KAMAZ JV Will Invest in Mass Production of Equipment

News: Power Systems Research

2021-03-20

KAMAZ JV Will Invest in Mass Production of Equipment

The joint venture of KAMAZ and ZF Friedrichshafen AG is going to establish mass production of 12-speed automated gearboxes Traxon for trucks, buses and special machines with 44-80 ton capacity. At the moment, the JV is offering mechanical transmissions only. According to the plan, the production of gearboxes will be localized on 24%, power steering, by 10%, suspensions, by 40%. New products will be supplied to KAMAZ trucks, as well as to other OEMs – MAZ-MAN, Ural, Isuzu, etc.

The total budget of the new project will be US$ 15 million (1.1 billion Rubles). About half of it will be provided by the Industry Development fund as a privileged loan.

The privileged loan will be provided by the fund on 1-3% interest rates for up to seven years.

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PSR Analysis: There is a long history of co-operation between KAMAZ and German ZF. Now, with the State support, they are going to offer to the market brand new equipment, which was not available on domestic trucks before.  PSR

Maxim Sakov is a Market Consultant – Russia Operations with Power Systems Research

Semiconductor Shortage Restricts Growth of Indian Auto Industry

Aditya Kondejkar

As the industry is coming out from the COVID impact, its growth is hurt by a shortage of semiconductors. Many OEMs have revised the production plans downward due to this shortage. We anticipate the shortage of semiconductors will exist for the next 4-5 months. Though it will hamper monthly production, it will have only a moderate impact on the total year’s production. But If the chip shortage lasts, production cuts could reduce the inventory of vehicles for sale in India and overseas markets.

The issue started in the Q2 2020. Due to COVID-19, auto OEMs worldwide drastically reduced their production and component orders. Concurrently, chipmakers were improving the supply chain, which had been disrupted by COVID-19. They witnessed a spurt in orders from electronics companies for items such as phones, laptops, gaming console makers and witnessed a spike in sales volume during the pandemic caused by changing work and school patterns.

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China and South Korea Increase Investment in Indonesia

Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

China and South Korea are increasing their investments in Indonesia. According to BKPM (Indonesia’s Investment Coordination Agency), China (including Hong Kong) accounted for $8.4 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2020, up 11% from the previous year, and South Korea accounted for $1.8 billion, up 64%.

Japan, which has been the driving force behind investment to date, has seen a clear decline of 40% to $2.6 billion. Singapore ranked first in FDI in 2020 with $9.8 billion, followed by China and Japan in second and third place, then the European Union in fourth place, and South Korea in fifth place.

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Doosan Infracore Unveils Wheel Loader with “Transparent Bucket”

Doosan Infracore announced in March that it had introduced the industry’s first wheel loader with a “transparent bucket” function.

The transparent bucket is a system that allows the wheel loader driver to see even blind spots in front of the bucket through the monitor in the cockpit. The innovative system records images in front of the wheel loader with cameras installed at the top and bottom and shows the combined images in real time using a curved projection method.

The front of the wheel loader has been considered a major safety issue due to blind spots. With the transparent bucket function, however, the driver can easily check the blind spot in front of the bucket with a monitor to prevent safety accidents.

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Komatsu Targets CO2 Zero Emissions by 2050

Komatsu is aiming to reduce its CO2 emissions to virtually zero by 2050. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions to zero not only from its own production of construction equipment, but also from the use of construction equipment by its customers. The company aims to achieve this goal by promoting the electrification of construction equipment, improving fuel efficiency, and encouraging customers to use their construction equipment more efficiently, etc.

The company will respond to the fact that ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) investors are emphasizing the reduction of emissions, including those of customers.

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Beijing Accelerates “Fuel for Battery” Policy

Qin Fen
Qin Fen

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport in February issued an action plan describing how to switch out IC-powered light commercial vehicles in urban areas.

The city government will subsidize fleet companies switching out 20 gasoline or diesel powered vehicles to battery-powered cargo vehicles one time before Aug. 31, 2021.  The government will issue city passes to fleet companies on more favorable terms than ICE powered cargo vehicles.

There will be a government transportation center to monitor every battery-powered vehicle on operating range, GPS, etc., in case someone embezzles government subsidy.

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Corolla Cross Produced in Brazil To Be Exported to 22 Countries

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

The new medium Toyota SUV produced in Indaiatuba-SP started production in March. Sales in Brazil were expected to start by March 25, but exports have already started. Currently, the Corolla sedan is exported to only five countries, but the new SUV will be sent to 22 countries across Latin America. However, exporting overseas seems unlikely due to logistics cost restrictions.

Source: Automotive Business     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The indexes of vehicles per capita in Latin America are still behind other regions and developed countries which provides an opportunity to grow sales. The SUV continues to grow in popularity in this region and the combination seems to be the right bet for a production hub in Brazil, leveraging on the higher volumes to assure competitiveness and a wining cycle for the new product.   PSR

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

Jacto Announces New Plant in Brazil

Jacto has announced a new 96,000 m2 plant that it will build by 2023 in Pompeia-SP – Brazil, the same location where most of its operations are already located. Fernando Gonçalves Neto, Jacto President, says the new and modern facility will sustain forecasted growth for several years.

Source: M&T Magazine     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Jacto has been growing in importance with specialized products for high caliber agriculture in Brazil with sprayers, harvesters, and seeders. They have been launching new agricultural products with remarkable success and the growth outlook is positive. PSR

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

Foton Announces Electric Truck in Brazil

After adding 28 Ford dealers to bring its dealer total in Brazil to 38 dealers, the Chinese giant is preparing to introduce an EV to i its new lineup in H2 2021. It plans to add trucks in the 17 ton – 24 ton range for 2022, the most popular in Brazil. In addition to the EV and Diesel Trucks, Foton will evaluate the potential for a CNG Trucks for launch after the EV, but it has shorter term potential for higher volumes.

Source: O Estado de São Paulo      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Currently, Foton produces an LCV under a manufacturing agreement with GEFCO and imports Medium Trucks for sale in Brazil. These Trucks should be nationalized by 2025. The new line of Heavy Trucks meets P8 requirements for 2023 and may be nationalized by 2025 as well. So far, the volumes are very small, but we see an important growth forecast exceeding the overall market.     PSR

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

2021-03-19

100% Green Hydrogen Powered Ferry Planned by 2027

Natasa Mulahalilovic
Natasa Mulahalilovic

The European Union’s private and public sectors are working hard on developing projects that could accelerate the transition from the fossil fuel powered to the zero-emission shipping.

One of the leading joint efforts is the project created by Danish ferry operator DFDS, Swiss-Sweden giant ABB, Danish fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems Europe, the global leader in zero-emission e-mobility Hexagon Purus, wind power generator Orsted, Lloyds Register and Danish Ship Finance. 

The project is designed to build a 100% green hydrogen powered ferry by 2027.

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