Light Commercial Vehicles

  • VW Announces Pickup Truck To Fight with Fiat Toro

    Volkswagen has announced plans to introduce a pickup truck at its São José dos Pinhais plant in Paraná, Brazil, currently dedicated to assembling the T-Cross SUV. This new model, referred to internally as Project Udara, is part of the automaker’s €1 billion investment cycle in the country extending until 2028.

    In addition to the pickup, the investment includes the development of two flex-hybrid vehicles, a new SUV, and a new engine, slated for production at the Brazilian assembly lines in São Bernardo do Campo and São Carlos.

    The forthcoming pickup, larger than the existing Saveiro model produced in São Bernardo do Campo, is expected to feature a flex-fuel engine, with potential hybrid variants. Project Udara is set to be constructed on the MQB platform, and its launch is expected in early 2026.

    Read More »

  • Acquisitions in Light/Medium EV Segment

    NORTH AMERICA REPORT
    Chris Fisher
    Chris Fisher

    2022 has been an interesting year on many commercial vehicle fronts including the medium and light electric commercial truck and van segment.  While large established OEMs such as Ford, who is expected to produce approximately 6,500 E-Transits at the Kansas City plant in 2022, there has been some shakeup within the electric commercial vehicle start-ups. 

    During the past six months, Mullen Automotive, based in Brea, CA, has acquired the assets of the now bankrupt Electric Last Mile (ELMS) company and has acquired 60% of Bollinger Motors, which has yet to start vehicle production.

    In September 2022, Mullen Automotive invested $148 million into Bollinger Motors, giving Mullen a 60% share of the company.  Bollinger plans on introducing their electric class 3 – 6 lineup of cargo vehicles starting in 2023 and it is likely that Bollinger will also manufacture the Mullen electric light commercial vans also starting production in 2023.

    Read More »

  • GM Opens Third Shift at Joinville Engine Production Plant

    GM has added a third shift at its plant in Joinville, SC, Brazil, to increase production capacity and supply engines for the Montana, the new Light Pickup below the S10 size. The capacity production increase forecast is 30%.

    Source: Automotive Business     Read The Article

    PSR Analysis: The new GM Montana pickup is aimed to complete with the Fiat Toro and Fiat Strada, and grab market share from the leaders. GM also expects to export engines, if the shortage of semiconductors can…

    Read More »

  • NA Medium and Heavy EV Market In Early Testing

    Chris Fisher
    Chris Fisher

    Q. What is the current state of electric vehicle technology globally as well as the U.S.?
    A.     From a medium and heavy truck perspective, electric trucks are still in the early stages of testing, and it will still be a few years before we know if the current technology will be effective.  Transit or city buses are much further along in the process since these are largely not for profit vehicles and have more dedicated routes that allow for more consistent recharge. 

    China is probably the furthest along with electric bus adoption with almost half of all medium and heavy buses produced being electric.  While electrified bus adoption in North America and Europe is not nearly as strong as China, demand is increasing.  In North America, natural gas buses (CNG and Propane) are currently the alternative fuel of choice.  However, government mandates will likely force bus electrification over the next decade or so.

    Read More »

  • GM Announces LCV To Be Produced in Brazil

    This pickup truck will be produced at the São Caetano plant using the GEM platform, the leader in the compact car segment with Chevrolet Onyx. This vehicle will be smaller than the GM S-10, produced in São José dos Campos, Brazil, and bigger than the old Montana. It should compete with Fiat Toro, leader in sales ant he Pick-up segment.

    Source: M&T      Read The Article

    PSR Analysis: GM hopes to follow the success history of Stellantis in Brazil with a smaller, yet not compact pick-up. The successful…

    Read More »

  • Semiconductor Shortage Forces Automobile Production Cuts

    Aditya Kondejkar

    Officials at Volkswagen, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota and Nissan all say they have been hit by the shortage and have been forced to delay production of some models in order to keep other factories running.

    A widening global shortage of semiconductors for auto parts is forcing major auto companies to halt or slow vehicle production just as they were recovering from pandemic-related factory shutdowns.

    “This is absolutely an industry issue,” Toyota spokesman Scott Vazin said in an email. “We are evaluating the supply constraint of semiconductors and developing countermeasures to minimize the impact to production.”

    Read More »

  • Ford Announces US$ 580 Million Investment in Argentina

    This investment is dedicated to the new generation of Ford Ranger, produced in Pacheco at the Great Buenos Aires since 1998. 70% of the investment will be for production facilities and 30% in the new product line development.

    Source: Valor Economico     Read The Article

    PSR Analysis: The production in Argentina is mainly for export. The main market for Ranger pickups is Brazil where they will compete with the GM S10 produced in Brazil and the Toyota Hi Lux produced in Argentina.    PSR

    Fabio Ferraresi…

    Read More »

  • Ford Transit To Be Produced in Uruguay and Sold in Brazil

    Ford announced this month the production of the LCV Transit in Uruguay; it will be sold in South America countries, mainly Brazil. The LCV will be built in partnership with Nordex, which belongs to the Antelo group. Both companies have invested around US$ 50 million and the project will create 200 jobs.  Nordex has extensive experience in the Uruguay market producing heavy trucks and passenger cars.

    Read More »

Filter News Posts

Reset

Current Reports

Download complimentary reports that show the type of information available from Power Systems Research.

PowerTALK News

Stay informed each month with insights from Power Systems Research analysts working around the world as they identify and comment on important news items in the company’s monthly newsletter.

Subscribe
View Archive