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Piaggio Developing Electric Scooter For Indian Market
INDIA REPORT

Aditya Kondejkar Piaggio, which sells electric scooters in Europe, is developing products specifically for India but it will take 18-24 months to enter the market. It will focus on scooters and not launch electric motorcycles.
The large automaker has 2024 in its sights as a realistic go-to-market timeline for the new scooter.
“We are interested in providing customers with a solution in the two-wheeler space that (makes sense) even beyond the effect of subsidies. It is a matter of fact that the players that have entered recently in this space are gaining volumes on the base of subsidies,” says Diego Graffi, MD & CEO Piaggio India
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Sony Unveils EV SUV, Announces Collaboration With Honda
FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT

Akihiro Komuro On March 5, the Sony Group unveiled its prototype EV “VISION-S” SUV to the public for the first time in Japan. The vehicle brings together Sony’s strengths in sensor, audio, and video technologies. On March 4, Sony announced a partnership with Honda, and the two companies will jointly develop EVs through a new company in which both companies will invest, with the aim of launching the EVs in 2025.
Following a sedan-type prototype announced in 2020, Sony unveiled an SUV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a digital technology trade show held in the U.S. in January 2022.
The side mirrors will have no mirrored surfaces and will use images and data collected from nearly 40 sensors, including those in the front and rear of the vehicle, to enhance safety. The dashboard has three displays that can show movies and other content in addition to driving information. Inside the car, Sony’s audio technology is used to provide a realistic music experience.
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Penetration Rate of Intelligent EVs in China in 2030 May Exceed 90%
CHINA REPORT

Jack Hao “China has the largest automobile production in the world, the most complete industrial foundation, supply chain foundation, talent foundation and market foundation,” said Li Bin, chairman of Weilai automobile.
These factors provide China with a significant advantage in developing intelligent EVs, he said “In fact, if we can have the advantages of these four aspects at the same time, China is the only one in the world,” he added.
The penetration rate of new energy has exceeded 10%…
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Middle East Energy Show Is Back Live
EUROPE REPORT

Emiliano Marzoli The last two years have seen a turnaround in the global economy and the way of doing business. Many habits have changed, and trade shows were severely impacted by the pandemic. For 2022, however the MEE is back live in Dubai. The floor plan has been reduced, removing roughly half of the space used in previous edition. This is not a surprise considering that the show was not busy in 2020, with many last-minute withdrawals, and that it was cancelled…
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DATAPOINT: North America Dumpers/Tenders, 2022 Production, 1620 Units
1,620 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Dumpers/Tenders to be produced in North America during 2022.
This 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 62.5% of total units produced, Country Home Products leads in production of Dumpers/Tenders in North America. In second position is Allen Engineering with 19.5%; third, is Indy Equipment with 10.5%.
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Medium and Heavy EV Market In Early Testing
Autonomous Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Chris Fisher We have been hearing a lot of talk and getting questions on the current status and the future of autonomous vehicles within the medium and heavy segment.
Early adopters of autonomous technology will likely be in the class 8 long haul segment followed by the bus and medium duty truck segment. Currently, the high cost of the technology can be better absorbed in class 8 long-haul truck applications.
The transition from level 0 to level 1 and 2 is happening relatively quickly due in part to the availability of the technology. Level 3 adoption is still a few years away and it is currently not legal to use on the highway. It will likely be 2027 or 2028 before we see small levels of level 3 commercial vehicles on the road.
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UAZ Starts To Supply Components for Hyundai and Kia
RUSSIA REPORT
The UAZ-Component company, part of the Ulyanovsk Automotive Plant, has started making crankshafts for engines Hyundai Gamma 1.6. The first serial lot of 3000 crankshafts was shipped in December 2021.
The UAZ crankshaft was designed according to Hyundai requirements, and the components made by UAZ are being installed in Hyundai Solaris, Creta, Kia Rio and other car models.
First castings were made according to computer models. Upon finishing this stage, Hyundai representatives conducted…
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New Russian 653hp Engine for Grain Combines
RUSSIA REPORT

Maxim Sakov Tutaev Motor Plant has completed creation of 18.5 liter 8 cylinder Vee diesel engine TMZ-8807.10 with two turbochargers, electronic operation system and iron cast cylinder block heads. The powertrain pushes out 653 hp and is a part of new engine family, the TMZ-880. The development of the TMZ-880 family was started in 2016.
The new engine will be tested on the AG combine Palesse KVK-8060 made in the Belorussian Gomselmash plant in 2022. It will replace the German Mercedes…
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Union Budget Push To Expand Highways and EVs
INDIA REPORT

Aditya Kondejkar The 2022-2023 Budget is focused on building long-term strength using investment as the growth lever while maintaining policy stability and inclusivity. The 35% increased capex outlay, major infrastructure projects like 25,000 km road construction, 100 Cargo terminals, Project GatiShakti, 5G network, optic fiber cable laying and the recent PLI schemes are major positives.
Source: Auto Guide India Read The Article
“The blueprint of a digitally enabled, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, coupled with measures that will drive sustainable yet inclusive growth at a rapid pace for the next twenty-five years. These are the bedrock of the proposals announced in the Union Budget 2022-23, as we redefine our economy in a post-pandemic world. Setting the direction for creation of urban fossil fuel free zones, policy for battery swapping and energy as service and incentives for creating a vibrant start-up eco system, India could soon emerge as a fore-runner of green mobility solutions for the world” – Sunjay J Kapur, President ACMA (Automobile component manufacturers association of India)
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Thai Oil Corp and Hon Hai To Produce 50,000 EVs in 2024
THAILAND REPORT

Akihiro Komuro Thailand’s state-owned energy giant, PTT says it will start producing EVs in 2024 in a joint venture with Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry. They will build a plant in eastern Thailand with an annual production capacity of 50,000 units, which they plan to increase to 150,000 units by 2030.
PTT and Hon Hai have established a joint venture company, Horizon Plus, which is 60% owned by PTT and 40% by Hon Hai, to produce EVs. The two companies had signed a joint venture agreement in September 2009. The total investment is expected to be US$ 1 billion to US$ 2 billion.
Based on the platform for EVs developed by Hon Hai, the company will produce vehicles in cooperation with auto parts companies clustered in Thailand.
Thailand, the largest auto producer in Southeast Asia, has set a goal of having 30% of its domestic vehicles be EVs by 2030. However, Japanese automakers, which account for 90% of the domestic production, are prioritizing EV production in Europe, the US, and China.