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.
In July, the Trump administration proposed a draft rule rolling back the Greenhouse Gas Phase 3 rule, among the last of – if not the biggest – looming Biden-era emissions regulations facing the trucking industry.
The proposal was announced jointly with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Lee Zeldin’s call to revoke the Endangerment Finding that has allowed presidential administrations to regulate greenhouse gases since 2009.
The repeal of greenhouse gas regulations is a long road that includes a lengthy rulemaking process and likely numerous legal challenges.
BYD announced that it has delivered a cumulative total of 90,000 vehicles to the Thai passenger car market since entering it three years ago. Last year, BYD began producing EVs at its Thai plant. BYD is preparing to produce plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHVs) to further expand its market share.
BYD reported that 6,100 of the factory’s 6,900 employees are Thai nationals. BYD also announced that it will produce plug-in hybrid electric (PHV) sedans at the Thai factory. This will be the first time BYD has produced PHVs in Thailand. The factory has an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles. Expanding the range of models produced will increase consumer choice and the factory’s operating rate.
BYD entered the Thai passenger vehicle market in 2022 by exporting the EV SUV “ATTO3” from China. BYD is focusing on establishing local factories to expand into overseas markets. The Thai factory began operations in July 2024 and is positioned as BYD’s first full-scale passenger vehicle factory overseas.
The United States and the European Union have reached a tentative trade agreement to avert a full-blown trade war as an Aug. 1, 2025, deadline for new US tariffs approaches. US President Donald Trump has indicated a new baseline tariff rate of 15% for most countries, pushing for reciprocal agreements.
This follows a similar deal with Japan, which saw a reduction from a threatened 25% to 15%. While discussions with the EU are ongoing, with both sides expressing optimism for a negotiated outcome, the EU has approved a retaliatory tariff package of up to 30% on €93 billion worth of US goods, to be activated if no agreement is reached. EU countries overwhelmingly supported these countermeasures, which would impact a wide range of US products from soybeans to aircraft.
The European agricultural machinery industry’s business climate index slightly dropped for the second consecutive month, reaching 0 points in July from +4. This decline primarily affected arable equipment, transportation, and components, unlike previous months when harvesting equipment and tractors saw deterioration.
Market confidence remains low in France, particularly for tractors, arable, and harvesting equipment, with Germany also performing poorly in these segments. Conversely, Spain, Poland, and the UK show strong confidence, leading the European market.
Chinese machinery now accounts for 30% of Brazil’s market, up from 18% a decade ago. The agricultural sector, once dominated by local firms, now sees 13.2% of its machines coming from China. Abimaq warns of risks to domestic manufacturers, including loss of market and post-sales service challenges.
Despite concerns, 2025 shows recovery: agricultural machinery sales rose 22.8% through May, construction equipment 17.3%. Abimaq, the Machinery OEM association, urges government support and “equal” competition conditions.
PSR Analysis. This market rebound in 2025 is primarily driven by favorable weather conditions and government support for small farmers. However, high interest rates and limited credit for large producers pose risks. Meanwhile, Chinese machines are gaining market share, rising from 9.7% to 13.2% in agriculture and 30% overall, raising concerns about post-sales support and declining local industry competitiveness. Without policy changes, foreign content—especially from China—will likely continue displacing domestic production long term. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development, South America, for PowerSystems Research
If current trends continue, Brazil is set to once again become Mercedes-Benz’s largest truck market worldwide, surpassing Germany as it did in 2023. This outlook was confirmed by Achim Puchert, global CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks and former head of the Brazilian operation from 2022 to 2024.
Mitsubishi Logisnext plans to increase the electrification rate of its forklifts from approximately 60% to 90% by 2035. The company has its roots in Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and it specializes in high-output engine vehicles. However, the global electrification rate has already surpassed 70%, with Chinese companies leading the way in technology. To catch up, the company is introducing new models in China that align with the trend toward electrification.
“The price of lithium-ion batteries has dropped, which has led to increased customer demand for electric forklifts,” said President Maeno of Mitsubishi Logisnext. He highlighted the need to expand the company’s product lineup to meet market needs. As part of this strategy, the company plans to introduce a locally produced electric vehicle model in China by the 2025 fiscal year. The key feature is thorough “localization.” The company has adopted locally sourced batteries, motors, hydraulic components, and other parts to reduce prices to levels comparable to those of Chinese manufacturers. Until now, the company has sold vehicles developed in Japan but has struggled against low-priced local competitors. In China, battery prices have fallen rapidly due to the increased popularity of electric vehicles (EVs). Mitsubishi Logisnext has adopted a “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” strategy to counter this trend. Depending on sales performance, the company plans to expand into markets such as Southeast Asia.
South Korea is collaborating with the government and private sector to strengthen its ties with the U.S. in the shipbuilding industry. Major companies, such as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, are establishing bases in the U.S., and the government is supporting efforts to train individuals. They are taking advantage of the Trump administration’s push to revive the shipbuilding industry to gain a share of the market for building and repairing military ships. South Korea aims to catch up with China, which holds over half of the global shipbuilding market share, by leveraging its alliance with the US.
In late June, HD Hyundai emphasized its partnership with Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO), a U.S. shipbuilding company. The two companies plan to build LNG-fueled container ships together by 2028. ECO has five commercial shipbuilding bases in the US and specializes in offshore support vessels (OSVs); however, orders have been sluggish in recent years.
China National Heavy Duty Truck Group and Toyota Motor Corporation signed a strategic cooperation agreement on April 25, at Toyota’s headquarters in Nagoya, Japan.
Toyota Motor Corporation possesses world-leading hydrogen fuel cell technology, and China National Heavy Duty Truck Group is a leading enterprise in China’s commercial vehicle industry. The hydrogen fuel cell tractor jointly developed by the two parties has already been delivered to the market in batches. In the future, the two sides will establish more extensive cooperation in the fields of cooperative research and development, demonstration and operation, promotion and application, and business model innovation of hydrogen fuel commercial vehicles, and work together to create a new ecosystem for the zero-carbon logistics industry chain.
