Fitch Ratings: Neutral Outlook for Freight and Logistics Sector in ’25
Fitch Ratings has issued a neutral outlook for the freight transportation and logistics (T&L) sector in Canada and the U.S., anticipating a gradual recovery starting in 2025.
The sector, which encompasses freight operators such as rail, trucking, freight brokerage and logistics services, is poised to benefit from an improving freight cycle following a challenging period between mid-2022 and mid-2024.
Fitch Ratings, a U.S. credit rating agency, says operating conditions are beginning to stabilize, driven by consistent economic growth, including positive trends in retail shipments, modest growth in industrial end markets and better capacity balance in trucking markets.
Honda and Nissan Consider Mutual Production of Vehicles
Honda and Nissan are considering producing vehicles in one another's factories as part of their plan to deepen ties and potentially merge, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.
A merger of Honda, Japan's second-largest car company, and Nissan, its third-largest, would create the world's third-largest auto group by vehicle sales, behind Toyota and Volkswagen.
The move comes amid concerns over how president-elect Donald Trump's policies may shake up manufacturing with his promises of protectionist trade policies, the report said.
Will 2025 be a Turning Point for Car Sales?
High interest rates and an affordability crisis have suppressed car sales in 2024, but analysts are hopeful that 2025 will reverse the trend.
As 2025 approaches, the automotive industry is at a crossroads. Industry experts are predicting a modest rebound in car sales, but ongoing economic uncertainties and potential policy shifts leave plenty of uncertainty for an industry that has struggled to move inventory this year. Could 2025 mark a turning point for car sales in the United States?
"Affordability (or lack thereof) in the new vehicle market was the recurring theme of 2024," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds's head of insights. "Consumers are still feeling the pinch, but the market has become a slightly friendlier place for car shoppers than it was at the start of the year."
NHTSA Proposes National Program for Vehicles with Automated Driving Systems
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed a voluntary national framework for the evaluation and oversight of certain vehicles equipped with automated driving systems.
The ADS-equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program, known as AV STEP, would establish a voluntary review and reporting framework for participating ADS-equipped vehicles. The program would be open to all companies that operate or plan to operate compliant ADS-equipped vehicles on public roads, as well as those requiring NHTSA exemptions to operate non-compliant vehicles.
“AV STEP would provide a valuable national framework at a pivotal time in the development of ADS technology. Safe, transparent, and responsible development is critical for this technology to be trusted by the public and reach its full potential,” said NHTSA Chief Counsel Adam Raviv.
The Proof is in the Power: Ford Pro Commercial Electrification Trends Report
Tapping into real-world customer insights, Ford Pro™ – the commercial vehicles division of Ford Motor Company – has identified some top trends shaping the future of commercial vehicle electrification as we move into 2025.
Today, you’re likely to find commercial-grade chargers in company parking lots and fleet depots. But there’s increasing demand for the convenience of charging elsewhere, from employees’ homes to public charging networks.
These days, a fleet manager’s most powerful tool isn’t an air wrench or hydraulic lift – it’s a tablet or laptop. Connected vehicles – those with embedded or plug-in modems – are becoming commonplace in fleet depots.
To read the entire 2024 Ford Pro Commercial Electrification Trends Report, click here.
