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Isuzu Plans South Carolina Truck Assembly Plant
Chris Fisher Isuzu North America Corporation has announced that it is establishing a new production base in Greenville County, SC, to expand its vehicle supply capabilities in anticipation of the electrification of commercial vehicles in North America.
The company has purchased a 1,000,000 square foot facility on 200 acres of land it is converting into a state-of-the-art, Isuzu-run, assembly plant.
The size of the Greenville plant will enable Isuzu to consolidate all production-related operations under one roof. This will include KD storage and processing, parts storage, vehicle production and PIO operations. It will also allow for streamlining processes and improving efficiency, the OEM said.
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Sanlorenzo, Volvo Penta Collaborate
The Italian superyachts manufacturer Sanlorenzo and Volvo Penta are working to enhance yachting efficiency and sustainability by integrating the Volvo Penta’s IPS Professional Platform into the new SX120 and SX132 superyachts.
As part of its “Road to 2030” strategy, Sanlorenzo, a leading superyacht manufacturer, continues to drive innovation following the 2024 launch of the 50 Steel, the first superyacht powered by a green methanol-to-hydrogen fuel cell.
The IPS Professional Platform is an integrated, modular propulsion system developed by Volvo Penta and has been successfully tested on the 37 meters passenger ferry called Penta 40 in Sweden in 2024. It is designed for commercial vessels and superyachts between 25 and 55+ meters to improve efficiency, sustainability, reliability and comfort on the sea.
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Mercedes-Benz Sells Sprinter Factory in Argentina
Fabio Ferraresi The Argentine press confirms that Mercedes-Benz has sold its Sprinter factory in Virrey del Pino, near Buenos Aires, to an investment group called ST, led by financier Pablo Peralta.
According to local sources, the sale agreement will be officially late in February. Under the deal, ST will continue producing the Sprinter van under license until 2029.
The transaction does not include Mercedes-Benz’s heavy vehicle production, which will continue at a new factory in Zárate. The sale is linked to the upcoming shift to electric Sprinter models, as the company does not plan to invest in this transition in Argentina.
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Kanadevia To Build Plant for Hydrogen Equipment
Akihiro Komuro Kanadevia (formerly Hitachi Zosen) said it plans to build the first mass-production plant for water electrolysis equipment, which produces hydrogen by electrolyzing water, in Yamanashi Prefecture.
A company announcement said, “We want to develop this as an important production base that contributes to the realization of a hydrogen society. The company will invest approximately 8 billion yen ($52,000,000 USD) to build a mass production plant for water electrolysis equipment with an annual production capacity of 1 gigawatt (157,000 tons of hydrogen produced).
Construction is scheduled to begin about June 2026, with completion and operation by the end of fiscal 2028. The company plans to position this as a domestic mother plant, and in the future, it envisions gradually expanding its hydrogen production equipment manufacturing bases both in Japan and overseas.
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Record Motorcycle Production in Brazil
Motorcycle production and sales in Brazil reached record levels in January 2025,. Factories in Brazil produced 166,100 units, a 17.6% increase compared to January 2024 and 34% higher than December 2024. This was the best January performance since 2014, driven by expanded production capacity to meet growing demand. It is estimated that 1.88 million motorcycles will be produced in 2025, representing 7.5% growth compared to 2024.
Strong market demand and increased production capacity continue to drive industry growth in 2025.
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Lexus China Plant To Begin Production in 2027
Jack Hao Toyota has announced plans to build a research, development, and production company for Lexus electric vehicles and batteries in Jinshan District, Shanghai, and plans to start production in 2027.
“China has a complete electrification and intelligent technology industry chain,” says Ji Xuehong, Director and Professor of the Automotive Industry Innovation Research Center at North China University of Technology, “and stablishing a factory locally will allow Toyota to deeply integrate into China’s industry chain, quickly access advanced electrification technologies and high-quality parts resources, and thereby enhance the overall competitiveness and price advantage of its products.”
Localization will also enhance Lexus’ export capabilities, he says. Production in China can meet domestic demand, also reduce costs and improve the competitiveness of products in the international market.
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2025 Budget Pushes Green Mobility, Manufacturing
Aditya Kondejkar Aligned with the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision, the 2025 budget proposes a forward-looking approach for the auto sector, fostering a sustainable ecosystem with financial allocations and duty exemptions. Among the highlights:
- Support for EV Manufacturing. The exemption of customs duties on 35 capital goods for lithium-ion battery production is a commendable step toward reducing production costs and improving EV affordability.
- Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. The government allocated $325.31 million USD (Rs 2,819 crore), down from $403.90 million USD (Rs 3,500 crore) last year, which may raise concerns about the continuity of financial backing for emerging EV and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
- Tariff Rationalization. Reduction of tariff categories to just eight simplifies the customs structure and promotes ease of business for auto manufacturers.
- MSME Credit Boost. With increased access to credit for MSMEs in the auto component industry, supply chain development will strengthen, driving innovation and expansion. MSME stands for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. This term refers to a significant sector of the Indian economy that plays a crucial role in the country’s economic development and growth.
- Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana. Rural income growth via this scheme, along with increased Kisan Credit Card limits, is expected to boost demand for two-wheelers, tractors, and small commercial vehicles.
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New Milestone for Volvo EV trucks
Emiliano Marzoli Brussels, Belgium–Volvo Trucks has announced the assembly of its 1,000th electric vehicle at its Blainville-sur-Orne facility in France. This milestone underscores the expanding market penetration of electric commercial vehicles and signals a growing demand for sustainable transport solutions.
The 1,000th unit, a Volvo FE model, was delivered to the Mineris Group. The Blainville plant, a crucial component of Volvo's global electric truck manufacturing network, is strategically positioned…
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PowerTALK™, February 2025
Download PDFRead about Tesla Germany sales dropping 60%, Nissan quitting Honda merger talks, Q4 2024 global truck production climbing and South Korean battery production slumping and more in the February 2025 issue of PowerTALK™ News.
IN THIS ISSUE
ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT
- Is Toyota Largest Auto Funder of Climate Deniers in US?
- Tesla Sales Drop 60% in Germany
- Nissan Quits Honda Talks, Eyes Foxconn Alliance
- Recycling Battery Metals Could Supply 25% Of Europe’s EVs By 2030
TRUCK PRODUCTION REPORT: Q4 2024 Truck Production Climbs 3.7%
DATAPOINT: 2025 North America Snowblowers Production
NORTH AMERICA: Isuzu Plans South Carolina Truck Assembly Plant
EUROPE: Sanlorenzo, Volvo Penta Collaborate for Sustainable Yachting
SOUTH AMERICA/BRAZIL:- Mercedes-Benz Sells Sprinter Factory in Argentina
- Record Motorcycle Production in Brazil
JAPAN: Kanadevia To Build Plant for Hydrogen Equipment
South KOREA: Battery Makers See Revenue Decline
CHINA: Lexus China Plant To Begin Production in 2027
INDIA: 2025 Budget Pushes Green Mobility, Manufacturing PSR
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