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PowerTALK™, August 2026
Sign-up for PowerTALKIn the August 2026 issue of PowerTALK News you can read articles about China’s move to EV trucks, CATL’s truck battery swapping project, the forecast for 2026 production of PWCs, soft Argentina demand weakens Brazil exports, Hyundai winning data center power order, Geely acquiring stake in Ford’s Spanish production plant, and more.
IN THIS ISSUE
ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT
- China’s Electric Truck Moment Has Arrived
- $5M Startup Claims Rare Earth-free Electric Motor
- 2030: More Than One Million Worn Out Batteries Likely
- CATL Building Battery Swapping Hubs for EV Trucks
- Laos Used Drastic Approach To Go 100% EV Overnight
NORTH AMERICA REPORT: Daimler Truck Group Plans Two Plants
DATAPOINT REPORT: 2026 North American PWC ProductionSOUTH AMERICA/BRAZIL REPORT:
- Volvo Buses Introduces Flex Chassis for Biodiesel Operation
- BYD Adds High Floor Blade Battery Chassis To EV Bus Portfolio
- Scania Targets Bus Market Growth with Super Platform
- Falling Argentine Demand Drives 20% Decline in Brazil Exports
JAPAN REPORT: Yanmar, Hitachi Explore Equipment Collaboration
SOUTH KOREA REPORT: HD Hyundai Heavy Wins US Data Center Power Order
MALAYSIA-INDONESIA REPORT: Diesel Costs Disrupt Palm Harvest
CHINA REPORT: Geely To Acquire 34% Stake in Ford’s Spanish Plant
INDIA REPORT: Auto Expansion Bets on Next Growth Cycle -
China’s Electric Truck Moment Has Arrived
Guy Youngs Commercial trucks operate for longer hours, carry heavier loads and burn far more fuel per vehicle than passenger cars but freight diesel is even more important when looking at global diesel demand.
China’s heavy-truck electrification program is targeting 40% new-energy heavy-truck sales by 2030, more than 1.6 million vehicles in operation and roughly 20% of the national heavy-truck fleet. The plan also targets 18% of highway freight volume, which is the more revealing number. China is not merely trying to put electric drivetrains into one-fifth of its trucks. It is concentrating them in commercially active fleets and high-volume freight operations
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North America 2026 PWC Production
Sign-up for DataPoint Reports92,000 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Personal Watercraft (PWC) expected to be produced in the United States during 2026. This production number includes jet drive boats and jet drive pontoons.
There are several types of personal watercraft (PWC), depending upon the number of people the vessel is designed to carry, anywhere from one to three or more people.
PWC Sit-Downs 1-2 People is defined as a type of vessel which is specifically designed to haul one or two riders in a sitting position, one in front of the other; commonly referred to as jet skis. A larger PWC sit-down model carries three people. Finally, PWC Stand-Ups are a type of water scooter with the purpose of one rider standing or kneeling on the watercraft.
Jet Drive Boats are boats propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft; they have no propeller and can maneuver in shallow water.
This product information comes from industry interviews and from two proprietary databases maintained by Power Systems Research: EnginLink™ , which provides information on engines, and OE Link™, a database of equipment manufacturers.
Market Share. With a combined plant total of 50%, Yamaha leads in production of PWC in North America. In second position is Bombardier (BRP Mexico & US) with 39.5%; third, is Kawasaki (Mexico) with 9%.
Exports: Up to 30% worldwide.
Trends. In 2025, production of Personal Watercraft (including pontoon and jet drive boats) dropped 17.2%, caused in part by increasing interest rates which reduced demand. However, production is expected to gain 5.3% in 2026.
The 2026 increase is based on slight demand for new products in the market, especially for jet drive boats and pontoons. Following the pandemic (2021), according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), this trend is here to stay – the boating industry is booming with demand at an all-time high as Americans plan for a summer on the water. Expect the production of Personal Watercraft to gain an additional 10% by 2035. PSR
Carol Turner is Senior Analyst, Global Operations
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Daimler Truck Group Plans Two Truck Plants
Chris Fisher By the end of the decade, Daimler will establish a truck plant in the Czech Republic for the Mercedes brand and another large plant in the United States primarily for the Freightliner and Western Star brands.
In Europe, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is continuing to systematically strengthen the future viability of its European production network. The plant in Wörth am Rhein, Germany, (state of Rhineland-Palatinate) is—and will remain—the lead and largest volume plant within the network. The company plans to expand the existing network in the future by adding a vehicle assembly and manufacturing site in Cheb (Karlovarský/Karlsbad region), Czech Republic.
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Iveco Group Reports Q2 2026 Order Surge
Emiliano Marzoli Iveco Group has reported a 7.3% increase in consolidated revenues for Q2 2026, reaching USD $4.35 billion (€3.76 billion), fueled primarily by higher delivery volumes across Western Europe. Order intake in Europe showed remarkable acceleration: medium- and heavy-duty truck orders jumped +47% year-over-year, while light commercial vehicle (LCV) orders rose 21%.
In the passenger transit sector, IVECO BUS consolidated its position as the #1 European electric bus manufacturer, capturing over 25% market share as bus deliveries grew by 8% with its Annonay plant operating at full capacity. Industrial Activities generated an adjusted EBIT of USD $120.22 million (€104 million), absorbing temporary quality and rework investments from early-season bus production while positioning the Group for a stronger second half of 2026 following the early-July debut of its Model Year 2026 truck range.
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