Latest news with #Knocked
Business Insider
04-08-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
Mercedes-Benz set to roll out truck assembly plant in West Africa
The project, formalised through a letter of intent is a tripartite collaboration between the Senegalese government, German automotive giant Mercedes-Benz, and Global Truck Systems (GTS). The announcement came after a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and a Mercedes Trucks delegation led by the group's CEO, Franziska Cusumano. According to a statement from the Senegalese government, the new facility will initially focus on assembling military vehicles for the Senegalese armed forces, before gradually expanding to include civilian trucks and other commercial models. ' An initial assembly line will be operational by the end of 2025. Several hundred jobs will be created during the initial phase, with a target of several thousand in the long term, ' said Jan Weber, Commercial Director of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, in an interview with national broadcaster RTS. Under the agreement, Mercedes-Benz will supply Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits to enable local assembly of various truck models, boosting industrial capacity and reducing dependence on imports. The initiative aligns with Senegal's broader industrialisation strategy aimed at attracting foreign investment, fostering skilled employment, and developing local supply chains in strategic economic sectors. Mercedes Benz deepens Africa presence Mercedes-Benz has been steadily expanding its footprint across Africa, positioning itself as a key player in the continent's rapidly growing automotive and logistics sectors. With demand for commercial vehicles surging and driven by infrastructure projects, urbanisation, and regional trade integration, Africa has become a strategic growth frontier for the German automaker. In North Africa, Mercedes-Benz maintains a solid presence through assembly plants and distribution partnerships in Egypt and Algeria. South Africa, however, serves as the company's primary manufacturing hub on the continent, home to one of its largest assembly facilities outside Germany. Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA), headquartered in Pretoria, oversees this major assembly operation, which employs approximately 300 people. Mercedes-Benz's latest venture into Senegal indicates a strategic push to anchor its operations closer to e merging West African markets. Leveraging Dakar's advantageous position as a logistics hub, the planned truck assembly plant is expected to stimulate ancillary industries, foster technology transfer, and accelerate workforce skills development. " As part of the supply of CKD kits for various Mercedes-Benz trucks, Daimler Truck ensures a reliable supply chain. Comprehensive quality assurance and technology transfer control measures are also implemented." "The objective is to provide high-quality conditions for locally assembled vehicles, including long-term service support. With the commitment of Daimler Truck, the two local partners can create new jobs on site and thus contribute to the country's value creation and economic development." Daimler noted in a statement. As infrastructure development and regional logistics continue to expand, demand for heavy-duty vehicles is projected to rise.
Express Tribune
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Govt pushes to scale up EV adoption
Listen to article The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) on Friday held a high-level meeting with electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and senior officials. The goal was to identify ways to scale up EV adoption and reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels. The meeting was chaired by Secretary MoCC&EC Aisha Humera Moriani. Discussions focused on expanding EV charging infrastructure, promoting large-scale motorcycle retrofitting, and exploring financing options to make EVs more affordable and accessible. These efforts support Pakistan's climate goals, which include achieving 30% EV adoption by 2030, as outlined in its 2021 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). "Inadequate EV charging infrastructure, especially in urban areas, remains a major barrier," Moriani said. "Without major investments, the shift to electric mobility will be difficult." Participants stressed the need for strong policy support to convert Pakistan's large fleet of fuel-powered vehicles — especially two- and three-wheelers — to electric. Pakistan has over 37 million fuel-powered vehicles, including nearly 29 million petrol motorcycles. Retrofitting these motorcycles could offer a fast, cost-effective way to cut emissions. "Standardised retrofitting is a scalable solution, especially in the motorcycle segment that dominates Pakistan's transport landscape," said Muhammad Asif Sahibzada, Director General (Environment & Climate Change) at MoCC&EC. Industry representatives raised concerns about high upfront EV costs and limited charging stations, particulaarly on highways and in cities. They called for incentives and infrastructure development to support market growth. To improve affordability, the ministry is exploring partnerships with financial institutions to offer consumer-friendly EV financing. The government is also pushing to shift from imported Completely Built Units (CBUs) to locally assembled Completely Knocked Down (CKD) vehicles. "Encouraging CKD production will reduce costs, support domestic industry, and create green jobs," Moriani said. The ministry highlighted the need for a regulatory framework for motorcycle retrofitting to ensure quality, safety, and legal clarity for providers and consumers.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BYD breaks ground on assembly plant in Cambodia
