semiconductor shortage

Electric truck production cutting in line ahead of diesel orders

Class 8 truck orders finished 2021 with a backlog-to-build timing exceeding 12 months. But orders for electric trucks are being processed in a quarter of that time, according to manufacturers under pressure to meet state zero-emission mandates.

The number of electric orders is tiny — several dozen to a few hundred is a good estimate — compared with total Class 8 orders of 23,100 preliminary December orders projected by FTR Transportation Intelligence. FTR estimated 365,000 new trucks were booked...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/class-8-truck-orders-remain-under-pressure-entering-2022

Truck Tech: Rare earth alternative edition

This week, Tula Technology Inc. thinks it has a better idea for electric motors that could ease worries about the availability of rare earth materials; a pilot project using B100 biodiesel exceeds 600,000 miles; and Aurora Innovation and Proterra Inc. get new leadership in the C-suite.

Is this the next semiconductor shortage?

The energy density of batteries gets a lot of attention in the electric vehicle space. The more energy a battery can hold, the longer the driving range and the less...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-tech-rare-earth-alternative-edition

Cummins playing supply chain whack-a-mole for everything but semiconductors

The semiconductor shortage is a structural weakness in supply chain management, Cummins Inc. CEO Tom Linebarger says. Everything else the leading engine manufacturer needs in the supply chain crisis is like playing whack-a-mole.

“We have a fair bit of demand for our products, and we’re out of everything,” Linebarger told FreightWaves in an interview Wednesday. “Chips are by far the biggest problem but everything else is also problematic. When you think you kind of have solved the crisis, then...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cummins-playing-supply-chain-whack-a-mole-for-everything-but-semiconductors

Inability to produce pushes Class 8 orders to lowest November in 26 years

Class 8 truck orders in November were the lowest for that month in 26 years, reflecting a huge backlog of unbuilt trucks rather than a demand issue.

The backlog of bookings in queue at major OEMs exceeded 14 months, according to ACT Research. That means that with few exceptions, an order for a Class 8 power unit placed this month would be delivered in February 2023.

“Long backlog lead times resulting from ongoing supply constraints continue to pressure new order activity,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/inability-to-produce-pushes-class-8-orders-to-lowest-november-in-26-years

Daimler Truck pegs revenue loss from semiconductor shortage in billions

The global semiconductor shortage will cost billions in lost revenue for soon-to-be-independent Daimler Truck, and the situation is likely to continue into 2022, CEO Martin Daum told a German newspaper.

In comments to Automobilwoche reported on Sunday, Daum said the chip shortage would be a significant financial hit.

“It is a huge sum,” Daum told Automobilwoche, saying the company would sell a “mid-five-digit number” fewer vehicles than it could have.

Automobilwoche said that with an average price...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/daimler-truck-pegs-revenue-loss-from-semiconductor-shortage-in-billions

Higher and higher: Used truck price inflation shows no signs of abating

The sky’s the limit. Now find the sky.

That is the ongoing story of used truck prices at both auction and retail for the first 10 months of the year. J.D. Power Valuation Services pegs the year-over-year increase in auction prices at 89.9% — with the gavel dropping on month-over-month increases of 7%.

“The sense of urgency is as strong as ever in the auction lanes, with buyers continuing to pay record pricing for desirable trucks,” Power said in its monthly Guidelines newsletter covering October.

P...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/higher-and-higher-used-truck-price-inflation-shows-no-signs-of-abating

Cummins manages higher segment sales despite Q3 supply chain pain

Cummins Inc. posted positive returns for all five of its business segments in Q3, but cost increases from the supply chain crisis led to downward revisions for full-year sales and profits.

The Columbus, Indiana-based engine maker said Tuesday that Q3 revenues of $6 billion increased 17% year-over-year. Sales in North America increased 13%. International revenues increased 22% due to strong global demand everywhere but China, where moderation was expected after huge gains a year ago as China...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cummins-manages-higher-segment-sales-despite-q3-supply-chain-pain

Biden calls for international action on supply chain crisis

Leaders stand in front of flags at G20 summit in Rome

Leaders from the U.S., European Union and 14 other nations on Sunday agreed at the G20 summit in Rome to work together, along with industry, unions and international organizations, to mitigate ongoing supply chain disruptions and make the entire system more resilient in the future.

President Joe Biden also took more steps Sunday to ease bottlenecks snarling the global supply chain.

“I want to make sure we have access to all the products we need, from shoes to furniture to electronics to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/biden-calls-for-international-action-on-supply-chain-crisis

Daimler Truck order bank overflowing but production stymied

Daimler Truck is awash in orders it cannot fill for new trucks because of a shortage of semiconductors and other hard-to-get parts and components.

In its last quarter as part of the Daimler AG (OTC: DDAIF) group that includes Mercedes-Benz cars and vans, the Truck and Bus Group reported considerably lower production and sales due to the ongoing semi shortage, according to Jochen Goetz, CFO of Daimler Truck & Bus.

Like its major global competitors that reported Q3 results earlier, Daimler has a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/daimler-truck-order-bank-overflowing-but-production-stymied

Traton posts big 9-month financials with Navistar included for first time

Traton Group sold 53% more trucks and buses in the first nine months of 2021, incorporating Navistar in its results for the first time following the $3.7 billion acquisition of the Lisle, Illinois-based truck manufacturer in July.

The global shortage of semiconductors and other supply constraints impacted Traton, but the Volkswagen AG truck holding company that includes the Swedish brand Scania Vehicles & Services, Germany’s MAN Trucks and Buses, and Brazil’s Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/traton-posts-big-9-month-financials-with-navistar-included-for-first-time

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