News

Urban Railroads Delayed

SOUTHEAST ASIA: VIETNAM REPORT

The development of urban railroads in Vietnam has been significantly delayed. The opening of the second line in the capital Hanoi is expected to be delayed to 2027, and the first line in the southern city of Ho Chi Minh City may not open until the end of 2023.

In addition to financial difficulties, there are cases where administrative authorities are not proactively resolving problems, leading to further delays.

In mid-September, Hanoi City abandoned the planned Hanoi Urban Railway Line 3 (Nhon Hanoi Station), which was planned to run through the center of the city, to open by the end of the year. The line is 12.5 kilometers long. Construction of the line began in 2010, and although it was originally planned to open in 2015, it is believed that the plan has already been changed about five times.

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Hyundai Motor and KT Invest in Autonomous Driving

FAR EAST: SOUTH KOREA REPORT

The Hyundai Motor Group and telecommunications giant KT have formed a capital and business alliance. The two companies will invest about 750 billion won in each other by exchanging their shares.

The two companies will jointly develop communication-related technologies to produce autonomous driving equipment. In addition to automobiles, Hyundai Motor is expanding its business in the fields of robotics and urban air transportation (UAM, or flying cabs), and has decided that partnering with KT will enable it to accelerate research and development in fields other than automobiles.

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Agri Week 2022 Report: Drones Become Popular

FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

Agri Week 2022 is a comprehensive exhibition on agriculture, livestock, and horticulture. It is held twice a year in Kyushu and Kanto. Agricultural materials, smart agriculture products, livestock materials, and products related to industrialization are exhibited. Agriculture Week consists of the following four exhibitions: AGRI TECH (Material & Technology), AGRI NEXT (Next Generation), AGRI PROCESS (Farmer‘s Processing), LIVESTOCK (Livestock Supply & Equipment)

Source: Official HP

PSR Analysis: The drone market is seeing an increase in the number of new entrants. Currently, the market size is estimated to be around 300 billion yen, but some say it will grow to nearly 800 billion yen in five years. This is because the revision of the Civil Aeronautics Law to be implemented this December will lift the ban on Level 4 unassisted visual flights in manned areas. Until now this has been limited to Level 3 unmanned areas. Currently, the use of drones is mainly for spraying chemicals, but it is also being considered for logistics, inspections, civil engineering, and construction.

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Mercedes Produces Initial Heavy Trucks in China

CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao
Jack Hao

Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty truck factory in China has started mass production and its first domestic Chinese heavy-duty truck has rolled off the assembly line. The rollout reflects the Mercedes Benz truck localization project, under which Mercedes is producing heavy duty trucks built specifically for the domestic Chinese market.

The first batch of Mercedes Benz domestic heavy trucks is scheduled to  be delivered to customers in early November.

In the process of localization, MB is striving to achieve a balance between high quality and cost. It is working with 150 domestic suppliers to improve manufacturing quality capability and localize the supply of more than 1500 parts. Presently, the localization rate of Mercedes Benz heavy truck Actros series exceeds 50%, and the localization rate of Actros C series is 90%.

Mercedes Benz trucks has established a Mercedes Benz business unit under the joint venture of Daimler Trucks Co., Ltd. and Foton Motor, which have a 50: 50 share ownership.

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Mexico Truck & Bus Update. Alternative Power Sources Displayed

Show Report: Expotransporte 2022

Editor’s Note: This report includes a conversation with Miguel Elizalde Lizárraga, the executive president of ANPACT (the National Association of Bus, Truck and Engine Manufacturers) and a visit to the Expotransporte 2022, the largest truck show in Latin America.

Lorena Violante
Lorena Violante

ANPACT represents the trucks, buses and engine manufacturers in Mexico. It participates actively with government organizations and other important related associations to ensure the truck and bus industry gets enough support, incentives, alliances, agreements and information to grow in the local market. Also, to continue with their outstanding role as one of the most important exporters of heavy duty vehicles globally.

The ANPACT gathers the most important trucks, buses and engine manufacturers in Mexico such as Kenworth, Freightliner, International, Mercedes Benz, Man, Volkswagen, Scania, Dina, Mack, Volvo, Isuzu, Hino, Detroit and Cummins.

During our conversation, Elizalde provided timely insights into the Mexican transportation industry and the major market challenges this country is facing today.

Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher

Vehicles manufactured in Mexico produce an important impact on the country’s economy, logistics and mobility. For example, 71% of the foreign trade value is moved to the US through heavy duty trucks. Much of the movement of goods in Mexico is through trucks, and people use buses as their main transportation.

According to ANPACT´s August statistics, manufacturers produced a total of 127,858 heavy duty vehicles from January through August this year. This is 18% more than 2021 production. Through August, export volumes increased by 15.7% (106,824 units) compared to 2021. Retail demand has increased so far by 20.5% (25,196 units).

Current challenges the transportation industry is facing today in Mexico include road safety, environmental regulations implementation, supply chain lead times, driver shortage, e-commerce, vehicles renewals, safety and energy infrastructure.

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Record Sales of Agricultural Machines in Brazil

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT  
Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Friday Oct. 7 Anfavea published the number of 42,800 units of Agricultural machines sold from January to August 2022, 23.6% above same period of 2022.

Source: Automotive Business     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Record harvest and high commodities prices enable farmers to invest in Agricultural Machines. This situation supports and sustains our production forecast for the year. PSR

By Fabio Ferraresi, Director Business Development South America

Scania, VW and Volvo Show Euro VI Lineup

Three OEMs have announced new fuel efficient products.

Scania has announced an 8% fuel consumption improvement with Super 13 liters engines and promises 50% maintenance stops reduction. Volvo has announced a new Euro VI line with Volvo Engine produced in Brazil, replacing MWM on the VM platform. VW fuel consumption improvement is in the 5% range and the company reports 4,000 units Euro VI sold in 2022 already.

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GM Opens Third Shift at Joinville Engine Production Plant

GM has added a third shift at its plant in Joinville, SC, Brazil, to increase production capacity and supply engines for the Montana, the new Light Pickup below the S10 size. The capacity production increase forecast is 30%.

Source: Automotive Business     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The new GM Montana pickup is aimed to complete with the Fiat Toro and Fiat Strada, and grab market share from the leaders. GM also expects to export engines, if the shortage of semiconductors can be solved, which will allow the plant to reach the desired production levels.    PSR

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

DataPoint: North America Skid Steer Loaders, 2022 Production, 92,700 Units

A Skid Steer Loader, also known as a skid loader, skid-steer loader, or skid steer, is a small rigid frame, engine-powered machine with lift arms used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments.

The four major types of skid steer loaders are Agricultural, 29%; Rental Fleets,  22%; Construction, 20%, and Landscape, 12%.

92,700 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Skid Steer Loaders to be produced in North America (United States and Canada) in 2022.

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Ideanomics Successfully Tests Quick Power 500 kW Charger

Guy Youngs
Guy Youngs

At 27%, the transport industry is the largest contributor to greenhouse gases in North America and Europe and within the transport sector, passenger cars contribute the most emissions followed by medium and heavy-duty trucks which contribute emissions at around 26% of the transportation industry. The move to reduce or eliminate emissions is one of the biggest priorities within the industry.

In a first, Ideanomics has announced that it successfully tested WAVE’s 500kW ultra-fast wireless charger at the Port of Los Angeles, which can charge class 8 electric trucks in less than 15 minutes. Installation of the wireless electric chargers is already underway at the Port of LA, and Ideanomics expects the first chargers to be ready for use in 2023

Source: Electrek: Read The Article

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