Battery Electric Truck Production Expected to Triple in 2023

When it comes to policy developments, Andrew Wrobel, Senior Powertrain Analyst at Escelant (Rhein Associates), highlighted that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved a $2.6 billion investment plan aimed at accelerating the shift toward zero-emission transportation. Most of the funding is directed toward cleaner trucks and buses, signaling a strong push for sustainable mobility in the state.

Wrobel noted that battery-electric truck production is expected to triple this year compared to last year. However, he emphasized that this growth, while significant, remains modest within the broader commercial vehicle market, accounting for less than 1% of total truck output. This suggests that while electrification is gaining traction, it’s still in its early stages.

Turning to the U.S. economic outlook, Kenny Vieth, President and Senior Analyst at ACT Research, shared his insights. He mentioned that the U.S. economy grew by 2.9% in Q4 2022, exceeding expectations and pushing full-year 2022 growth to 2.1%. What stood out was that every sector contributed positively during that quarter, marking the first such occurrence since the pandemic began.

Vieth also updated his economic forecast, stating that while a recession is still likely, it's expected to be mild and short-lived. The timing, however, has shifted from early 2023 to now being more closely tied to the ongoing political challenges in Washington, D.C., particularly around the debt ceiling and concerns over U.S. creditworthiness.

The North American on-highway engine forecast, produced jointly by ACT Research and Escelant (Rhein Associates), provides detailed insights into power-source trends for commercial vehicles with gross vehicle weights between 5 and 8. It includes five-year projections for engine volumes and product development. This forecast aligns with ACT Research’s monthly NA commercial vehicle forecasts, offering valuable data for companies involved in the commercial vehicle engine supply chain, as well as investors tracking engine OEMs and their suppliers.

Rhein Associates is a leading authority in North American commercial vehicle and off-highway powertrain intelligence. Known for its comprehensive databases, in-depth analysis, and industry-connected experts, the firm covers both on-road and off-road sectors, including marine, industrial, agricultural, and electric vehicle markets. Their publication, *The Rhein Report*, delivers weekly and monthly market insights through news and analysis. Their powertrain forecast database spans from 2010 to 2033, covering both on-highway and off-highway applications. Learn more at www.rheinassociates.com.

ACT Research is a top source of commercial vehicle, truck, trailer, and bus industry data, market analysis, and forecasts across North America and China. Its research is widely used by major truck and trailer manufacturers, suppliers, and financial institutions. ACT is a contributor to the Blue Chip Economic Indicators and a member of the Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Panel. Its executives have received numerous accolades, including recognition from the National Association for Business Economics and the Lawrence R. Klein Award for accurate economic forecasting. ACT’s senior staff has been recognized by the Chicago Federal Reserve, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today for their top-tier economic forecasts. For more information, visit www.actresearch.net.

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