Dr. Franz J. Fink, the President and CEO of Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (MXWL), Interviews with The Wall Street Transcript
67 WALL STREET, New York - August 18, 2014 - The Wall Street Transcript has just published its Alternative Energy & Utilities Report offering a timely review of the sector to serious investors and industry executives. This special feature contains expert industry commentary through in-depth interviews with public company CEOs and Equity Analysts. The full issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.
Topics covered: Asia Pacific Demand for Solar Energy - Government Subsidies and Regulation - Solar Growth Drivers and Headwinds - Regulatory Headwinds for U.S. Utilities - Alternative Energy Generation - Utility Infrastructure Capital Expenditures - New Market Opportunities in Energy - Electric Vehicles
Companies include: Maxwell Technologies Inc. (MXWL) and many more.
In the following excerpt from the Alternative Energy & Utilities Report, the President and CEO of Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (MXWL) discusses company strategy and the outlook for this vital industry:
TWST: What is your outlook at this point for plug-in hybrid buses in China, and can you tell us how that will impact your business?
Dr. Fink: As you know, we have a very solid position with our products with respect to new energy buses in China. As you look into the last few years, we have been growing extremely nicely. But as you look into that business, it's also very important to understand that government subsidies have been driving that growth over the last few years. And changes in the subsidy structure have had an impact such that, while the business has been growing, at times it also has been growing with some lack of visibility and uncertainty, and has been lumpy at times.
Last year, the government changed the subsidy from hybrid to battery-powered plug-in hybrid buses, and they also halved the subsidy. As a result, the municipalities and the bus OEMs in China needed to figure out what the plug-in hybrid bus subsidy really means to them. Clearly for the plug-in hybrid bus, you need charging infrastructure. One of the key questions has been whether that infrastructure is going to be put in place fast enough. Additionally, as I have already pointed out, the subsidy had been halved.
Consequently, as you might have heard from different analysts, this market has been softer throughout the first half of this year. However, based on our customer inputs, we remain confident that the long-term fundamentals of the new energy bus market in China will remain in place. China is building approximately 80,000 buses per year and 10% to 15% of those buses are currently new energy buses. As we talk to our key customers in China, they all believe that this percentage will continue to ramp up over the next few years. So it should remain a very solid business with very solid fundamentals.
TWST: What factors in the macro environment, including developments within your customers' businesses, do you think could create opportunities for Maxwell or have already begun to create new opportunities for you?
For more of this interview and many others visit the Wall Street Transcript - a unique service for investors and industry researchers - providing fresh commentary and insight through verbatim interviews with CEOs, portfolio managers and research analysts. This special issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.
