XCMG Group, Toyota Sign Cooperation Pact

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

XCMG Group and Toyota have signed a strategic cooperation agreement in the field of hydrogen energy. The companies will build a complete hydrogen energy machine and core component industry base centered around Xuzhou, which will drive development of the hydrogen energy industry in Xuzhou.

XCMG Group expects this contract to aid both parties to collaborate and innovate in cutting-edge technology research and development applications such as hydrogen vehicles, fuel cells, and core components.

Using hydrogen energy to change the future is the goal of Toyota and XCMG. The foundation for the development of Xuzhou’s green and low-carbon energy industry is solid.

Source: D1CM     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: XCMG Group and Toyota have strong complementary prospects, and huge potential for cooperation and development. Working together, they will accelerate the progress of off-road machinery from traditional fuels to electrification and finally to fuel cells.

Toyota has always been a major supporter of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as an alternative to electric vehicles. Toyota will focus on selling hydrogen powered trucks and cars in Europe and China. In 2022, Toyota sold over 3,900 fuel cell vehicles, while its global sales are about 9.5 million units.

Toyota hopes to sell 200,000 hydrogen powered vehicles by 2030. The products of XCMG Group include five pillar industries: Construction Machinery, Lifting Machinery, Piling Machinery, Concrete Machinery, and Road Machinery, as well as strategic new industries such as Mining Machinery, Aerial Work Platforms, Environmental Industry, Agricultural Machinery, Port Machinery, and Rescue Support Equipment. It has over 60 enterprises under its jurisdiction, including mainframe, trade services, and new business models. This cooperation could have a major impact on both parties. PSR

Jack Hao is Senior Research Manager – China for Power Systems Research

Companies Support Government Fleet Renewal Program

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Gerdau, Vamos and Volkswagen Caminhões have formed a partnership to support the national fleet renewal program, aimed at removing from roads vehicles more than 20 years old.

The fleet renewal program provides for the purchase of low emission and more efficient vehicles by self-employed drivers and other operations. Under the plan, 140 acquired vehicles were sent to Gerdau’s headquarters in Araçariguama, which is responsible for their destruction and recycling.

At the same time, an extension for the incentives program of up to 1 Billion Reais, (US$ 200 M) was announced.

Source: G1      Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The total of resources and mechanisms to allow the access to the resources still are not sufficient for the program to impact the market significantly. However, the small inroads demonstrate the desire of Government and private entities to make changes and should impact the market going forward. More deployments and adjustments in the program should come in the medium term. We will keep monitoring and adjusting our short-medium term forecast as it progresses.   PSR

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

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 

2023 Cannes Yachting Festival Sets Records

EUROPE REPORT
Natasa Mulahalilovic
Natasa Mulahalilovic

The 46th Cannes Yachting Festival was the largest one ever, hosting 610 exhibitors and 705 boats. The Cannes Yachting Festival remains the largest and the most visited European pleasure boat show organized on the water.

The show’s organizers said the event has never hosted that many motor and sailing, mono and multi hulls, outboard boats, ribs and semi-rigid boats, tenders, electric, hydro-foiling, and other types of boats. 

The show ran Sept. 12-17, offering six days of meetings and exchange with boat builders, engine and equipment manufacturers, designers and architects and other professionals from the pleasure marine industry.

The event hosted by a beautiful Mediterranean Cannes attracted 55,000 visitors coming from more than 130 worldwide countries. As usual, it was organized in two locations in the city, Vieux Port and Port Conto des Cannes. Motorboats and yachts in all sizes and with all propulsion types were displayed at the Vieux Port and sailing yachts and catamarans at the Port Canto des Cannes.

Read More»

Brazil To Become Hub for EV Bus Chassis Production

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 
Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Mercedes is exhibiting its electric bus chassis eO500U at Busworld in Brussels targeting other markets where the body is assembled over the bus chassis. Traditionally, the exports of Mercedes from Brazil are over 50% of the total production and it targets to expand this percentage with the new BEV, that has WEG drives, BorgWarner batteries assembled in Brazil with imported battery supplies.

Source: Valor Economico     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: While the push from São Paulo city to buy only BEV buses in the near future jeopardizes current chassis manufacturers business, it boos the development of BEV chassis and allow exports to other countries. Mercedes runs against the clock to compete with players like BYD and Higher with BEV chassis already developed.   PSR

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

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.

Read More»

Recharging Slows Electrification of HD Trucks

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

In 2022, the penetration rate of new energy units in the commercial vehicle market exceeded 10%, and the penetration rate of heavy-duty trucks was close to 5%. The new energy subsidy policy was scheduled to be withdrawn at the end of 2023, but data for the January to October period is basically the same as the previous year. The share of new energy units for the commercial vehicle segment is far lower than the market share of 30.4% for new energy passenger vehicles.

With the accelerated adjustment of China’s transportation structure, it is expected that by 2025, the national railway and water freight volume will increase by 10% and 12%, respectively, compared to 2020, while the road freight volume will relatively decrease. In this context, bulk and ultra long-distance road transportation will gradually exit the market, and the advantages of short and point-to-point road trunk transportation with radii of around 500 kilometers and 300 kilometers will be further highlighted.

Read More»