kscarbel2
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Posts posted by kscarbel2
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3 hours ago, RoadwayR said:
When Fred Diaz was running Ram back in the FCA days, he wanted to develop Ram into a full line producer of commercial trucks by making Iveco trucks available in North America. I thought it was a great plan, but Exor spun Iveco and Case NewHolland off and Diaz left for Nissan. All Ram ever got was the Fiat Dublo and Ducato, the excellent Daily stayed with Iveco. I don't think anyone at the train wreck known as Stellantis knows what a commercial vehicle is. Anyway, it's fun to imagine what a big Iveco would have looked like with a Ram hood ornament on it!
I hear you on the lament that the Italians have just given away their only manufacturer of heavy trucks. Tata has done wonders with Land Rover and Iveco fits well into their existing commercial vehicle operations. Exor, the holding company that represents the legacy of the Angelli (Fiat) family, is in the process of 'de-industrializing', substantially reducing their holdings in manufacturing. Their robotic manufacturing operation Comau and parts giant Magneti Marelli have already been sold, and holdings in Ferrari reduced. With Iveco sold off that only leaves CNH and FPT. Anyone have Manhindra's phone number?
FCA was foolish not to bring the Iveco Powerstar and/or Strator to the US and market it under the Dodge brand.
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On 8/13/2025 at 8:30 PM, RoadwayR said:This is a sad and mistaken development. I knew many of Iveco's truck engineers. Their engineering prowess was world class. I would have liked to see the Italian government give greater support to their home team truckmaker.
It's convoluted when a third world country's conglomerate is in a position to takeover successful light vehicle (Land Rover) and commercial truck (Iveco) brands of the west.
Just as the DoJ was all too happy to hand over the majority of American truckmakers to foreign aggressors. Very puzzling why they sell off the home team, stabbing the country in the back. Not to mention that commercial truck manufacturing is a matter of national security.
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The real thing now to think about is should we get a 50 basis-point rate cut in September.
Scott Bessent
(Two days after the Fed left rates unchanged July 30, revised data showed weaker job growth for May and June than official figures had previously indicated.)
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On 8/7/2025 at 11:59 PM, RoadwayR said:
For sure the 650/750 is the perfect truck for certain operators, like municipalities and utilities that can get by with a basic spec. medium duty. Anyone a requirement for severe service, high mileage (diesel), special equipment options or a complicated upfit would be best served by International, Freightliner, or Mack. I am in So. Cal., and the 650/750 were strong sellers up until the last few years, but since the 6.7L Powerstroke is no longer CARB compliant you hardly see new ones. Galpin Ford, the nation's second largest Ford dealer, has 2 650's (both leftover 2024's) currently in stock, my local Ford Pro dealer doesn't have any 650's or 750's. With 650/750 sales being what they are today and knowing Ford, I am a little surprised these trucks are still around. It's not like they share a platform with any other Ford. Ford Pro seems to be all about the Transit, I wish Ford would once again get serious about 'real' commercial trucks.
Agreed! Ford Pro is not focused on "real" commercial trucks.
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A 30% probability of a US recession might sound like a red flag, yet global stocks remain buoyant as betting against the market momentum feels almost irrational.
The key point is that the market can’t look far enough. This is why it will ignore the recession risk.
Goldman Sachs
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On 8/5/2025 at 11:47 PM, RoadwayR said:
Ford 'heavy truck' (what they consider the F-650 and 750 to be) sales are down yet again for the month of July. That's 9% for the month and over 15% for the year, and equates to less than a 1000 units/month. Maybe a reason Ford doesn't want to put any money in the line?
Just drove back from the west coast. I saw late model Ford mediums everywhere. I even inspected a new F-650 at a Ford Pro location. They have that truck's engineering down to a science. Best bang for the buck in medium.
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JPMorgan and Bank of America “debanked” President Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol Hill melee following pressure from the Biden administration’s banking regulators and the Federal Reserve.
