News: PowerTALK

2023-09-05

Companies Support Government Fleet Renewal Program

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Gerdau, Vamos and Volkswagen Caminhões have formed a partnership to support the national fleet renewal program, aimed at removing from roads vehicles more than 20 years old.

The fleet renewal program provides for the purchase of low emission and more efficient vehicles by self-employed drivers and other operations. Under the plan, 140 acquired vehicles were sent to Gerdau’s headquarters in Araçariguama, which is responsible for their destruction and recycling.

At the same time, an extension for the incentives program of up to 1 Billion Reais, (US$ 200 M) was announced.

Source: G1      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The total of resources and mechanisms to allow the access to the resources still are not sufficient for the program to impact the market significantly. However, the small inroads demonstrate the desire of Government and private entities to make changes and should impact the market going forward. More deployments and adjustments in the program should come in the medium term. We will keep monitoring and adjusting our short-medium term forecast as it progresses.   PSR

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

Brazil Motorcycle Production To Reach 1.5 Million in 2023

In the first seven months of 2023, manufacturers affiliated with Abraciclo assembled 887,000 motorcycles, up 14.3% over the same period in 2022. Registrations totaled 903,200, up 21.4%, including imports and sales from automakers not yet linked to the association, such as India’s Bajaj and Royal Enfield, which began production in Brazil at the end of last year. The entity’s expectations for 2023 are for expansion of 10.4% (1.56 million units) in production and 10.9% (1.51 million motorcycles) in licensing.

Source: Valor      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: In 2011, Brazil produced 2 million units, its best year in the history of the segment. However, this year was the beginning of consecutive annual declines that reduced production to 890,000 motorcycles in 2016. The start of the rebound in 2018 was interrupted in 2020 by the shutdown of factories brought on by the pandemic. The industry finally looked to the future again in 2023 and expects to reach a volume of 2 million motorcycles within five years.   PSR

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

BEV Demand Boosts Brazil Mining Investment

The increase in global demand for clean energy is accelerating investments in the exploration of reserves of so-called critical or strategic minerals in Brazil. Over the next five years in Brazil, companies are expected to invest approximately US$ 8 billion in key strategic minerals. In copper the expectation is that the resources will reach US$ 4.47 billion, while nickel is in second place, with investments of US$ 2.3 Billion forecast.

Source: Valor      Read The Article

PSR Analysis:  A significant part of the investment will take place in Construction and Mining Equipment such as Hydraulic Excavators, Heavy Duty Wheel loaders and Graders that helps to sustain and increase the growth in the segment in Brazil.   PSR

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

2023-08-21

Maruti Suzuki Plans India Market Expansion

INDIA REPORT
Aditya Kondejkar

Under Maruti’s 3.0 Strategy, the company proposes to expand annual capacity by 2 million units within nine years, and it plans to feature 28 distinct models by 2031. The automaker aims to reach an annual production volume of more than 4 million vehicles by 2031. Of this total, approximately 15% (about 600,000 units) will be electric vehicles (EVs), and about 1 million will be hybrid units.

This represents a substantial 75% surge from the current production capacity of 2.25 million units.

Foreseeing a threefold increase in export volume to 750,000 units by FY31, Maruti intends to allocate 3.2 million units for the domestic market. The company envisions hybrids and EVs comprising approximately 40% of this portion, translating to over 1.2 million units.

Read More»

XCMG Group, Toyota Sign Cooperation Pact

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

XCMG Group and Toyota have signed a strategic cooperation agreement in the field of hydrogen energy. The companies will build a complete hydrogen energy machine and core component industry base centered around Xuzhou, which will drive development of the hydrogen energy industry in Xuzhou.

XCMG Group expects this contract to aid both parties to collaborate and innovate in cutting-edge technology research and development applications such as hydrogen vehicles, fuel cells, and core components.

Using hydrogen energy to change the future is the goal of Toyota and XCMG. The foundation for the development of Xuzhou’s green and low-carbon energy industry is solid.

