2025-11-17
Stellantis has begun exporting the Brazil-made Ram Rampage to Europe, marking the first Ram vehicle developed and manufactured outside North America to reach the continent.
Ford has confirmed that the Ranger PHEV will be launched in Brazil in 2027 with a market-specific configuration: a 2.3-liter turbo flex-fuel engine combined with an electric motor and a rechargeable battery.
The model, already available in Europe with an 11.8 kWh battery and a 75 kW electric motor, delivers combined torque around 70 kgfm and maintains the 3,499-kg towing capacity of conventional versions. For Brazil, the flex adaptation is expected to raise system output above the 278 hp declared for the gasoline-only European version.
The PHEV variant will be produced in South America—most likely at Ford’s Pacheco plant in Argentina—and will feature exclusive 18-inch wheels, lateral charging port, PHEV badging and the Pro Power Onboard auxiliary power system. Ford will thus become the first automaker to offer a flex-fuel plug-in hybrid midsize pickup in the Brazilian market.
Source: O Estado de São Paulo Read The Article
PSR Analysis. The introduction of a flex-fuel PHEV Ranger adds a new technological layer to Brazil’s midsize pickup segment, reinforcing Ford’s electrification strategy while leveraging the country’s ethanol advantage. The program also expands regional industrial capability, as the PHEV will join other Ranger versions produced in Argentina.
Although the Ranger PHEV may set a new benchmark for performance and efficiency, its competitive impact will hinge on pricing, battery supply, and customer acceptance relative to upcoming electrified rivals such as BYD’s Shark and the expected hybrid Amarok derivatives. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development, South America, for Power Systems Research
Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) has announced the completion of its first full-scale ammonia-fueled engine. The engine is due to be shipped to Japan Marine United (JMU)’s Ariake Works for installation on an ammonia-fueled ammonia carrier (AFMGC) which is currently under construction at the facility. The vessel is scheduled to enter service in November 2026.
Source: Kaiji Press Online
PSR Analysis: J-ENG’s first domestically produced ammonia fuel engine is a significant milestone as Japan strives to lead the way in marine decarbonization technology. Ammonia emits no CO₂ during combustion, making it a strong candidate for alternative fuels under the stricter IMO GHG regulations.
In South Korea, the government-led ‘Smart Safety Equipment Support Project’ is encouraging the use of electric forklifts and standardized safety equipment. According to the official notice, electric forklifts weighing less than 3 tons must be fitted with an overload prevention system, seat belts, warning devices, emergency stop buttons and anti-fall valves.
The subsidy program enables companies to introduce electric forklifts at a low cost, putting pressure on them to replace their diesel models with electric ones. The adoption of ‘unmanned forklifts’ and ‘remote/automated transport’ within companies is also progressing, with the smart transformation of logistics and factories stimulating market demand.
Consequently, the combination of safety standards, electrification and automation is establishing itself as the ‘standard direction for next-generation forklifts’ in South Korea.
Source: 엔세이프
PSR Analysis: The most distinctive feature of the Korean market is the government’s aggressive promotion of safety standards to near-mandatory levels, coupled with the rapid rate at which these standards are adopted as market norms. Furthermore, against a backdrop of labor shortages, an ageing population and frequent overloading accidents, companies are highly incentivized to invest in safety equipment and automation.
Korea’s unique strengths lie in its extensive IT infrastructure and smart factory adoption, as well as its advanced communication environments, making the transition from electrification to automation technically feasible. The concentration of major manufacturers in the automotive and electronics industries, coupled with high rates of 24-hour operation and indoor work, creates an ideal environment for electric forklifts, accelerating their adoption even further.
Conversely, weaknesses include the significant cost burden for SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) and the limited diversity of manufacturers’ lineups, which is slower than in Europe, leading to slower adoption of electric motors in high-durability and large-capacity segments.
