kscarbel2

I believe you are right. It seems that Xpeditor cab production moved to CVG some time between 2011 and the present.

Yes, Bendix is using the old White cab tooling (which has been updated of course). Bendix never made cabs before, but was willing. https://www.bendix.com/media/documents/press_releases/2008/Autocar_Module_Rounds_Out_Bendix_Business_100208.pdf

People are disgusted with a lack of options (X12) and availability (build slots up to 12 months out). "If" Autocar can deliver this vocational chassis in a timely manner, they can really clean up. It all will depend on how skillfully they can ramp up production. Yet another truck that will, alike the T880, take more Mack brand market share in the vocational segment.

Bob, CVG was producing Navistar cabs up to 2009. Then Navistar wisely brought production in-house. CVG (Commercial Vehicle Group), the firm that produces Mack brand cabs, is a mess. http://ir.cvgrp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/commercial-vehicle-group-announces-planned-closure-norwalk-oh https://www.morningjournal.com/news/losing-jobs-in-norwalk/article_79b65e1e-acbf-5d17-aed3-00dfe8039021.html I can't see enough from that picture to compare with the Navistar cab. Obviously the doors are different, with horizontal door handles alike a T880. The sunvisor hides the roof line. Cabs are not that expensive to design anymore. They might have thrown out their criteria to several design firms, and Bendix* is producing it. We'll soon know. * https://www.truckinginfo.com/101092/bendix-expands-module-business-with-autocar-cab-deal

Extremely impressed with the appearance of that truck.

There was a plan. The X12 is known as the ISG in China - same engine. https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/40094-cummins-starts-field-testing-heavy-truck-engine-in-australia/?tab=comments#comment-290546 The North American market doesn't get the 10.5 litre variant, which I feel is a mistake.

It's anyone's guess. Venture capital firm GVW Capital's niche with it's Autocar, LLC project has been principally refuse, so hence we can expect a vocational conventional (bonneted) truck which can inherently be sold to tipper and ready-mix fleets as well. Obviously times have changed.......it will have to be substantially lighter than the Autocars of old in order to compete in the modern world. Interestingly, it will likely feature the superb X12. My point? Paccar foolishly didn't sign a purchase agreement with Cummins for the X12. So all those Paccar fleets which bought ISX12s are now being forced to buy the Paccar MX13, or switch brands. Absolutely stupid on Paccar's part.....give the customer an engine choice. Aside from Autocar, only Daimler's gaudy/tacky Western Star 4700 and (cheap) 114SD are available with the outstanding X12. Navistar and Mack don't offer it. So I say the X12, a high-performing low weight package, will give the new Autocar conventional a nice sales advantage right out of the gate.

Scania Group Press Release / April 30, 2019 Husband and wife Alberto Fontanari and Eva Del Marco have a shared passion for driving. So much so, they have both qualified for the Italian Scania Driver Competition finals, with Eva becoming the only woman in Italy to reach the deciding stages. Perhaps it’s unsurprising that Alberto and Eva have both qualified because their relationship is based on mutual support and a shared passion for driving. The couple grew up together, have had a relationship for more than 20 years, and finally got married six months ago. They live with their young daughters Silvia and Giorgia in the village of Pergine Valsugana in northern Italy’s Trento Province, where the couple operate a haulage company that bears Eva’s name. It was actually Eva who had the idea of taking part in the Scania Driver Competition. “I was confident of Alberto’s skills but he never wanted to enter previous editions. This year I decided to register him at any cost but he only agreed if I also enrolled. We never thought we would both qualify but here we are.” Thirty-eight-year-old Eva says that her passion for driving was kindled when she was still a child. “Thanks to our relationship, that passion developed and it became our profession,” she says. Alberto, 42, has always encouraged Eva to devote herself to her driving. “He encouraged me to obtain all the necessary licenses and then obtain the certificate that allowed us to start our business in 2005,” Eva explains. Alberto on the other hand was born into the business. His father owned a transport company but closed the business before his son was in a position to take over. Initially, Alberto worked as a driver before founding Delmarco Trasporti with Eva. They started with an old small pick-up truck before buying their first Scania. The next three trucks were also Scania and the fleet has since grown to seven vehicles. “We almost exclusively operate in Italy, including the islands. At the moment, we don’t operate abroad because there’s such intense competition,” says Eva. These days, Alberto is often still out on the road, but Eva mainly focuses on managing the company in order to care for their daughters. “Before our girls were born, we travelled together as a couple and on longer journeys we took turns driving,” she says. “Later, when one of our drivers quit, I started driving myself for two years. I would take assignments during the day to carry out administrative work during the evenings.” As the only woman to qualify for the Italian finals, Eva Del Marco is happy to say that her gender has never been an issue for her in the world of haulage. “I’ve never encountered any problems being a female driver; no prejudice. This profession offers you the opportunity to meet new people, see new places and broaden your horizons.” “The chance to practise a job you like is the most beautiful thing in the world. As tiring and demanding as it is, it is welcome, since every day and every journey brings great satisfaction.” And what if Giorgia (9) and Silvia (7) wanted to become long-haulage drivers? “If our girls also develop a passion for driving and one day wish to pursue this career, we will happily encourage them,” says Eva, smiling. .

