Production | Power Systems Research

2025-09-13

August Brazil Truck Production Below 2024

Brazilian truck production declined in August 2025, with factories manufacturing 10,096 units, down 16.3% from July (12,058 units) and down 22.9% compared to August 2024 (13,101 units). Over the first eight months of 2025, accumulated production was 88,525 trucks, slightly lower by 1% compared to the same period in 2024 (89,401 vehicles).

Domestic truck sales also fell sharply: 8,900 trucks were licensed in August, 15.9% fewer than July, and 22.6% fewer than August 2024. High interest rates are being cited as a main cause, especially affecting heavy trucks, which account for nearly half the truck market and saw a production drop exceeding 19%.

Categories: Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

São Paulo Adopts Biomethane in Bus Fleet

Fabio Ferraresi

On Sept. 2, 2025, the biggest city in Americas with biggest bus fleet, started on the path to use of biomethane as fuel in the city’s public transport fleet and garbage collection vehicles. The initiative sets rules for fuel acquisition and introduces the gradual adoption of biomethane-powered vehicles. City officials emphasize that biomethane offers lower operating and acquisition costs compared to electric buses and avoids the need for large-scale charging infrastructure.

Categories: Alternative Power, Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

Sharing of EV Battery Data Supported by METI

Akihiro Komuro

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry says it will support the development of an industry-wide system for sharing information on the degradation status of EV batteries. Toyota and Honda will provide battery-related data to used car dealers, insurance companies and others. The aim is to prevent the export of used EVs overseas and enable the domestic utilization of batteries containing critical minerals.

Currently, battery degradation is difficult to assess, resulting in low trade-in prices for used EVs in the domestic market. The fact that approximately 80% were exported overseas was a cause for concern.

Categories: Alternative Power, Batteries, Japan, Legislation, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production

Office: Japan Office

Proton Builds First EV Plant in Malaysia

Akihiro Komuro

Proton, Malaysia’s national car brand, opened its first EV factory in the state of Perak. The factory has an annual production capacity of 20,000 units, which can be expanded to 45,000.

Construction of the factory costs a total of 82 million ringgit (approximately $19.47M). Proton receives technical support from its major shareholder, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group of China. Previously, Proton imported EVs produced at Geely’s factory in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Categories: Alternative Power, Japan, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production

Office: Japan Office

New GST Is Game Changer for Autos, Tractors

Aditya Kondejkar

The September 2025 GST Council meeting introduced sweeping tax revisions that significantly lower GST rates across multiple vehicle and farm equipment categories. Tractors and their components now attract a 5% rate (from 12% for standard tractors, and from 18% for parts), while small cars, two-wheelers (up to 350cc), three-wheelers, buses, and certain commercial vehicles are enjoying reduced GST from 28% to 18%.

These changes are expected to improve affordability, stimulate demand (especially in rural and semi-urban areas), boost manufacturing and ancillary industries, and lead to job growth across the value chain.

Source: The Times of India. Read The Link

Categories: Agricultural, Indian Subcontinent, Legislation, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production, Sales

Office: India Office

2025-08-16

South Korea, US Agree on 15% Tariffs

Akihiro Komuro

The South Korean government has reached an agreement with the United States regarding tariff negotiations. Mutual and automobile tariffs will be reduced to 15%, which is the same rate as those of Japan and the European Union (EU).

According to the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), automobiles are South Korea’s leading export to the United States. Exports to the United States account for over 50% of South Korea’s total automobile exports. The South Korean government prioritized reducing automobile tariffs and engaged in negotiations with the United States.

Categories: Production, Sales, South Korea, Tariff

Office: Japan Office

CEMA Sees 3% Decline in FY2025 Shipments

Akihiro Komuro

CEMA (The Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association) said it expects domestic shipments of construction equipment in fiscal 2025 to decline 3% YOY to US$ 19.65 billion (2.8488 trillion yen). This reflects declining capital investment sentiment due to rising interest rates and the impact of the Trump administration’s tariff policies.

Exports are also expected to decline by 3%, reaching US$ 13.60 billion (1.9717 trillion yen). Sales of hydraulic and mini excavators, the mainstay products, are expected to decline. Domestic sales are expected to decrease by 4%, down US$ 365.5million (52.9 billion yen) from the previous forecast, to US$ 6.05 billion USD (877.1 billion yen). Companies are expected to reduce their capital investment due to concerns about increased borrowing costs associated with rising interest rates.

Categories: Construction, Japan, Production

Office: Japan Office

Hitachi Construction Plans Regional HQ in Chile

Fabio Ferraresi

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. plans to establish a regional headquarters in Chile to oversee and expand its operations in Latin America. The move shifts the focus from solely selling new machinery to localizing parts supply and service support, enabling faster responses to dealers and customers.

Following the end of its joint venture with Deere & Company in 2022, the company has been independently growing in the Americas, initially prioritizing North America. The decision for a Chile-based HQ reflects cultural and operational differences from North America, as well as Chile’s importance in the mining dump truck market.

Source: Hitachi Press Release Read The Article

Categories: Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

GWM Tests Hydrogen Truck in Brazil

Fabio Ferraresi

GWM has brought its Hydrogen powered by FTXT truck prototype to Brazil for tests at its Iracemápolis (SP) plant, coinciding with the factory’s inauguration Aug. 15, 2025. The vehicle combines a 105 kWh battery with 40 kg of hydrogen in onboard tanks feeding a fuel cell, producing only water vapor. Tests will begin in September, assessing safety, performance, consumption, and adaptation to Brazilian roads, first unloaded and later with simulated cargo.

Categories: Alternative Power, Commercial Vehicles, Fuel Cells, Hydrogen, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

BP Drops Hydrogen Plan in Australia

Guy Youngs

BP first bought a 40.5% operating stake in the Australian Renewable Energy Hub project in 2022, and its share in the joint venture grew to 63.57% in recent years. The project would include the installation of up to 26 GW of solar and wind generation, much of which would have been used to produce green hydrogen and ammonia.

British energy major BP has informed its partners that it intends to exit the $55 billion (USD 36.14 billion) green energy hub planned for Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

Source: PV Magazine: Read The Article

PSR Analysis: BP’s decision (which reflects BP’s recent strategy reset) comes after energy and mining giant Fortescue formally announced it has abandoned plans for a green hydrogen project in Queensland and is another blow to hydrogen in Australia. PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

Categories: Alternative Power, AltPwr, Hydrogen, Production

Office: United States Offices

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