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Yuchai, Kim Long Motor Vietnam Sign Agreement
CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao Following the opening of Yuchai’s Thailand factory, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Co., Ltd. (Yuchai) and Kim Long Motor Hue Joint Stock Company, a subsidiary of Vietnam’s FUTA Group (Kim Long Motor), have signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement in Vietnam. The two parties have jointly initiated the construction of an engine factory with a total investment of $260 million.
The engine factory, a collaboration between Yuchai Machinery Co., Ltd. and Kim Long Motor Hue, a subsidiary of Vietnam’s FUTA Group, will be invested in two phases, with the first phase expected to commence production in the second quarter of 2025. The factory will be equipped with a globally leading, highly automated engine assembly line, primarily producing Yuchai’s full range of diesel and natural gas engines for applications in commercial vehicles, engineering machinery, agricultural machinery, ships, power generation, and more, with an annual production capacity exceeding 12,000 units.
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Iseki To Move Production To Indonesia
JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro Iseki will produce 90% of its products for overseas markets, mainly Europe and the United States, in Indonesia by 2030. The company will gradually transfer the production of tractors and other products for overseas markets that have been handled domestically and will use the consolidation of production as an opportunity to review product design.
In Japan, the market for agricultural machinery is shrinking, and it is difficult to secure human resources. The company will strengthen the position of its production base in Indonesia to expand its overseas business, particularly in Europe and the United States.
The production capacity of the local plant increased to 22,000 units in 2023, a 20% increase over the previous capacity. At present, the production transfer is about 60% complete.
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Indonesia Moves To Reduce Chinese Ownership of Nickel Projects
INDONESIA REPORT
Akihiro Komuro Indonesia is trying to reduce Chinese investment in new nickel mining and smelting operations in order to qualify for U.S. tax incentives. Under the Biden administration’s Inflation-Reduction Act (IRA), large tax incentives will apply after 2025. However, it does not apply to batteries sourced from “foreign entities of concern,” such as companies in which Chinese capital holds more than 25% of the shares, or to EVs that use nickel or other key minerals. Indonesia’s nickel industry will be hit hard by these conditions. This is because the country has been the world’s largest producer of nickel for the past four years, thanks to a large influx of Chinese capital into its mining and smelting operations.
According to three people familiar with the matter, the Indonesian government and the nickel industry are working on new investment projects in which Chinese companies will have a smaller stake. It is possible that the nickel supplied through these deals will be eligible for tax benefits under the IRA. However, in order for the Indonesian nickel industry to receive tax benefits, it will also need to negotiate a trade agreement with the United States. The Indonesian side is proposing an agreement limited to critical minerals.
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LG, Hyundai Open Indonesia EV Battery Plant
SOUTH KOREA REPORT
South Korean battery giants LG Energy Solutions and Hyundai Motor have opened their first battery plant in Indonesia. The plant will produce batteries for electric vehicles to be sold locally and in neighboring countries. Indonesian President Joko made the announcement at a ceremony held July 3 in the Karawang region near the capital, Jakarta, to mark the opening of the new plant.
The investment is $1.2 billion, split 50-50 between LG Energy and Hyundai Motor. The annual battery…
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Honda To Cut Thai Car Production
THAILAND REPORT
Akihiro Komuro Honda said it plans to integrate its two automotive manufacturing plants in Thailand by 2025. The move will cut annual production capacity in Thailand by 50% to 270,000 units.
Production at the Ayutthaya plant will be discontinued and consolidated at the Prachinburi plant in central Thailand. The Ayutthaya plant has an annual production capacity of 150,000 units. Honda's total production capacity in Thailand is 270,000 units, but there was a surplus of 147,000 units in…
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Suzuki Withdraws from Thai 4-wheel Vehicle Production
THAILAND REPORT
Akihiro Komuro Suzuki says it will withdraw from four-wheel vehicle production in Thailand. Production at the local subsidiary will cease by the end of 2025, and vehicles made at the main plant in India will be exported to Thailand for sale. Thailand has long been a stronghold of Japanese automakers, but Chinese automakers have gone on the offensive with low-cost EVs, and with Subaru’s decision to pull out, the plight of Japanese automakers is becoming more apparent.
Suzuki Motor Thailand (SMT), a local subsidiary, will cease production by the end of 2025, and SMT will focus on sales and customer service in Thailand. Thai Suzuki Motor, which produces motorcycles and outboard engines, will continue operations.
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Malaysia Overtakes Thailand in New Vehicle Sales
THAILAND REPORT
Rankings of new vehicle sales in Southeast Asia are shifting, with Malaysia overtaking Thailand to take second place in 2023. The Philippines overtook Vietnam to take fourth place. EV sales continue to grow across the region, particularly in Thailand.
New vehicle sales in six major Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia and Thailand, totaled 3.34 million units in 2023, down 2% from the previous year. This was the first decline in three years. Rising interest rates weighed on the market. In Southeast Asia, customers with low equity often buy cars with car loans, which was affected by higher lending rates and stricter underwriting.
Despite the headwinds, sales increased in Malaysia and the Philippines. Sales in Malaysia rose 11% to 790,000 units, a record high, and the country became the second largest market in the region for the first time. The introduction of sales tax exemptions for domestically produced vehicles as part of an economic stimulus package provided a boost.
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Japanese Car Share Plummets in Thailand, China Gains
THAILAND REPORT
Akihiro Komuro The share of Japanese automakers in Thailand’s new car market, once considered a “stronghold for Japanese cars,” is plummeting. This is due to the rapid adoption of electric vehicles due to the government’s preferential policies and the rise of Chinese manufacturers focusing on electric vehicles. Thailand is also the largest automobile manufacturing base in Southeast Asia, and this could affect the entire regional market. According to a tally by Toyota Motor’s Thai subsidiary, the nine Japanese giants will have a combined market share of 77.8% in 2023. They once held a 90% share, but the 2023 mark was 7.6 percentage points lower than the previous year.
In Thailand, companies that import EVs can receive a subsidy of up to 150,000 baht (about $600,000) per vehicle and a tariff reduction of up to 40% if they sign a memorandum of understanding with the government. More than 10 companies, including Chinese EV giant BYD, have signed the MOU because of the lower selling price.
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Thailand Lithium Deposit World’s Third Largest
THAILAND REPORT
Akihiro Komuro The Thai government has announced the discovery of a large lithium deposit, calling the deposit the third largest in the world after Bolivia and Argentina. It has estimated reserves of approximately 14.8 million tons. The deposit was found at two sites in the southern province of Phang Nga. However, it will take some time to find out how much of the discovered resources can be used.
Thailand is keen to become the center of EV production in Southeast Asia, leveraging its experience in assembling conventional cars, and the discovery of the lithium deposit will give the country a boost in achieving this goal.
Source: AFPBB
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Could Toyota’s Ammonia Engine Bring the End of EVs?
The technology is the result of a collaboration of Toyota with the GAC Group, a Chinese state-owned manufacturer. The ammonia engine is a form of internal combustion engine (ICE) powered primarily by ammonia, (ammonia is comprised of a nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms). It does not contain carbon. As a result, when it’s burned in an ICE, it does not release carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases. In the effort to decarbonize, the potential of this type of technology is considerable.
Source: Hydrogen Fuel News: Read The Article
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