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has broken ground on a new assembly plant in Cambodia, marking an expansion of its production capabilities in Southeast Asia. The firm is investing around $32m for the initial phase of constructing a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) vehicle assembly facility, reported Phnom Penh Post. Spanning 12ha, the facility is located in the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone. It will assemble both pure electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The facility is expected to commence production in November this year and will have an anticipated annual production capacity of 10,000 vehicles. The construction of the BYD assembly plant is expected to be completed by October. Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin and first vice-president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) Sun Chanthol were present at the groundbreaking event. Chanthol was quoted by the publication as saying: 'BYD's investment reflects the confidence foreign investors have in the Cambodian government, thanks to the smart and capable leadership across generations. Under the CDC's leadership, we continue to improve the business and investment environment through promoting investment laws, outreach abroad and simplifying related procedures.' Cambodia's EV sector is experiencing a small but rapid growth. Registrations of EVs soared to 2,253 units in 2024, an increase from the 313 recorded in 2023. The new plant in Cambodia represents BYD's second venture in Southeast Asia, following the establishment of a facility in Thailand in July 2024, which boasts an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles. Further expansion in the region includes BYD's plans to complete its $1bn Indonesian plant by the end of 2025, according to a January report of Reuters. BYD's Indonesia president director Eagle Zhao had stated that the plant's long-term strategy is focused on the export market. The Indonesia plant is being constructed at an industrial complex in Subang, West Java. It will have an annual production capacity of 150,000 EV units. This month, BYD reported a 100.4% year-on-year increase in net profit attributable to shareholders for the first quarter of the 2025 financial year. Its net profits reached 9.15bn yuan ($1.3bn). "BYD breaks ground on assembly plant in Cambodia" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Auto sector sees significant recovery
The auto sector's profitability is expected to face further obstacles due to the imposition of a 10% super tax. photo: file The local automobile sector witnessed a positive trajectory in the nine months of FY 2024-25, supported by macroeconomic stabilisation and easing of financial conditions. The auto industry is advocating for policy support to boost local manufacturing, enhance affordability, and increase localisation. Indus Motor Company (IMC) has reported a solid performance during the nine months ended March 31, 2025, with total sales of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and Completely Built Up (CBU) units increasing by 57% to 21,890 units, up from 13,922 units in the corresponding period last year, the company announced on Monday. It attributed the surge to a recovery in consumer demand and the continued success of models like the Corolla Cross and Toyota Yaris, supported by timely feature enhancements and model updates. The net sales revenue rose to Rs145.53 billion, from Rs98.23 billion in the previous year's same period. The company's profit after tax increased considerably to Rs16.55 billion, as compared to Rs9.41 billion from the corresponding last year. This improvement reflects higher sales volume, stable input costs driven by a relatively favourable exchange rate, and effective cost management initiatives, including increased localisation. IMC CEO Ali Asghar Jamali said, "IMC has delivered a good performance in the nine months of FY24-25, due to a decrease in interest rates, increasing consumer confidence and stable foreign exchange rates. The ongoing trend reinforces the need for a policy review, particularly the rationalisation of depreciation allowances on used car imports, to ensure a level playing field for local assemblers and improve government revenue streams. IMC remains committed to innovation, customer satisfaction, and contributing to the sustainable growth of the country's automotive sector." He said used car imports still represent a significant portion (29%) of the local auto market by value in the current financial year.
