Hilux (Toyota)

On May 1 during a tour of the its new H2HQ facility in Gardenia, California, Toyota executives provided clues of where the company is heading with its hydrogen fuel-cell programs, with Class 8 semis, as well as hydrogen fuel-cell pickups, having a working fuel-cell Tundra prototype in Japan and a Hilux hydrogen fuel-cell prototype pickup in the U.K.

Toyota is fitting 200 kwh of lithium-ion NCA (nickel cobalt aluminum) battery cells in a special hydrogen fuel-cell Kenworth T680 set to be showcased at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo later in May. 

Use of these larger batteries than in previous versions will allow this Class 8 semi to carry up to 82,000 pounds of payload with a target 300 mile range on any terrain, or up to 450 miles on calmer terrain.

The solution of a larger battery may serve as a template for making hydrogen fuel-cell commercial vehicles viable in the North American region.

While a big battery pack is not needed the vast majority of the time, a larger capacity gives flexibility as fuel-cell stacks take some time to ramp up and are best at producing a steady power output. 

Having a much larger battery pack on board helps boost the efficiency of the semi’s fuel-cell stack, Toyota said, and the battery pack potentially allows a great amount of energy recovery on steeper downgrades. 

In its latest version, this specially fitted Kenworth T680 can comfortably go at speed with a full load, over hills from Long Beach to Barstow, California and back—nearly 270 miles—without needing to be refueled. 

The latest prototype produces 415 hp through a 310-kw dual-motor system, with an official range of up to 450 miles from its 58.8 kg of hydrogen. 

The Kenworth is powered by a modularized kit built on the current Gen 2 stack used in the Toyota Mirai. 

The module will be assembled at Toyota’s Georgetown in Kentucky and offered to a range of companies, although the fuel cells themselves will come from Japan.

(multiple sources on May 9, 2024)

The Associacao Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veiculos Automores (ANFAVEA) announced that Brazilian vehicle sales (including trucks and buses) in April 2024 of 220,842 units represented an increase of 37.4% from April 2023.

Vehicle sales in April consisted of 164,385 passenger cars; 43,963 light commercial vehicles; 10,758 trucks; and 1,736 buses.

Among passenger vehicle manufacturers, FCA sold 34,277 units (20.9% share), VW sold 27,821 units (16.9%), GM sold 24,764 units (15.1%), Hyundai sold 15,594 units (9.5%) and Toyota sold 12,639 units (7.7%). 

Among light commercial vehicle manufapcturers, FCA sold 19,178 units (43.6% share), VW sold 5,621 units (12.8%), GM sold 5,096 units (11.6%), Toyota sold 4,793 units (10.9%), Ford sold 2,978 units (6.8%).

The VW Polo was the best-selling passenger vehicle in April with 12,434 sales, followed by the Chevrolet Onix with 9,087 sales, Fiat Argo with 8,599 sales, Hyundai HB20 with 8,194 sales, Chevrolet Onix Plus with 7,049 sales, VW T Cross with 6,224 sales, and GM Tracker with 5,670 sales.

The Fiat Strada was the best-selling commercial vehicle in April with 11,497 sales, followed by the VW Saveiro with 5,373 sales, Toyota Hilux with 4,792 sales, Fiat Toro with 3,896 sales, GM Montana with 2,534 sales, Chevrolet S10 with 2,473 sales, and Ford Ranger with 2,382 sales.

In ANFAVEA's sales report by fuel type, sales of flexible fuel vehicles were up 31.1% y/y to 165,610 units (79.5% share), diesel vehicles were up 20.5% to 19,957 units (9.6%), gasoline vehicles increased 96.5% to 7,581 units (3.6%), hybrid vehicles increased 57.1% to 4,893 units (2.3%), Plug-in hybrid vehicles increased 224.2% to 3,608 units (1.7%) and electric vehicles increased 1,100.5% to 6,699 units (3.2%).

On April 9, Scotiabank maintained its previous March forecast, estimating full-year Brazilian sales of 2.27 million units in 2024 and 2.38 million units in 2025.

(ANFAVEA release on May 8, 2024) (Fenabrave press release on May 3, 2024) (Scotiabank release on April 9, 2024)

Reported on May 3, 2024, the Cambodian Prime Minister revealed that Cambodia currently has 6 automotive assembly plants. (i) Daehan Auto is manufacturing Ssangyong, (ii) RMA Automotive is making Ford, (iii) Camko Motor is producing Hyundai, (iv) HGB Motors Assembly is manufacturing Kia, (v) GTV Motor is making local brand cars GTV, and (vi) Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing Cambodia has just started SKD production of Toyota Fortuner and Hilux.

These domestic car assembly plants have helped reduce car imports and supplied cars to the local market at a cheaper price, the PM added.

According to the latest report released by the Cambodian General Department of Customs and Excise, imports of vehicles (other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof) worth USD 366.8 million in the first 3 months of 2024, down 15.6% YoY.

(From an article of Khmer Times on May 3, 2024 and Cambodian General Department of Customs and Excise's release)