Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs | Power Systems Research

2025-09-19

50% Tariff Turns European Machinery into Gold

In recent weeks, the US has expanded its 50% tariff on steel and aluminum to over 400 derivative products, creating a new, complex trade landscape with the EU. This goes beyond raw materials and now includes a wide array of manufactured goods. The EU has a new deal with the US, which introduces a 15% tariff ceiling on a large portion of European exports, including strategic sectors like vehicles. However, the 50% metal tariffs override this, a development that has caused alarm in Europe’s industrial sectors. The deal is a “first step,” with both sides still working out details, but the high metal tariffs remain a source of significant uncertainty and a point of contention.

Sources: Read This Article Read This Article

Categories: Agricultural, Construction, Economics, Europe, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production, Tariff

Office: Europe Office

2025-09-16

Alternative Power Report, September 2025

Guy Youngs

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

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

Office: United States Offices

2025-09-13

Another Major Automaker Is Abandoning Big EV Plans

Guy Youngs

Yet another big name in automaker is pulling back on its EV plans, blaming slower than expected demand for electric vehicles. Volkswagen’s luxury sports car brand, Porsche, has announced that it no longer plans to build EV batteries in-house.

Cellforce, Porsche’s high-performance EV battery company, will shrink and only focus on research and development, rather than production. In a statement, Porsche blamed “the slower ramp-up” of EVs and “challenging market conditions” in its biggest markets, the US and China, for the changes.

Porsche plans to continue offering internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid, and all-electric options across every segment “well into the 2030s.”

Categories: Alternative Power, Batteries, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production

Office: United States Offices

CATL Launches World’s First LFP Battery: 470+ Mile Range, Fast Charging

Guy Youngs

At the Munich Motor Show, the global leader in electric vehicle batteries made its presence known. CATL introduced its Shenxing Pro, deeming it “the world’s first LFP battery to deliver a 758 km WLTP range.”

Categories: Alternative Power, AltPwr, Batteries, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production

Office: United States Offices

Brazil Vehicle Exports Hit Highest Level in Seven Years

Fabio Ferraresi

By the month of August 2025, Brazil’s automotive exports reached 57,100 vehicles, marking the highest monthly level since June 2018. This figure represents a 19.3% increase over July and a 49.3% increase compared to August 2024. Argentina played a pivotal role, accounting for 59% of the country’s annual exports.

From January to August, total exports summed 313,300 units, up 12.1% compared to the same period in 2024. Production stood at 247,000 vehicles in August, nearly flat from July (+3%) but down 4.8% year-on-year. Overall production in the year reached 1.743 million units, an increase of 6% over 2024. Domestic market performance remained largely stable, with 225,400 vehicle registrations in August, though the average daily sales were slightly below 2024 levels at 10.7 thousand per day, raising caution for the final quarter

Source: Automotive Business

Categories: Central/South America, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

Sharing of EV Battery Data Supported by METI

Akihiro Komuro

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry says it will support the development of an industry-wide system for sharing information on the degradation status of EV batteries. Toyota and Honda will provide battery-related data to used car dealers, insurance companies and others. The aim is to prevent the export of used EVs overseas and enable the domestic utilization of batteries containing critical minerals.

Currently, battery degradation is difficult to assess, resulting in low trade-in prices for used EVs in the domestic market. The fact that approximately 80% were exported overseas was a cause for concern.

Categories: Alternative Power, Batteries, Japan, Legislation, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production

Office: Japan Office

Proton Builds First EV Plant in Malaysia

Akihiro Komuro

Proton, Malaysia’s national car brand, opened its first EV factory in the state of Perak. The factory has an annual production capacity of 20,000 units, which can be expanded to 45,000.