Source: D1CM     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: XCMG Group and Toyota have strong complementary prospects, and huge potential for cooperation and development. Working together, they will accelerate the progress of off-road machinery from traditional fuels to electrification and finally to fuel cells.

Toyota has always been a major supporter of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as an alternative to electric vehicles. Toyota will focus on selling hydrogen powered trucks and cars in Europe and China. In 2022, Toyota sold over 3,900 fuel cell vehicles, while its global sales are about 9.5 million units.

Toyota hopes to sell 200,000 hydrogen powered vehicles by 2030. The products of XCMG Group include five pillar industries: Construction Machinery, Lifting Machinery, Piling Machinery, Concrete Machinery, and Road Machinery, as well as strategic new industries such as Mining Machinery, Aerial Work Platforms, Environmental Industry, Agricultural Machinery, Port Machinery, and Rescue Support Equipment. It has over 60 enterprises under its jurisdiction, including mainframe, trade services, and new business models. This cooperation could have a major impact on both parties. PSR

Jack Hao is Senior Research Manager – China for Power Systems Research

Foxconn To Invest $246 Million in Vietnam Plant

SOUTHEAST ASIA: VIETNAM REPORT

Foxconn, Taiwan’s leading electronics contract manufacturer, has received regulatory approval for its plan to invest $246 million in two new projects in Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam. The projects, to be carried out by a subsidiary of Foxconn Singapore, will focus on the manufacturing and assembly of telecommunications equipment and electric vehicle components.

This will bring Foxconn’s total investment in Vietnam to approximately $3 billion. Of the new investment, $200 million will be invested in a factory to produce EV chargers and components, which is expected to begin production in January 2025 and employ an estimated 1,200 workers.

Read More»

Mexico Beats Argentina for Brazilian Vehicle Exports

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Mexico became the main trading partner of the Brazilian automotive sector in July, beating Argentina in 2023 YTD results. Brazil exports volume to Mexico are favorable because of a 33% growth in the Mexican domestic market. Brazil expanded its exports to the country by 142%, according to Anfavea.

Even with the help of increasing exports to Mexico, Brazilian exports had a significant reduction to 30,300 units, 27.6% below the same period in 2022, which totaled 41,900 units.

The Chilean market has shrunk by 30% this year, from 261,000 to 182,000 units compared to the first seven months of 2022. Purchases of vehicles made in Brazil decreased 61% in the period, from 41,000 to 16,000 units.

In Colombia, the domestic market fell by 60%, from 263,000 to 104,000 units, from January to July compared to the same period last year, and the presence of Brazilian vehicles fell 42%, from 47,000 to 27,000 units.

Read More»

29% of 2023 Trucks Fit with Euro 6 Engines

Data released by Anfavea about July Sales and Production show only 29% of the trucks sold in 2023, and produced during the year, met the PROCONVE P8 / Euro VI emissions regulation.

From January to July 2023, 53,900 trucks were produced, 36.2% below the 84,500 units produced in same period last year. This amount is also lower than that produced in the same period in 2021, when 89,500 trucks were produced on the Brazilian OEM assembly lines.

Truck production is still at a slow pace as the market continues to generate low demand for the new PROCONVE P8 technology.

Read More»

Firms Develop Hydrogen-Powered Generator

FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

Komatsu, Hitachi, and Denyo announced the commercialization of a gen-set that uses a mixture of hydrogen and light oil as fuel. It is possible to mix up to 50% hydrogen, which does not emit CO2 when burned, and CO2 emissions can be reduced by 50%.

The first unit will be installed at Komatsu’s Oyama Plant, with full operation scheduled for the end of September. Hitachi will serve as the point of contact for the system, which will be marketed to a wide range of external customers.

The system can mix up to 50% hydrogen with diesel engines that use diesel oil. The power output is 250 kW. Komatsu and Hitachi provided the fuel injection control technology and the function to safely stop the engine in case of abnormal combustion, respectively, and Denyo assembled them into the generator.

Read More»