News

No shortage of hybrid news kicking around today. There’s an announcement here concerning Freightliner’s pitch for a piece of the medium-duty hybrid market, whilst here is a tale about Mack’s take on the genre. We assume that the Freightliner variant is closely reelated to Fuso's Eco Hybrid.

Volvo’s current Chinese truck JV partner China National Heavy-Duty Truck Corporation (CNHTC) has been doing a bit more sabre rattling. It expects its annual overseas sales to jump five-fold to $1 billion in four years as it aggressively pushes sales beyond its domestic market, says this report in the Peoples’ Daily.

Looks like the MAN Scania bid has finally died the death. In truth, it’s been coughing up blood in the hallway ever since Bernd Pischetsrieder received the surprise elbow from VW a month or so back, but the rejection by VW of the MAN offer – it is Scania’s biggest shareholder – has finally put the lid on things.

The news that both Paccar and Isuzu are to develop new manufacturing facilities in the US comes at an interesting time. Isuzu is to establish a plant in Birmingham, Alabama, and, whilst Paccar is rather coyer as to its plans, we’d put some money on it opting for the same state.

Iveco is to invest US$68 / €51.6 / £34.8 million in its Brazilian operations, based at the Sete Lagoas plant in Minas Gerais province. The company aims to produce 12,000 trucks through its Brazilian operation during 2007, of which around 30 per cent will be destined for regional export. In addition to Brazil, both Argentina and Venezuela are key markets for the Italian OEM.

According to reports from Turkish news agency Sabah, Ford is to start marketing the Transit Connect in the United States. Initially, supply will come from the Kocaeli plant, home of the JV between Ford Otosan and Koç Holdings, and Turkish-built Connect models will be made available to US customers during 2007. US production of the Transit Connect is due to commence in 2009. Interest in the one tonne sector seems to be developing apace in the US. Chevrolet's HHR panel van is not far away from production, whilst Dodge recently showcased a van version of its Nitro SUV.

US-based OEMs have been somewhat reticent on the subject of China. But that now looks about to change, with the announcement by Paccar of the establishment of a second Chinese office in Shanghai. Paccar has maintained a sales office in Beijing for the past 15 years.But what is the Seattle-based manufacturer going to do with its new facility? Interestingly, the press release speaks only of a growing ‘demand for high-quality, reliable commercial vehicles’.

Reports in the Economic Times clarify in part Volvo’s plans for its Indian operations. India is to become a sourcing hub for its world-wide operations, and, as a result, Volvo plans to increase its Indian R&D and engineering design activities, IT services and auto components sourcing. Last year, the Swedish OEM sourced €70 / $91.97 / £46.95 from India. Initially, Volvo will increase the headcount at its engineering design office.

More mystery surrounds the exact nature of the relationship between Tata and Iveco as a result of this piece in the Times of India. The report, which suggests that Tata is to use Renault’s Trafic van platform in order to produce a three tonne passenger / commercial range, allowing it to plug the gap between its recently launched Ace one tonne product and the heavier duty 407 van.The three-way alliance between SAIC, Tata and Fiat becomes yet more confused.

25 years after CB radio became legal in the UK, the need to licence sets has finally been removed.