https://d3w5dxa1iffln.cloudfront.net/media/1394/2019-real-steel-john-noons-fleet-wot-jf19.pdf

Go aftermarket. Assuming that RVI number is correct, call a large aftermarket distributor in Europe. Google 5000447543. eg. https://www.eurorecambio.com/industrial/Disco-de-freno-Renault-5000447543_7916053_gp

Ford Trucks International / April 29, 2019 The Ford Trucks International corporate website has received a Gold Award in the Web Elements category. In addition, the Ford Trucks F-MAX microsite has been honored with a platinum award in the Mobile and Web Based Technologies category. .

A mild recession in 3rd qtr 2019 A more significant recession by 2023.

I think the R-800 qualifies as a steel-nosed R-700. https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/36705-aussie-r-800/

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3725-steel-nose-r-model/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Merlin

Ford plans several initiatives to boost customer experience Michael Martinez, Automotive News / April 2, 2019 DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. credits a deep understanding of truck customers for the sales success of its F-series line of pickups. Now the automaker wants to apply that same buyer-centric approach to the overall vehicle purchase process. Ford on Thursday announced a series of initiatives designed to improve the customer experience. They include a new loyalty rewards program; redesigned call centers; and pilot programs for a mobile service network, easier lease renewal and new types of showrooms. Although officials wouldn't disclose details, they said Ford is doubling the amount of money it spends on customer experience in an effort to improve its standing among rivals such as Toyota. "We're sort of middle of the pack," said Elena Ford, the automaker's chief customer experience officer and great-great-granddaughter of founder Henry Ford. "We want to grow to be best in class. If we truly want to be serious about customer experience, we have to resource it like we do F-150." The automaker late last year announced intentions to focus more on customer loyalty and retention instead of conquesting buyers from other brands, which they say is harder. Customer experience is at the heart of retention, Ford said, and the company looked to non-automotive companies such as Apple, Google, Marriott and JetBlue for best practices they could emulate. "When experiences are good, we're rewarded with higher loyalty," Ford said. FordPass Rewards The automaker last month launched a new loyalty rewards program, called FordPass Rewards, to try to boost dealers' service business and stop customers from defecting to their local Jiffy Lube or third-party repair shop. Nearly every U.S. dealer has signed up to offer the program, which runs through the company's FordPass smartphone app. Customers who buy or lease a new vehicle and enroll in the free program automatically earn 42,000 points, which is enough to cover their first three oil and air filter changes. Customers will earn points for any service visit and can bank points toward service costs or the purchase of a new vehicle. The points can be redeemed at any dealership. Ford modeled the program on Delta's popular SkyMiles rewards program. The program does not cost dealers. Ford pays for all of the points. Officials said they are looking at ways to expand opportunities for customers to earn points with more than just vehicle maintenance, which might occur only once every handful of months. Mobile Service Vans Ford has begun piloting a mobile service van concept at five dealerships across five states to better serve customers. The vans contain equipment for oil changes, brake pad installation and parts to fix recalls. Dealers must purchase and outfit the vans, and it's up to individual retailers how much they would charge for the service, Ford said. The pilot currently runs in California and will expand this month to Texas, Illinois, New Jersey and Florida. It is unclear how long the pilot will last or whether Ford will expand it. The automaker currently operates 100 mobile service vans for fleet vehicles in the U.K. New showroom concepts Ford is also experimenting with a series of new showroom concepts. The first involves upgrades to the traditional showroom with what's called the Ford Signature look. It involves a more customer-centric experience modeled off Apple stores. The stores call for replacing traditional deal desks with purchase rooms that have shared screens; monitors with service prices and video feeds of the service garage; and "celebration areas" for new-vehicle delivery that includes pulling a silk off a customer's new car, like at an auto show. Ford said it has 70 Ford Signature stores around the world with plans to grow to 300 globally by year's end. The automaker is also piloting a concept called Ford Smart Labs, an open floorplan look that's dropped into high-traffic retail areas, such as shopping malls. The first is opening in Brussels, Belgium, and Ford plans to add five more labs by the end of 2019, including one in Germany and another in Canada. Lease pilots Ford Credit is offering customers a couple of new experiences to make the leasing process smoother. One is a "personal lease assistant" who can walk customers through any questions as early as four months before a lease is up. The pilot is currently running in New York and Philadelphia. Another pilot called "Drive New. Now" provides lease customers with a one-click option to renew their lease by offering them a similar vehicle that's available now at their individual dealership. For example, someone in a 2016 Ford Edge would be offered a 2019 Edge with the same trim package. Call centers Ford this month will open a new 500-person call center in Houston with agents that specialize in pickup issues. The call center will be a prototype for a new style globally, Ford said, that places greater emphasis on customer needs. Instead of being transferred, a customer will now stay with the first person reached when the call is made. That first person will remain with the customer through the experience -- an idea Ford took from call centers at its Lincoln luxury brand. "Everything we're doing is to empower customers and make their complicated lives simpler and worry-free," Elena Ford said.

