2022 Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) gains 2.9%

St. Paul, MN (April 8, 2023)— The Power Systems Research Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) decreased from 108 to 106, or -1.9%, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, compared to Q4 2022. The year-over-year (Q1 2022 to  Q1 2023) gain for the PSR-TPI was, 103 to 106, or 2.9%.

The PSR-TPI is a quarterly truck production report that measures global truck production in six regions:  North America, China, Europe, South America, Japan & Korea and Emerging Markets.

This data comes from OE Link™, the proprietary database maintained by Power Systems Research. The next update of the Power Systems Research TPI will be in July 2023 and will reflect changes in the TPI during Q2 2023.  PSR

Jim Downey is vice president – global data products at Power Systems Research
Chris Fisher is the senior commercial vehicle analyst at Power Systems Research

PowerTALK™, May 2023

Read about Show Reports in Europe and South America in the May issue of PowerTALK Report. In this issue, you’ll also find a global forecast for inboard marine engines, Kia’s plans for tailored EVs and Weichai’s plans to join forces with BYD to jointly produce batteries.

IN THIS ISSUE
  • Alternative Power:
    • Caterpillar and NMG Join Forces
    • Volkswagen Plans Its Largest Battery Factory In Canada
    • Cummins To Invest $1 Billion in Hydrogen Network
    • Japan’s Love of Hydrogen Power Could Lead To Failure
  • Global: Marine Inboard Market Forecast: US$4.45B
  • North America: EPA Releases Phase Three GHG Standards
  • DataPoint: North American Lawn Mowers
  • Brazil/South America:
    • Show Report: Agrishow 2023
    • Show Report: Automec Special
  • Europe: Show Report: Hannover Messe 2023
  • Japan: Hitachi Plans Remote Excavator
  • South Korea: Kia Plans Customer Specific EVs
  • Thailand:  China To Build EV Plant in Thailand
  • China: Weichai, BYD To Jointly Produce Batteries
  • India: Rural Areas Play Vital Role in EV Adoption

PowerTALK™, June 2023

Commercial vehicles are in the news this month. Japan is looking at a major merger of truck OEMs, Cummins is delivering a Hydrogen fuel cell truck, Brazil has announced incentives for MHVs and KCMG says it will produce EV trucks in Brazil. Read these reports and more in the June issue of PowerTALK News.

IN THIS ISSUE
  • Alternative Power:
    • Electric Vehicles and The H2 Battle to be Included in the Family
    • New Battery Recycling Center Will Have A Big Impact On Europe
  • Global: Electric Scooter Market Could Reach $56B in 2033
  • North America: CARB Is Phasing Out Heavy Trucks
  • DataPoint: North American Off-Highway Trucks
  • Brazil/South America:
    • Brazil Announces Incentives for MHV and LV
    • XCMG To Produce EV Trucks in Brazil in Two Years
  • Japan: Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso To Merge
  • South Korea: Hyundai Motor and LG Energy To Build Battery Plant in U.S.
  • Indonesia:  Indonesia Plans To Become Major Player in Car Industry
  • China: Cummins Accelera Delivers Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck
  • India: Suzuki Moves Aggressively To Regain India Market Share

Q2 2023 Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) gains 9.4%

St. Paul, MN — The Power Systems Research Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) increased from 106 to 116, or 9.4%, for the three-month period ending June 30, 2023, from Q1 2023. The year-over-year (Q2 2022 to Q2 2023) gain for the PSR-TPI was, 112 to 116, or 3.6%.

The PSR-TPI is a quarterly truck production report that measures global truck production in six regions: North America, China, Europe, South America, Japan and Korea and Emerging Markets.

This data comes from OE Link™, the proprietary database maintained by Power Systems Research. The next update of the Power Systems Research TPI will be in October 2023 and will reflect changes in the TPI during Q3 2023. PSR

Jim Downey is vice president – global data products at Power Systems Research and Chris Fisher is the senior commercial vehicle analyst at Power Systems Research            

PowerTALK™, July 2023

Production is the key word in PowerTALK articles for July. Read about new techniques for battery production, supply chain problems in Japan, production cutbacks in China and new facilities in South America.

IN THIS ISSUE
  • Alternative Power:
    • What Is Future of Alternative Power?
    • BYD Sets JV for EV Batteries
    • Offshore Hydrogen 10X Cost of LNG
    • VW Plans Dry Battery
  • Global:
    • Q2 2023 Economy Positive
    • Outdoor Power Equipment Shifts To Electric
  • DataPoint: North America Mixers
  • Europe:
    • Show Report: Electric Hybrid Marine
    • Ammonia Powered Fuel Cell
  • Brazil/South America:
    • Alternative Power MHVs Decline
    • First VW Truck Built in Argentina
    • BYD Expands Brazil Production
    • Scania Truck Has 900km Range
  • Japan: Semiconductor Shortage Hurts Honda
  • South Korea: Hyundai Cuts China Production
  • China: New VI-B Emissions
  • India: OEMs Target Premium MC Segment

PowerTALK™, September 2023

Read about plans by the state of California to build a hydrogen refueling network even though the state has only 12,000 hydrogen-powered cars in the September issue of PowerTALK News. Chris Fisher provides an update on hydrogen powered commercial vehicles and Michael Aistrup delivers an update on e-bicycles.