The exact reason for Trump and his tens of millions of dollars in holdings being kicked off the JPMorgan banking platform, and then denied access to Bank of America’s services has yet to be reported.
But sources at the banks, the two largest in the US in terms of assets, confirmed the cause stemmed from the controversy surrounding Trump’s actions that day, and threats from Biden’s bank regulators that banking the former president’s money put them at in danger of falling afoul of rule that prohibit financial institution from doing business with individuals and companies that present a “reputational risk.”
They said Biden’s banking cops at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve used the nebulous nature of the edict to go beyond debanking money launderers and drug kingpins. They were pressured to include people who have heterodox political and business ties that often included conservatives and anyone who participated in the January 6 protests.
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1 hour ago, cruiseliner64 said:
Great history in this thred..The International Turbostar looked very well in those pictures.I never followed the gas turbine story much.The only Europian truck I ever heard doing gas turbine research was Leyland who built 6 units.One has been restored to full working order.There may have been others working on turbines in Europe but Iv never knew of any but Leyland...
Paul
https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/36024-the-autocar-gas-turbine-coe/#comment-248956
http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31891-the-gas-turbine-general-motors-bison-iii/
http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31898-the-gas-turbine-chevrolet-turbo-titan-iii/
http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32038-fords-futuristic-gas-turbine-big-red/
http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32060-the-ford-w-1000-gas-turbine/
http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31978-freightliners-turboliners/
http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/
http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32014-the-gt-601-gas-turbine-powered-macks/
http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31883-paul-berliet-and-his-t100s/
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On 9/9/2020 at 3:23 PM, Miami Cossack said:
What year did GM do their turbine Astro?
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I want to hear that VAT on US products will be terminated.
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The plot thickens..................
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1 hour ago, 67RModel said:
Its obviously more complex than that. Japanese brand cars made in Japan and shipped here represent not even 8% of the annual US auto market. Japanese brands have assembly in plants in Mexico that would be subject to the same 25% tariffs as domestic brands built in Mexico. Japanese brands assemble the majority of the cars they sell in the USA in US plants. My guess is the 15% tariff on imported cars assembled in Japan was a miniscule concession and/or compromise on the whole trade deal with Japan that most likely included many things.
Back in March, the president gave vehicle manufacturers a one month exemption if they were in compliance with the USMCA. From there.....25%.
Around 15% of US-sold Toyota models are assembled in Japan. About 10% for Honda. Most Lexus are produced in Japan. Over half of Mazda cars are built in Japan.
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Back in February, there was much noise about the president and Elon Musk traveling to Fort Knox to see if the gold was actually still there. Rand Paul also stated serious doubts.
And then............nothing. After weeks of noise, then not another word about it.
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Ford and GM are justifiably upset, as the trade deal with Japan serves to buoy Japanese carmakers while putting American carmakers at a disadvantage.
The administration imposed a 25% tariff on foreign auto manufacturers in April, which also applies to cars made by American automakers from parts imported from Mexico and Canada.
Now, the administration is lowering the tariff for Japanese autos and auto parts to just 15%, meaning US automakers will face higher tariffs than Japanese automakers.
US automakers feel that any deal which charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no US content than it does North American-built vehicles with high U.S. content is a bad deal for the US industry and US auto workers.
I support reasonable protectionism. The US government should look out for the home teams. Period.
I would like to bring the production of all cars and trucks made in Mexico and sold in the US.......to the US. If you sell it here, you build it here. The exceptions being very low volume models. To be more clear, all Freightliner, International and Volvo trucks sold in the US must be produced in the US. All trucks produced in that lawless abyss called Mexico must remain south of the border. Period. If the Europeans can't digest that, then they should sell the former US-owned truckmakers. I know some interested American investors.
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Best of Trump
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I see Zelensky still hasn't figured out how to properly dress for a visit to the White House.