Construction of the factory costs a total of 82 million ringgit (approximately $19.47M). Proton receives technical support from its major shareholder, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group of China. Previously, Proton imported EVs produced at Geely’s factory in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Categories: Alternative Power, Japan, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production

Office: Japan Office

New GST Is Game Changer for Autos, Tractors

Aditya Kondejkar

The September 2025 GST Council meeting introduced sweeping tax revisions that significantly lower GST rates across multiple vehicle and farm equipment categories. Tractors and their components now attract a 5% rate (from 12% for standard tractors, and from 18% for parts), while small cars, two-wheelers (up to 350cc), three-wheelers, buses, and certain commercial vehicles are enjoying reduced GST from 28% to 18%.

These changes are expected to improve affordability, stimulate demand (especially in rural and semi-urban areas), boost manufacturing and ancillary industries, and lead to job growth across the value chain.

Source: The Times of India. Read The Link

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

Office: India Office

2025-08-26

Dongfeng Plans To Sell 50% Stake in Honda Engine

Jack Hao

Dongfeng Motor Group reportedly plans to sell its 50% stake in Dongfeng Honda Engine Co., Ltd. Joint venture with Honda Motor Co., according to an Aug. 18post on the official website of Guangdong United Property and Equity Exchange. The project is in the pre-listing phase, with no reserve price set, and the deadline is Sept. 12.

According to the audited figures in the listing documents, Dongfeng Honda Engine was valued at RMB 5.4 billion (approximately USD 752 million) in 2024. The company posted a net loss of RMB 227.8 million for the same period, carries liabilities of RMB 3.3 billion.

According to the official website of Dongfeng Honda Engine Co., Ltd., the company was established in 1998. Its shareholders are Dongfeng Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd., holding 50%, 40%, and 10% of the shares respectively.

Categories: Commercial Vehicles, Electrification, Financial, Greater China, Partnerships, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs

Office: China Office

2025-08-16

Tesla Sales in Europe Are in Free-fall

Guy Youngs

Tesla sales in Europe are continuing to decline rapidly, and it appears the pain is just beginning for the automaker. The numbers for July are coming in from Europe and Tesla registrations are down 41.6% despite EV sales surging across the continent.

The data shows that the free-fall decline in sales that we saw in the first half of 2025 is continuing into the second half, despite Tesla falsely claiming that the issue in the first quarter was the Model Y changeover limiting supply.

Categories: Alternative Power, AltPwr, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Sales

Office: United States Offices

News: Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs

Alternative Power Report, September 2025

TPI

OE Link™ Offers
Global Coverage

Sign-up for PowerTalk

PSR Global Offices & Affiliate Locations*O

Power Systems Research, Inc.

Power Systems Research, Inc.

Power Systems Research*

Power Systems Research SA

PSR Power Systems
Research India Pvt. Ltd.

Power Systems Research SA*

Power Systems Research

Power Systems Research

Tohan Research, Inc.*

PSR Global Offices & Affiliate Locations*

Power Systems Research, Inc.

Power Systems Research, Inc.

Power Systems Research*

Power Systems Research SA

PSR Power Systems
Research India Pvt. Ltd.

Power Systems Research SA*

Power Systems Research
(Beijing) Co., Ltd.

Power Systems Research

Tohan Research, Inc.*

Industries

Products

Solutions

Sign-up for PowerTalk

PSR Global Offices & Affiliate Locations*O

Power Systems Research, Inc.

Power Systems Research, Inc.

Power Systems Research*

Power Systems Research SA

PSR Power SystemsResearch India Pvt. Ltd.

Power Systems Research SA*

Power Systems Research

Power Systems Research

Tohan Research, Inc.*

PSR Global Offices & Affiliate Locations*

Power Systems Research, Inc.

Power Systems Research, Inc.

Power Systems Research*

Power Systems Research SA

PSR Power SystemsResearch India Pvt. Ltd.

Power Systems Research SA*

Power Systems Research(Beijing) Co., Ltd.

Power Systems Research

Tohan Research, Inc.*

Industries

Products

Solutions

PSR Power Systems
Research India Pvt. Ltd.

PSR Power Systems
Research India Pvt. Ltd.

Power Systems Research
(Beijing) Co., Ltd.