Kubota and Sumitomo Plan Mutual Supply of Equipment

JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

Kubota Corporation and Sumitomo Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. said they have begun discussions regarding the mutual supply of construction equipment.

Internationally, the growing demand for housing and the expected increase in construction work related to infrastructure investment and urban development, plus the increasing shortage of construction labor, are expected to create strong demand for construction equipment to improve efficiency and reduce labor requirements.

Kubota develops, manufactures, and sells small construction equipment used in urban construction, while Sumitomo Construction Machinery specializes in medium and large construction equipment used in a wide range of civil engineering and forestry work.

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Ford’s Potential Return to India

INDIA REPORT
Aditya Kondejkar

Ford Motor Co’s unexpected decision to retain its factory in Tamil Nadu and its potential plans for the assembly of the latest Endeavour signals a potential shift in strategy towards a stronger focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and leveraging India as an export hub.

This analysis delves into the implications of Ford’s potential emphasis on EVs and its ability to capitalize on India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for exports.

Globally, under its current CEO, Jim Farley, Ford is focused on the electrification and digital transformation of core segments in which it is a leader, namely trucks, SUVs, commercial vehicles, and performance cars.

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Hyundai Shifts EV Plans, Introduces Genesis Hybrid

SOUTH KOREA REPORT

Hyundai Motor Company is developing a hybrid vehicle for its Genesis luxury brand. The company had planned to focus on EVs and FCVs for the Genesis, which will be launched after 2025. The recent slowdown in the growth of the EV market has forced the company to change its strategy.

According to industry insiders, Hyundai Motor is developing a hybrid engine and related systems for the Genesis, which is expected to be launched in 2025. Hybrid models will be added to the mainstream GV80 and GV70 models. The company plans to expand its HV lineup under the Hyundai Motor and Kia brands as well, having decided to introduce HVs under its luxury car brands due to the risk of slumping sales if it continues to shift more toward EVs. Hyundai Motor’s HV sales in 2023 were up 53% from the previous year to approximately 380,000 units.

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Toyota and Chiyoda Develop Hydrogen Production System

JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

Toyota Motor Corporation and Chiyoda Corporation have announced the joint development of a hydrogen production system. The two companies plan to begin demonstration tests at Toyota’s main plant in fiscal 2025 and hope to begin marketing the system around fiscal 2027.

The system will produce hydrogen by electrolyzing water. It will have an output of about 5 megawatts and will be able to produce about 100 kilograms of hydrogen per hour. The new plant has a footprint of 6 meters wide by 2.5 meters deep, about half the size of a typical plant. By linking multiple plants, the production volume can be significantly increased.

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Kubota Plans To Produce Batteries for EV AG Equipment

JAPAN REPORT

Kubota is considering in-house production of batteries for electric agricultural equipment. It is considering developing and designing its own batteries and building a new plant in Japan.

The company intends to launch electric tractors and mowers in Europe and the United States by 2030. Kubota is preparing for increased demand in Europe, the U.S., and other markets by establishing a system for in-house production of batteries, which determine the running time of electric agricultural machinery.

Kubota currently manufactures diesel engines for agricultural machinery, mainly in Thailand and Japan and ships them to the United States and Europe for final assembly. Regarding batteries, which are a key component of electric agricultural machinery, President Kitao said, “As with engines, we would like to be able to produce batteries for Asian markets in Thailand, and those for Japan, Europe, and the United States in Japan.”

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South Korea Plans World’s Largest Semiconductor Manufacturing Base

SOUTH KOREA REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

The South Korean government announced a plan for a semiconductor industrial park in which Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will invest a total of 622 trillion won (approx. $470 Billion). With Japan and Taiwan aggressively investing in the semiconductor industry, the government aims to compete with them by establishing the world’s largest base and stabilizing the supply of semiconductors to Korea.

According to the plan announced by the government, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plan to invest 500 trillion won and 122 trillion won, respectively, by 2047. In addition to the existing 21 factories, 13 new semiconductor factories and 3 research facilities will be built. The semiconductor industrial park, which stretches from Pyeongtaek to Yongming, is expected to become the world’s largest manufacturing base with a monthly production capacity of 7.7 million wafers by 2030.

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