PowerTALK

  • Italy’s CNH and China’s FAW in Talks Over Truck Maker Iveco

    CNH Industrial is in talks with China’s FAW over the future of truck maker Iveco, the Italian-American group said recently after sources told Reuters it had revived previously aborted negotiations.

    Source: Reuters    Read The Article

    PSR Analysis: Another positive development in the industry during such a gloomy crisis, FAW fits the merger success story I just mentioned about the few surviving companies.  There are for sure many challenges ahead with the acquisition, particularly…

    Read More »

  • VW To Build $3 Billion EV Plant in East China

    Jack Hao
    Jack Hao

    VW China has increased its share in the electric vehicle joint venture JAC Volkswagen to 75% and obtained joint venture management rights. At the same time, it has obtained a 26% stake in the EV battery maker Gotion High-Tech to support the future electrification of the group. The total investment of the above two projects is estimated to be about €2 billion.

    The plant, which has an estimated investment of US$3.06 billion (20 billion yuan) from both Volkswagen and JAC Motors, will be finished by the end of 2022, and its first vehicle will roll off the assembly line in 2023.

    Read More »

  • Ford Announces Shutdown of Plants in Brazil

    Fabio Ferraresi
    Fabio Ferraresi

    Ford announced on Jan. 11 plans to shut down all car manufacturing operations in Brazil. Ford produced cars in Camaçari-BA, Taubaté-SP, and off-road vehicles (Troller) in Horizonte-CE.

    The company will keep selling vehicles, especially the Ford Ranger, produced in Argentina and other products from other locations, such as the Transit, Bronco and Escape. Because of this action, Ford Expects an impact of US$ 4.1 billion in non-recurring expenses and a US$ 2.5 billion cash impact.

    Read More »

  • GM Resumes $2 Billion Investment Program in Brazil

    After freezing all investment last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, GM is now resuming its investment program of 10 billion of Brazilian Reais, equivalent to US$ 2 billion. The program funds new vehicles, infotainment systems, as well as modernization of the plants in Sao Paulo state.

    Read The Article

    PSR Analysis: GM has kept and amplified their market leadership position in Brazil. In 2020, they moved into second place. Their continuous investment on new products and productivity has been recognized…

    Read More »

  • Prototypes of 100% Brazilian e-Truck Tested at Agrale

    Agrale plans to soon start production of electric trucks with the FNM brand, a Brazilian OEM that operated from 1939 to 1979. These trucks will target urban distribution and will be produced at Unit 2 of Agrale, in Caxias do Sul-RS. The Trucks use the base of trucks Agrale completed with an electric propulsion system.

    Source: Agrale     Read The Article     Read The Article

    PSR Analysis: It is hard to say how many Electric Trucks will be sold under the FNM Brand…

    Read More »

  • NA Economic Outlook: Slower H1 2021, But Much Stronger H2 2021 Expected

    Yosyf Sheremeta
    Yosyf Sheremeta

    SUMMARY.  In our previous forecasts, we have discussed some hope for a V-shaped recovery, it did not materialize.  Our conclusion was based on several factors, such as the current economic cycle, overall strength of the economy, fiscal policy, political landscape in the US and globally, etc. After managing through the early stages of the pandemic in H1 2020, we saw good trends in H2 2020 and we had reasons to be optimistic for a quick recovery.

    However, the recovery took a slight pause during the last few months.  Unemployment continued to increase, and regional lockdowns prevented the necessary demand for a significant year-end growth.  Now that the elections are over, we’ll have yet to see what the new administration will be able to achieve during the next two years.  Specifically, if the long awaited infrastructure reform can be passed.  However, fiscal policy with near zero interest rates, which government has promised to keep in place for the near future, will provide a good platform for the economic recovery and allow us to look optimistically into 2021-2022.

    Read More »

  • VW Truck & Bus To Invest US$ 400 Million in 2021-2025

    Fabio Ferraresi
    Fabio Ferraresi

    VW Truck and Bus has announced a new cycle of investment in Brazil operations of US$ 400 Million, for the period 2021 to 2025. This is higher than the last investment cycle, that was US$ 300 million that ended in 2020. This investment will be allocated in new products, mainly in alternative propulsion systems, such as electric, and improvements in the production facilities.

    Source: AutoData       Read The Article

    PSR Analysis:  The investment reinforces VW’s Truck and Bus focus in the…

    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 »

  • Brazil Is Key To Emissions Strategies for Oil Companies

    Recently, European BP, Shell, Equinor and Total signed the agreement to meet the zero net emissions target by 2050. These companies see the Brazilian market as a key component in meeting this goal while they assemble the projects portfolio with Photovoltaic, Offshore Eolic and biofuel.

    Source: AB Solar     Read The Article

    PSR Analysis: Brazil has a clean matrix and tradition in biofuel tradition since it began using Ethanol in the 70’s and 80’s. Some companies, such as Shell, operate…

    Read More »

  • Haval Starts Building Motor Plant in Russia

    Maxim Sakov
    Maxim Sakov

    Construction of the new Haval plant is based on an investment contract. The new plant, which is scheduled to start production in 2022, Haval is expected to increase localization of its cars.

    The plant is located in Tula region, and its production should be enough to produce engines for more than 90% of the Haval cars sold in Russia.

    Investment in the project is estimated to be about US$ 55 million (4 billion Rubles). Planned annual production capacity is 80K engines.  

    Read The…

    Read More »

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