IN THIS ISSUE
  • ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT
    • California Building Hydrogen Refueling Network for Cars
    • New Zinc-Air Batteries Challenge Lithium Batteries
    • The Truth About EV Battery Recycling
    • Australian Mining — Can It Power All The New EVs?
  • GLOBAL:
    • Hydrogen Fuel Cell Commercial Vehicle Update
    • E-Bike Market Analysis
  • DATAPOINT: NA Tractor/Loader/Backhoes (TLBs)   
  • BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA: 
    • Companies Support Fleet Renewal Program
    • Motorcycle Production To Reach 1.5 Million in 2023
    • BEV Demand Boosts Brazil Mining Investment
  • JAPAN: Target of 300,000 EV Chargers by 2030 Planned
  • SOUTH KOREA:  Battery Companies Increase Sales
  • VIETNAM: Ridesharing Giant Gojek Converts To EVs
  • CHINA: Sany MOTA Launches Battery Rental Business
  • INDIA: Bus Sector Bounces Back; EVs Fuel Post-Covid Growth

Global Economy Seeing Modest Growth with Positive Outlook

GLOBAL REPORT
Jim Downey

SUMMARY. Many factors are pointing to modest growth in Q3 2023. This should lead to total production globally growing at +2.4% in 2023 vs 2022 (it was 2.6% in Q2 2023), and the outlook for the next few years remains positive with growth accelerating from 2025.  Apart from Russia and Ukraine, the main countries to show a decline are South Korea, Slovakia, Netherlands. However, the segment picture shows some differences.

Several drivers are influencing the global economic picture.

  • Fuel prices eased earlier this year, recently they have grown slightly and are no longer showing signs of easing. This remains a serious issue.
  • Supply chains remain constrained and show no signs of improving.
  • The war in Ukraine shows no sign of a speedy conclusion, despite recent successes by Ukraine.
  • Ukrainian exports of wheat, other grains and fertilizer have declined massively following Russia’s ending on the Grain Deal. Alternative routes (overland, and via the Danube) simply don’t have the necessary capacity.
  • Inflation is easing, but it continues to be a major concern for central banks as they consider raising their interest rates. This will pose a risk to economic growth in all regions. Inflation and price increases are putting OEMs in a difficult situation.
  • Risk of recession continues in the background for several countries, notably China, USA and Germany, and this could drag other countries into recession.
  • Covid is still lingering with global deaths now at over 6.9 million, and a new variant has the medical world concerned.
  • Latent demand for machinery keeps building, which is a positive sign.
Read More»

Q3 2023 Power Systems Research Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) Climbs 3.6%

St. Paul, MN — The Power Systems Research Truck Production Index (PSR-TPI) climbed from 104 to 108, or 3.6%, for the 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2023. The PSR-TPI dropped from 117 to 108, or 7.7%, for the three-month period ending Sept. 30, 2023, from  Q2 2023.

The PSR-TPI is a quarterly truck production report that measures global truck production in six regions:  North America, China, Europe, South America, Japan and Korea and Emerging Markets.

This data comes from OE Link™, the proprietary database maintained by Power Systems Research. The next update of the Power Systems Research TPI will be in January 2024 and will reflect changes in the TPI during Q4 2023. PSR

Jim Downey is vice president – global data products at Power Systems Research and Chris Fisher is the senior commercial vehicle analyst at Power Systems Research 

PowerTALK™, December 2023

Worldwide EV battery development continues at a fast pace, US outdoor recreation industry hits $1 trillion, and Honda plans to drop mass production of its Honda “e” . Read about these items and more in the December PowerTALK News from Power Systems Research.

IN THIS ISSUE

ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT

  • High Energy, Cobalt-Free Lithium Ion Battery Developed
  • CATL Creates Fast Charging Skateboard
  • Record Low EV Battery Prices Reported in 2023
  • US Discovers Lithium Bonanza for EV Batteries

NORTH AMERICA: 

  • Electrify Where It Makes Sense
  • Outdoor Recreation Adds $1.5 Trillion to US Economy in 2022

DATAPOINT: NA Combines
EUROPE: Kobelco Expands European Headquarters
BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA:

  • Argentina Vehicle Production Grows in November
  • Brazil Off-Highway Machine Sales Continue To Decline
  • VW Trucks and Bus To Restart Two Shifts in January

JAPAN: Honda To Drop Mass-Produced EV “Honda e”
SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai Motor and Apple May Partner
INDIA: Mahindra Plans To Double Tractor Exports

Hyundai Motor Sells Chongqing Plant in China

SOUTH KOREA REPORT

The company sold the plant to Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Yufu Industrial Park Construction and Investment Group, which is owned by the city of Chongqing, and its affiliate will use the plant as a production base for electric vehicles.

Hyundai Motor Company has sold its finished car plant in Chongqing, China, to a Chongqing government-owned company for 1.62 billion yuan (about 33 billion yen, $222 million) in December 2023. Hyundai Motor is rushing to restructure its Chinese business, which has suffered from sluggish sales, and concentrate its management resources in the U.S. and Southeast Asia.

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