E-Battery Technology Increases Opportunities

Michael Aistrup

As battery technology increases, the opportunities for battery-powered equipment continue to grow, especially in the Lawn & Garden and recreational products segments. The factors of reduced weight, increased charging capacity and lower cost are making battery-powered equipment more attractive to consumers and commercial users in these segments.

Lawn & Garden. The capacity of lithium-ion battery technology to meet the horsepower needs of the homeowner and the commercial landscaper has grown significantly in the last couple of years. Battery-powered lawn and garden equipment can now match the power of traditional gas-powered lawn and garden equipment. Some brands now have available 56V which is more than double what was the standard power available. Batteries now charge quicker, last longer, and can hold a charge indefinitely.

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Piaggio Developing Electric Scooter For Indian Market

INDIA REPORT 
Aditya Kondejkar

Piaggio, which sells electric scooters in Europe, is developing products specifically for India but it will take 18-24 months to enter the market. It will focus on scooters and not launch electric motorcycles.

The large automaker has 2024 in its sights as a realistic go-to-market timeline for the new scooter.

“We are interested in providing customers with a solution in the two-wheeler space that (makes sense) even beyond the effect of subsidies. It is a matter of fact that the players that have entered recently in this space are gaining volumes on the base of subsidies,” says Diego Graffi, MD & CEO Piaggio India

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Regulatory Changes Could Boost India Auto Industry

India’s auto industry has slid back to the level of nearly a decade ago due to multiple regulatory changes, a slowing economy, liquidity issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aditya Kondejkar

The auto industry has shown signs of recovery over the last couple of months; however, an additional demand push is required to generate sustainable growth. The government is evaluating a series of possible measures such as a revision in the goods and services tax (GST) rate and a production-linked incentive and scrapage policy.

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GST Revision: The GST council is evaluating an industry 10% GST cut across categories of vehicles.

This GST revision will defiantly neutralize the impact of the price hike due to BS-VI upgradation. Further, this GST revision will give a strong thrust to auto sales during the coming festive seasons. 

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COVID-19 Hits European Pleasure Marine Industry

Natasa Mulahalilovic
Natasa Mulahalilovic

The year 2020 started very well for pleasure boat builders across the Europe but it was battered in mid-year by COVID-19. The Dusseldorf trade show, Boot, held at the end of January, ended with a positive outlook and promising results for 2020. Order books were full, thanks to the great boating mood created in previous years.

The unexpected and violent Covid-19 storm came up in March. Nobody was prepared to face the challenge. Builders had to stop production or to reduce their capacities to a minimum during April and May. Production schedules had to be reorganized according to security measures imposed by the local governments.

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Chip Shortages Cause Worst Festive Season in Decade for Auto Industry

Aditya Kondejkar

2021’s festive period from Navratri to Diwali (October) marked the worst performance for India automakers in nearly a decade. Usually, sales of PVs peak during the period, however, the demand was much lower this year. 

Further, two-wheeler and tractor sales dropped by about 10%. The major reason for this drop is supply-side challenges on semiconductors and lack of demand in entry-level segments for both PVs and two-wheelers.

In the commercial vehicles space, the situation was somewhat better with an increase in demand for interstate movement of goods.

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VI B Emissions Seen Boosting China’s Auto Industry

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

The new national standard for automotive emissions, scheduled to be implemented July 1, 2023, could boost China’s auto industry, say industry insiders.

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and other departments recently issued a joint notice proposing that the National VI Emission Standards for automobiles (National VI B) be implemented nationwide July 1, 2023.

Industry insiders believe that the implementation of the new regulations will drive car companies to accelerate technological upgrading, thereby achieving green and low-carbon development of the automotive industry.

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CV Industry Is Moving in Top Gear

INDIA REPORT 
Aditya Kondejkar

The commercial industry will grow with trucks and buses expected to do well. Truck sales will improve as many industries require more units as they are running at full capacity

The Indian economy managed to revive itself during the first and second COVID waves and quickly achieved a V-shaped recovery.

This year, GST is reaching high levels. GST collection has witnessed a growth of 26% YoY – YTD CY22. Furthermore, the generation of e-way bills is increasing rapidly. The generation of e-way bills is directly proportional to truck utilization and drives vehicle demand.

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U.S. Powersports Industry Grows in 2021

Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released economic data for 2021 showing the outdoor recreation industry’s impact on the U.S. economy. Key highlights from the 2021 data on the U.S. outdoor recreation economy include: 1. $862 billion in economic output; 2. 1.9% of GDP, and 3. 4.5 million jobs.

Trips and travel have come back, record sales in many outdoor segments, manufacturing increasing, as well as the drive to continue to recreate for quality of life has allowed the outdoor industry to bounce back from the effects of COVID-19.

“The continued strength of the outdoor economy is no surprise to the marine industry, where we continue to see incredible growth with new and younger customers taking to our brands each year,” said Chris Drees, President of Mercury Marine, the world’s leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines.

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Electric Boats Gain Industry Share

There seems little doubt that electric powered boats will grow as the fast-improving technology trickles down from the automotive industry, which is driving battery technology, to the marine engine industry.

Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

Today the electric boat has become a $4.5 billion global marine industry segment, and a report by IDTechEx shows that the market for hybrid and pure electric boats will rise significantly to over $20 billion worldwide by 2027.

Brushless permanent magnet electric motors and advances in lithium ion battery technology have allowed leaps to be made in the rush to marine electric. Lithium-ion batteries are half as heavy as lead-acid batteries and last three times as long, and advances in their effectiveness and stability have been significant.

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