its product lines by the end of 2026. The company is investing $300 million in product development and production facilities.

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