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Automotive Monthly Newsletter and Podcast
This month's theme: Can Electrification Deliver for Commercial Vehicles?

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Even in the face of the global pandemic and semiconductor shortages, commercial vehicle product segments continue to move forward. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are experiencing periods of growth and transition.

IHS Markit recently completed a Light Commercial Vehicle study and forecast which highlights trends in the light commercial sector, including the trajectory of growth of electrification in light commercial vehicles, and details how newcomers to the industry are affecting that growth. Growth and transition in this sector are influenced by an increase in e-commerce combined with other factors favoring the introduction of electric commercial vehicles.

Much of the growth in electrification in the light commercial segment comes from companies new to the industry. These newcomers are arriving without the dilemma of balancing the timing and volume of electric vehicle (EV) introductions with the drawdown of volume of legacy internal combustion engine (ICE)-based products. They do not have the need to protect the profitability of their legacy products. In contrast, traditional OEMs do have to balance, and in some cases, temper the growth of EV products because of the need to draw profits from ICE products.

Electrification of light commercial vehicles will occur across all included body types, but at different degrees. Pickups and vans lead the charge, but buses, particularly school buses, show impressive growth of electrification. These are the body types that clearly favored by new entrants to the market.

Medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, broadly defined to include Class 3 as well as Class 4-8, are also experiencing growth and transition. Vehicles in Operation (VIO) for GVW classes 3 - 8 combined has increased 9% since 2018. New registrations for those same weight classes have increased 10% over the same period. This level of growth in the vehicle parc will spur an increase in the need for replacement parts to provide service and maintenance to keep these vehicles on the road. In some cases, the rate of growth of serviceable parts exceeds the growth of vehicles in operation. Since 2018, the need for aftermarket parts for critical vehicle systems has increased as follows:

• Braking systems - 16%
• Electrical systems - 15%
• Steering, Suspension and Wheel End - 12%

This is an indicator that vehicle usage is increasing, driving the need for additional maintenance.

IHS Markit has developed an Aftermarket Parts Demand Forecast, based on the Truck Industry Profile Network (TIPNet), that can provide expert analysis covering 12 aftermarket part categories for vehicles in the GVW Classes 3 - 8.

Alongside the increase in medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicle VIO and the resulting shifts in the aftermarket opportunities, IHS Markit is also tracking increased prospects in the heavier weight segments for zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), including battery-electric (BEV) and fuel-cell (FCEV) trucks. The soon-to-be-published 2021 update of IHS Markit's Reinventing the Truck study features forecasts by fuel type to 2050 and all-new scenarios, building on the latest announcements by manufacturers and by policymakers around the world. Spurred by a spate of new product introductions and the prospect of ZEV mandates in many U.S. states, BEV trucks are likely to outpace FCEV trucks early on. Among Class 4-7 medium-duty vehicles, the BEV take rate in the baseline forecast is projected to climb as high as nearly 13% by 2028. Among class 8 heavy-duty trucks, the percentage is seen somewhat lower, at just shy of 6%, but still markedly above current levels. As time passes, and more fleets become familiar with the technology, particularly in long-haul applications, FCEV trucks are expected to narrow the gap. IHS Markit tracks OE-offered ZEV commercial vehicle model introductions and finds that available models globally will more than double from 2020 to mid-decade. In parallel to rise in ZEV trucks, hybrid models will also see a boost, the new Medium and Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicle Alternative Propulsion database shows.

From Light Commercial Vehicles to Heavy-Duty Vehicles, from aftermarket service parts to brand new propulsion systems, IHS Markit is focused on understanding the rate of change and the underlying factors driving change.

Dive Deeper

Medium-Heavy Commercial Vehicle Plant Capacity Forecast - download forecast sample

The Future of Light Commercial Vehicles: A multi-client study - download now

Reinventing the Truck: Key insights for long-term strategies - learn more

Gain insights from IHS Markit's MHCV Alternative Propulsion Forecast

Key insights from our automotive commercial vehicle experts

Gain a new perspective on the commercial aftermarket

Have a question on medium and heavy commercial vehicles? Ask Andrej Divis

Have a question on the identification of new propulsion system technologies and trends? Ask James Martin

Subscribe to our monthly Fuel for Thought newsletter & podcast to stay connected with the latest automotive insight

Standpoint Finance (STF) announces its resolve to establish its Bitcoin mining farm, hinting that negotiation is ongoing. The farm will house high-powered computers that would solve complex computational math problems. According to Investopedia, a leading source of financial content on the internet, Bitcoin mining is the process of creating new bitcoin by solving those computational maths puzzles. Tom Wood, Standpoint Finance's VP business development, stated in a statement on Friday that the company decided to join other companies that already own or are planning to own their Bitcoin mining farm. The decision comes after the company deliberated on a report submitted by the company's team of crypto market analysts. The company's analyst team had earlier been charged with a responsibility to investigate the prospect in the Bitcoin mining business.

“After carefully examining the crypto ecosystem in general and specifically the bitcoin market, we can see long-term constant growth in the daily trading volumes as more and more general services, online e-commerce as well as a traditional offline business willing to accept crypto as a legal tender. We believe that this constant rise in demand will inevitably lead to a rise in price which we believe will send bitcoin beyond the 100,000 USD marks in 2-3 years” Tom Wood said.

From the report submitted, Bitcoin price is projected to continue to rise, as available market statistics show a long-term upward trajectory. STF market analyst team projects that Bitcoin price will surpass the 100,000 USD mark in the next three years. Owing to that projection, the group of analysts believes that Bitcoin mining would become a top-flying investment opportunity. STF intends to harness the opportunity by owning a Bitcoin mining farm. As part of the ongoing negotiation, the company is considering the possibility of a joint venture or independent initiative.

Although it is unclear how STF will eventually proceed, the company has opened its doors to investors and other companies that would be interested in partnering to own a Bitcoin mining farm. One clear thing is that the company intends to replicate the success it has recorded so far in its brokerage business in this new venture. Tom Wood further stressed that the company would be employing the best hands to ensure the Bitcoin mining farm do not only come to fruition but be successful.

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StandPoint Finance is a leading broker with a revolutionary customer-centred trading platform that allows newbie and established traders to trade smartly. Apart from having years of experience in the industry, the firm has hired the best hands for the job. Their well-trained analyst, account managers, and customer service professionals make trading seamless for users.

Website: https://www.standpointfinance.com/
Email: support@standpointfinance.com

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