According to research from Frost & Sullivan, the global commercial vehicle (CV) market is set for rapid transformation as truck original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-I technology suppliers recalibrate business strategies.

A slowdown in developed markets such as North America and Europe, coupled with strong demand from Brazil, Russia, India and China, is driving new alliances as well as a focus on digital freight brokering and in-cabin technologies. The main change in the global trucks market is the shift from truck-as-a-product to truck-as-a-service business models to create sustainable revenue streams. This trend will be bolstered by platform-based production, connected truck-enabled services and the rise of value trucks.

“Aging driver population, asset management and the demand for greater visibility in freight movement create a market pull for digitization of services,” said Bharani Lakshminarasimhan, mobility program manager. “Connected truck technologies, digital freight brokering, Big Data/Internet of Things, and health, wellness and well-being technologies will emerge as key digitization imperatives.”

Upcoming market developments include:

• More than 60% new platform development in the value trucks segment in the next two to three years
• Steadily increasing share of advanced powertrain technologies, such as natural gas and hybrid electric
• Rise in adoption of telematics, platooning and freight aggregation
• By 2020, all foundation technologies will be ready for the advent of autonomous trucks
• Focus on in-cabin technologies, including health, wellness and well being (HWW), video safety, fleet management services (FMS), utilities and digital freight brokering
• Urban logistics offering volume growth opportunities for MD trucks
• OEM use of HWW technologies/services to differentiate products from competitors
• High revenue opportunities for CV start-ups by 2025

“Given the speed and rate of market transformation, most growth opportunities in 2017 will be enabled through ecosystem partnerships and acquisition/development of disruptive technologies,” Lakshminarasimhan said. “Leading OEMs, such as Daimler, Volvo, Ford, Hino and Ashok Leyland, will proactively invest in or partner with start-ups in the digital freight brokering, Big Data, and cyber security markets.”