TRUCKMAKERS' NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* USA - Navistar dedicates heavy-duty engine plant

Huntsville,ALA,USA -Fleet Owner, by Max Heine -24 Sept 2008: -- Navistar Engine Group dedicated its new MaxxForce big bore engine facility Sept. 23, also celebrating the 75th anniversary of its first production of a diesel engine, the D-40... The plant in Huntsville, Ala., has been producing the MaxxForce 11 and MaxxForce 13 at low volumes. Officials said the company expects a steady increase in volume. Navistar has an older engine plant a mile away that produces V6 and V8 diesels for consumer vehicles, commercial trucks, school buses and recreational vehicles... (Photo: Navistar’s MaxxForce 11, produced at the new Huntsville, Ala., plant, has a torque range of 1,250 to 1,400 lb.-ft.)


* Germany - MAN trucks boss says profits won't collapse in 2009

Hanover,Germany -Reuters -Sep 24, 2008: -- The head of MAN AG's commercial vehicles business expects profits to remain solid next year even if its core western European truck market contracts... Anton Weinmann said on Wednesday during the IAA truck show in Hanover, "We will earn considerably more than 6.5 percent (of revenue)"... MAN has targeted an 8.5 percent operating margin on average over the business cycle, allowing for peaks and dips depending on market conditions. He also said that he expected to reach a deal to supply engines for large shareholder Volkswagen's heavy truck unit based in Brazil...


* Holland - DAF aims for 20 pct share of European truck market

Hanover,Germany -Reuters, by Christiaan Hetzner & Arno Schuetze -September 24 2008: -- Paccar's Dutch truck brand DAF expects to chip away at the European market, gaining 0.7 percent points a year on its way to eventually delivering every fifth lorry sold on the continent... DAF has a lot of room to grow in the market for rigids -- trucks with attached bodies -- since it already has a strong position in tractors that carry trailers. It also aims to target countries where a domestic brand has a dominant share, and correspondingly a lot to lose... Too are considering third assembly plant, capacity 10-15,000 vehicles...


* Germany - Mercedes-Benz Trucker Selection: practical and stylish, products for the driver

Stuttgart,Germany -MB Blog PRESS RELEASE -September 24, 2008: -- Useful and practical, stylish and comfortable: the newly designated Trucker Selection from Mercedes-Benz features 50 products which are specifically aimed at truck drivers. The functional items help make for a smoother working day, and the products have a look and a user-friendly design which will appeal to long-distance drivers. The range embodies the “Trucker” attitude and features outstanding design – and all items of clothing and accessories are infused with a quality of material and craftsmanship which reflect the brand values of Mercedes-Benz. The product range is divided into three segments:
* “Safety and Technology”: robust workwear
* “Freedom and Emotion”: dressed for the long trek
* “Practicality and Mobility”: accessories on the move