![[Valid Atom 1.0]](valid-atom.png "Validate my Atom 1.0 feed")
TRUCKMAKERS' NEWS WORLDWIDE
* Germany - Daimler Trucks Cuts Pay, Expenses to Save EU1 Billion
Stuttgart,Germany -Bloomberg, by Chris Reiter -March 20,2009: -- Daimler AG plans to save at least 1 billion euros ($1.36 billion) at its truck-making business, the world’s biggest, by cutting spending on pay and marketing as the recession stifles demand for commercial vehicles... The automaker has lowered wages in Japan and North America by 10 percent, reduced the budget for investment in areas unrelated to product development and canceled participation at most truck shows, Andreas Renschler, the head of Daimler’s truck unit, said today at a news conference in Stuttgart, Germany... Daimler, which is closing two truck factories in North America, has also idled production in Mount Holly, North Carolina, because of sluggish demand. The company said it will make further cuts if the market decline continues... Daimler said on March 11 that it will reduce hours for 18,000 production workers at four German factories in response to slumping sales... Fourth-quarter profit at Daimler’s truck unit, which makes Mercedes-Benz, Fuso and Freightliner heavy vehicles, dropped 83 percent to 86 million euros, burdened by 233 million euros in costs relating to 3,500 job cuts, the North American plant closures and the elimination of the Sterling brand... There are signs of recovery in emerging markets such as Brazil, China and Russia, the trucks chief said, and overall demand may turn around late this year...
* USA - Daimler puts innovation on display
Louisville,Ky,USA -Today's Trucking -20 March 2009: -- The Innovation Truck features advanced technologies directly from Daimler Trucks North America's (DTNA) development labs. It takes Freightliner Trucks' most aerodynamic solution - the Cascadia - and adds a sampling of cutting-edge advancements that will further enhance fuel economy... Building on the Cascadia platform, the Innovation Truck reflects greater refinement in aerodynamics with the addition of rear wheel fairings to smooth the airflow around the rear wheels, under body panels that smooth air flow under the chassis, a roof deflector to direct air over the trailer, and a front air splitter incorporated into the front bumper to pass air around the truck... Mechatronics integrates the electronic and mechanical worlds into systems that help to improve vehicle function and driver interaction... One such system is the RunSmart Predictive Cruise system. This system offers fuel savings by combining the latest in GPS technology with digital mapping to provide a 3D profile of the road ahead... Further pushing the aerodynamic envelope, the Innovation Truck integrates a Dual Ride Height system that, at highway speeds, lowers the tractor height, reducing under chassis drag. This system utilizes a proprietary front air suspension in conjunction with Freightliner's popular rear air suspension...
* Belgium - European deliveries of heavy trucks fell 35 percent in January
Brusells,Belgium -Bloomberg -20 March 2009: -- More than twice the pace of the December decline, led by Spain and the U.K., according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association... The slump has prompted Daimler, Volvo AB, and MAN AG, the continent’s top three truckmakers, to lower production to stem inventories of unsold vehicles... Truck demand probably will decline 30-50 percent this year in Europe, and North American and Japanese markets may fall by 30 percent and 40 percent respectively, Andreas Renschler, the head of Daimler’s truck said... The slump may force mergers of truckmakers, especially in fragmented markets such as China and India, Renschler said. Combinations are “overdue,” he added...
* Russia - GAZ’s LDV Van Unit Needs More ‘Clarity’ for Aid, U.K. Says
Berlin,Germany -Bloomberg, by Andreas Cremer & Kitty Donaldson -March 19, 2009: -- LDV Group Ltd., the U.K. vanmaker owned by Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska’s OAO GAZ, needs to provide more evidence of outside backing before the U.K. will consider a renewed bid for aid, a government spokeswoman said... LDV, whose request for assistance was rejected a month ago, has written to the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, which “will be seeking clarity on some of the points they raised,” the spokeswoman, commenting on condition she not be identified, said today in an e-mailed response to questions... The government declined on Feb. 23 to provide 30 million pounds ($41 million) in aid to Birmingham, England-based LDV after Erik Eberhardson, the former GAZ chairman leading a management buyout of the manufacturer, said it was running out of cash. Industry production of vans, trucks and buses fell 60 percent in the U.K. in January as the recession reduced sales, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders...
* USA - Western Star turns back the clock with limited edition '67 Truck
Louisville,KY,USA -Today's Trucking -19 March 2009: -- In honor of its inaugural year in the truck making game, Western Star Trucks will produce a limited edition 4900 model.., The Limited Edition 67 will be equipped with a specially-built Detroit Diesel DD15 engine and commemorative trim. Western Star will manufacture just 100 of these trucks this year... The Limited Edition 67's DD15 engine features 560 horsepower and 1,967 lb-ft. of torque and was built solely for this Western Star truck...
* USA - New Alcoa truck wheels to cut weight, fuel costs
New York,NY,USA -Reuters -Mar 20, 2009: -- Alcoa Inc's launch this week of new lightweight aluminum wheels for trucks and buses will cut 600 to 1,300 lbs off total truck weight compared with steel wheels, which means fuel and CO2 emissions will be cut and tire wear improved, the head of the company's wheel division said... The new wheels, called Alcoa LvLONE (level one) wheels, are the lightest weight wheels available and also cut about 50 lbs off of a truck using aluminum wheels...
Labels: truckmakers news worldwide
posted by Unknown @ 9:53 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home