European Economic Outlook, April 2021

In this episode of PSR PowerTALK, Christopher Bamforth, European Market Analyst for Power Systems Research, comments on his outlook for the European economy.

Transcript

Welcome to the PSR PowerTALK podcast, produced by Power Systems Research.

00:06 Emiliano Marzoli:

From Power Systems Research, hello, I am Emiliano Marzoli, editor of PSR PowerTALK. And today we’re going to discuss the economic outlook for Europe with Christopher Bamforth, our European Market Analyst.

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GM Announces LCV To Be Produced in Brazil

This pickup truck will be produced at the São Caetano plant using the GEM platform, the leader in the compact car segment with Chevrolet Onyx. This vehicle will be smaller than the GM S-10, produced in São José dos Campos, Brazil, and bigger than the old Montana. It should compete with Fiat Toro, leader in sales ant he Pick-up segment.

Source: M&T      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: GM hopes to follow the success history of Stellantis in Brazil with a smaller, yet not compact pick-up. The successful history of GM with pickups in Brazil, since the 70’s  with the C-10, D-10,  D-20 and more recently with the S-10, in addition to sales leadership and brand recognition puts GM in a good position to get market share from Stellantis. In addition, the use of the GEM platform is a competitive advantage. The volume forecast in our databases will be about 50,000 units per year for this model.   PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development-South America, for Power Systems Research

GAZ Increased LCV Production by 19% in Q1 2021

Maxim Sakov
Maxim Sakov

The GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod has made 11,300 LCVs in Q1 2021, according to the Trade Ministry of Russia. That’s 18.7% higher than the same period of last year. HD truck production by the GAZ Group increased by 29% in Q1 2021, from 1,700 to 2,200 units.

In total, according to the Russian Statistic bureau “Rosstat”, production growth of Russian on-highway vehicles increased by 13.7%. OEMs have made 402,800 units. LCV output has grown by 37.7%, trucks by 27.1%, and passenger cars by 12.1%.

Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Statistics show that now we are seeing the realization of pent-up demand, which is especially active for commercial vehicles. For passenger cars, this process is also visible (four times sales growth during April), but already it is coming to an end, and after few months we can expect to see negative figures in this segment.    PSR

Maxim Sakov is Market Consultant-Russia Operations for Power Systems Research

PowerTALK™ News, August 2021

Taiwan is a one of the world’s leading producers of digital chips for everything from commercial vehicles and autos to Lawn & Garden and other consumer products. Read Erik Martin’s report on Taiwan’s chip production in the August issue of PowerTALK™ News.

Here are more articles in this issue:  

  • Global:
    • 20%+ Growth in Truck Production
    • Bitcoin Energy Consumption
  • DataPoint: U.S. Crawlers
  • Europe: Recovery Stresses Supply Chain
  • South America:
    • Ford Ends Troller Production
    • Toyota Suspends Production
    • Komatsu Invests in Para Facility
  • Japan: Honda Staff Seek Retirement
  • South Korea: Hyundai, LG Chem Build Batteries
  • Southeast Asia: COVID Disrupts Supply Network
  • India: Scrappage Policy Is Launched
  • Russia:
    • Ag Equipment Sales Jump
    • KAMAZ Builds Parts for Aurus Cars
    • Czech Republic Builds Electric SUV

Eletra Converts Trucks and Buses to Electric in Brazil

Eletra started converting Trucks and Buses from 3.5 to 54 Tons for the range of 50km to 150km by replacing the actual Powertrain (ICE, Transmission, Axels,) and suspension with batteries, electric drive and new suspension. The main benefits for the approach is to provide 30% less cost than a new Electric Truck and shorten the timing to meet sustainability targets, since the retrofit is done quickly. Companies like Ambev (AB-Inbev) announced 102 trucks retrofitted with Eletra.

Source: M&T    Read The Article

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PowerTALK™ News, November 2021

Akihiro Komuro, PSR’s analyst in Japan, reports on the expansion of VinFast EV subsidiary of the Vietnamese conglomerate VinGroup that is expanding to the US. VinFast has announced plans for a US headquarters and manufacturing plant in California. Other stories in this issue of PowerTALK include:

  • Global Economic Forecast: On Path To Recovery
  • DataPoint: North America AG Tractors
  • Europe: BMW Starts Production of EV Motorcycle
  • South America
    • Stellantis Confirms Second LCV
    • Higer Bus To Produce EV Buses in Brazil
    • Concessions for Proconve L7 Seen
    • Argentine Auto Sales Decline
  • China: Weichai Produces 150-Ton Mining Truck
  • Japan: NEDO Begins R&D on Hydrogen Aircraft
  • South Korea: Hyundai Launches Wage Half Price Plant
  • Vietnam: VinFast Launches EVs, Plans US HQ and Production Plant
  • India: Chip Shortage Batters Auto Industry
  • Russia
    • AutoVAZ Halts Production
    • Assembly of Russian Railway Kits Starts in India
    • Russian Mega-Project in Doubt

VWCO To Invest US$ 400 million in Four Years in Brazil

The amount is expected to be directed mainly to new technologies, such as for the Proconve P8 introduction in 2023, new technologies for Connectivity and development of sales and aftersales areas.

Source: O Estado de São Paulo     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The investment is higher than the former investments cycles but keeps the same line and makes the company one of the most important players in the Truck and Bus industry in South America. With this announcement, VWCO confirms its belief in the Brazilian Market and indicates its willingness to keep its market share lead. PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development South America, for Power Systems Research

2021 Trailer Industry Grows 33% at 163,000 Units

The Brazil trailer industry registered 163,000 new license plates in 2021 vs. 122,000 in 2020, growing 33.5%. The result could have been even better since the segment was affected by a lack of components, such as steel, tires, etc. Export sales climbed to 4,600 units vs. 2,100 units in 2021.

Source: M&T / Anfir     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The growth is in line with truck sales that confirm the health of the transportation industry. The growth of exports confirms the recovery of key markets of Trailers and MHV.

Fabio Ferraresi is Director Business Development-South America for Power Systems Research

In 2025, China’s Construction Machinery Electric Drive Products May Reach 25%

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

Electrification has become one of the important directions of green development within China’s construction machinery segment. Domestic construction machinery leaders have increased the development of equipment electrification and have launched a variety of electrification products.

Some professional organizations predict that by 2025 the penetration rate of main products may reach 25%. The electrification of construction machinery initially replaces conventional diesel engine drive with electric drive and then the hydraulic device is replaced by an electric device. Concrete mixers, truck cranes, muck trucks, excavators and wheel-loaders are the most easily electrically driven products, especially for small construction machinery.

Source:  CLS     Read The Article

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Ural To Produce Axles for Heavy Trucks

RUSSIA REPORT

The Fund of Industrial Development has approved a loan of US$ 27 million (2 Bln rubles) under the “Priority Projects” program, which will allow Ural to build axles at a new production facility. The new site will allow OEM to double production of heavy load trucks and to create about 4,000 jobs.

Currently, these axles are being purchased in China. Ural is going to make this product for its own use, and for sale to other truck makers. Production under the program is expected to begin in 2023.

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