In a move that signals a shift in strategy, General Motors (GM) has pressed pause on its highly anticipated hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing facility in Detroit, MI. First announced in September 2024, the $55 million factory was set to breathe new life into the old State Fairgrounds site and create roughly 300 skilled jobs in the process. Spanning nearly 292,500 square feet, the facility was expected to become a major player in GM’s push toward alternative fuels.
In May 2025, those plans were officially put on hold.
Mahindra & Mahindra’s acquisition of a 58.96% stake in SML Isuzu for ₹555 crore marks a calculated push to expand its presence in the intermediate and light commercial vehicle (ICV and LCV) segments. With minimal exposure in the bus segment and a modest 3% market share in >3.5T CVs, this move is structured to unlock operational synergies, enhance platform capabilities, and fill existing product portfolio gaps.
Mahindra & Mahindra’s (M&M agreement to acquire a controlling stake in SML Isuzu comes at a pivotal point in the Indian commercial vehicle (CV) industry, where demand is gradually recovering post-COVID and the LCV and ICV segments are projected to lead growth. The $64,824,000 USD (₹555 crore) investment—targeted via the purchase from Sumitomo Corporation and Isuzu Motors Ltd—positions M&M to double its CV market share from 3% to 6% immediately, with stated ambitions of reaching 10–12% by FY31 and 20% by FY36.
Last month, China National Heavy Duty Truck Group and Toyota Motor Corporation signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop hydrogen powered commercial vehicles.
China is a market with great potential for the promotion and popularization of hydrogen energy, and long-haul heavy-duty logistics vehicles are an important application scenario that highly matches hydrogen energy.
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.
Komatsu announced that its consolidated net income for the fiscal year ending March 2026 is expected to decrease by 30% year on year to 309 billion yen. This is lower than the market forecast of 403 billion yen. The U.S. administration’s tariff policy will have a negative impact of $650 Million USD (94.3 billion yen). The exchange rate assumption of 1 yen = 135 yen (compared with 152.8 yen in the previous fiscal year) is also a factor, as it reflects an appreciation of the yen by approximately 8 yen compared with the current market rate.
Of the 943 billion yen, 785 billion yen is attributable to increased production costs due to tariffs, and 158 billion yen is attributable to a decrease in sales volume due to reduced demand.
Japan Engine Corporation, a manufacturer of marine engines, says it has begun final testing of a new engine that uses a fuel mixture of ammonia and heavy fuel oil. The testing involves running the engine alone in a factory to confirm safety and to check for abnormal behavior. Testing is expected to be completed by September, with production planned to begin in October.
The large, low-speed marine engine developed by the company can burn up to 95% ammonia (by heat ratio) mixed with heavy fuel oil. The engine used in this trial will be installed in an ammonia carrier ship currently under development with Nippon Yusen and others. The ship is expected to be completed in fiscal 2026.
The KTM Group, under the parent company Pierer Mobility AG, is currently navigating significant financial headwinds. Late November 2024 saw KTM AG enter a 90-day period of self-administration, a form of insolvency protection, burdened by approximately €3 billion in debt.
This move initiated a critical restructuring phase aimed at stabilizing the company’s financial position. A key milestone was reached in late February 2025 when creditors approved KTM’s restructuring plan, agreeing to a 30% debt repayment by May 23, 2025. This agreement hinged on KTM successfully raising €600 million by this crucial deadline, leading to an active search for potential investors.
Both Volvo and International Truck have initiated layoffs this year due to sluggish orders and high production capacity in preparation for a potential 2026 truck pre-buy ahead of the phase 3 GHG Emission Regulations scheduled for implementation in 2027.
Volvo Trucks North America plans to lay off up to another 350 workers from a Virginia plant as part of job cuts affecting up to 980 employees across the country since the beginning of the year.
Employees at the New River Valley plant in Dublin, Virginia, were notified of the workforce reduction this month, and their last day at the facility will be June 27, Volvo spokesperson Janie Coley said.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency which regulates maritime transport, has voted to implement a global cap on carbon emissions from ocean shipping and a penalty on entities that exceed that limit.
The agreement makes the shipping industry the first sector to agree on an internationally mandated target to reduce emissions along with a global carbon price. The agreement includes standards for greenhouse gas intensity from maritime shipping fuels, with those standards starting in 2028 and reducing through 2035. The end goal is to reach net-zero emissions in shipping by 2050
Agrishow 2025, held April 28-May 2, 2025, in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, confirmed Brazil’s leadership in Agricultural innovation. The show spotlighted sustainable tech, automation, and digital solutions, with both business and attendance increasing since the last show in 2024. The focus: boosting productivity, reducing environmental impact, and preparing for a tech-driven ag future.
Four representatives of the Power Systems Research South America Office representatives attended the 30th edition of Agrishow, Latin America’s premier agricultural technology fair. The event showcased cutting-edge machinery, sustainable solutions, and the latest in precision agriculture.
Carlos Briganti, Managing Director South America Operations for Power Systems Research (PSR), participated in a major article on the future of diesel in trucks and buses in the March 2025 issue of AUTODATA magazine.
AUTODATA is a leading provider of technical information and software solutions for the automotive aftermarket. AUTODATA specializes in delivering up-to-date, manufacturer-verified technical information used for servicing, maintaining, and repairing cars, light commercial vehicles, and motorcycles.
A study by Power Systems Research published in the magazine notes that fossil fuel and its renewable variants such as biodiesel and HVO will dominate the cargo and passenger transport scene for many years to come.
As reported in AUTODATA, the PSR survey indicates that diesel, with small portions of a mixture of biodiesel and HVO, is now responsible for driving 99% of trucks and buses in Brazil, a percentage that drops to 94% in the European Union, 89% in the United States – and it is not because more low-emission alternatives are used there, but because 7% of the fleet is powered by gasoline. Another 3% run on natural gas and only 1% correspond to electric models. China is more advanced with 81% diesel, 10% gas and 9% electric. PSR
(Click the Read More» link to view the report in the full post.)
AUTODATA Power Systems Research 