While safety requirements are clearly defined for overseas manufacturers, this also creates an ‘entry barrier’ where low-cost models that do not meet safety and IT equipment standards find it difficult to enter the market. Over the next two to three years, the progression from electrification to telematics standardization to partial automation (remote/unmanned) is expected to become more pronounced. PSR
Akihiro Komuro is Research Analyst, Far East and Southeast Asia
The Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture is leading a nationwide initiative to provide local farmers and agricultural organizations with agricultural machinery, including rice transplanters, combine harvesters, dryers and packaging machines, free of charge, using national budget funds. The goal is to address labor shortages and improve production efficiency, with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency and improving yields of staple crops, especially rice.
The program will accelerate the mechanization and modernization of rural agriculture by enabling farmers to use machinery, thereby reducing working hours, cutting costs and increasing yields.
On Nov. 4, 2025, Lingong Heavy Machinery’s Brazilian subsidiary, LGMG Machinery Brazil Ltda., promoted its globalization strategy in the South American market with the celebration of its plant in Indaiatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil. This move signifies a deepening of Lingong Heavy Machinery’s South American expansion and marks an important milestone in China’s industrial advancement.
The establishment of the Brazilian subsidiary carries multiple strategic advantages for Lingong Heavy Machinery, providing a robust platform for serving local Brazilian customers through localized operations. It addresses customer needs with customized solutions and develops confidence in Brazilian customers by ensuring product supply stability through a localized spare parts warehouse, improving after-sales service, and enhancing technical support.
INDIA REPORT
India’s auto sector delivered a resilient performance in the first half of FY26 (April–September 2025), supported by healthy two-wheeler volumes, steady passenger-vehicle demand, and a modest recovery in commercial vehicles — even as the industry navigated EV market churn and shifting policy tailwinds.
Two-wheelers continued to underpin volume growth: production and domestic sales surged, with about 10,200,000 (1.02 crore) two-wheelers produced/sold in 1H FY26. This strength was driven by durable rural demand, improved affordability, and strong scooter and motorcycle cycles during the pre-festive and monsoon seasons.
Passenger vehicles showed robustness across the board, with roughly 2.05 million units recorded in the six-month period (Apr–Jun ~1.01m; Jul–Sep ~1.04m). OEMs benefited from a combination of steady urban demand, renewed festive spending and a partial easing of supply constraints. Strong export momentum — India recorded a record H1 export tally — also helped OEM plant utilizations.
2025-11-16
The signs of a freight recovery that appeared early this year are gone, replaced by a tough market where recovery will have to come from a supply-side correction, American Trucking Associations’ Chief Economist Bob Costello said at ATA’s 2025 Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.
Costello delivered a blunt and sobering economic warning: new tariffs, persistent stagflation, and a slowing labor market have created “absolutely unsustainable” conditions for many carriers, and the only way out, at least near-term, is to erase capacity from the highway.
“It’s not easy to talk about because it’s people’s livelihoods, but it’s a necessary evil,” Costello said, noting that freight demand is unlikely to improve anytime soon. “This has got to be a supply-driven change in the market.”
The current 18% effective tariff rate, nearly six times higher than it was during the first Trump administration, is a level not seen since the 1930s. Costello warned that the industry is only in the “bottom of the second or top of the third inning” of feeling the impact. “Any benefits of putting tariffs on foreign goods… are years in the future, but the cost hits much quicker,” he said.
General Motors’ decision to end development of its next generation Hydrotec fuel cells for vehicles marked the close of a long, careful experiment. After years of research, pilot programs, and cautious optimism, GM finally acknowledged what the energy math had been showing for years: Hydrogen fuel cells are not a viable pathway for road transportation.
GM has been exploring hydrogen vehicles since 1966. GM framed its decision in practical terms. The company cited high costs, limited infrastructure, and low consumer demand. There are only about 60 hydrogen refueling stations in the United States.
In October, the Chinese government introduced new export controls on key dual-use items, citing national security concerns. The move affected the export of rare earths which are critical to all aspects of modern life (such as mobile phone, computers and EVs) (Click here to read about this). China manufacturers 80% to 90% of the world’s rare earths.
In response, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods and export controls on “critical” software beginning Nov. 1. These measures would come on top of the existing 30% tariff already in place.
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