Ford to scale back V-8 engine output at Ontario plant Automotive News / May 2, 2019 WINDSOR, Ontario — Ford Motor Co. is dropping one of three production shifts at its Essex engine plant in Windsor, Ontario, in October because of waning demand for 5.0-liter V-8 engines in the automaker’s F-series trucks. The move was made “to better align with consumer demand,” a Ford Canada spokesman said. John D'Agnolo, president of Unifor Local 200, which represents workers at the plant, said elimination of the third shift is the result of Ford offering a growing number of engine sizes. F-series truck buyers can choose among 2.7-, 3.3-, 3.5- and 5.0-liter engines — as well as a diesel variant — and many are opting for smaller engines, D’Agnolo said. Ford Canada said “there will be no [job] cuts” as a result of the changes. “All employees affected by the shift reduction will have the opportunity to move to Windsor Engine Plant Annex to support 7.3-litre engine production,” Ford Canada spokesman Matthew Drennan-Scace wrote in an email. The annex building is part of the Windsor engine plant, which is a 15-minute drive from the Essex engine plant. Two new production shifts are to begin at the annex in November, D’Agnolo said. D’Agnolo said he wasn’t surprised by the news and workers were prepared. “We’ve had down shifts every week since January, and we have two down weeks in the summer, and two more down weeks scheduled in September,” D’Agnolo said. “We could see that sales of the 5.0-liter were dropping.”

Peterbilt tests Allison e-axle in Class 8 truck Transport Engineer / April 30, 2019 US truck manufacturer Peterbilt is testing a new axle for electric vehicles, supplied by Allison Transmission. The AXE Series electric powertrain is being fitted to Peterbilt’s Model 579EV electric Class 8 truck, which delivers 1,455bhp (1,100kW). “Allison is pleased to be building upon its legacy of innovation and believes this product will be a significant step in taking the industry to the next level of electrification,” said David S Graziosi, president and CEO of Allison Transmission. “We value this opportunity to work with an industry leader.” A fully integrated electric powertrain system designed to fit inside a standard frame along the axles of commercial trucks, the AXE Series features electric motors, a two-speed gearbox, oil coolers and pumps. The offering also includes power electronics for a complete powertrain solution.

Commercial Motor / May 1, 2019 Black Lion limited edition truck roars into the commercial vehicles show. .

FCA seeks $160 million in tax incentives for Detroit plants Automotive News / April 30, 2019 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is seeking up to $160 million in taxpayer incentives to partially subsidize a planned $2.5 billion investment in two Detroit assembly plants. The package of taxpayer incentives, grants and breaks would come from an Industrial Property Tax Abatement, the Good Jobs for Michigan program, a State Essential Services Assessment Exemption and a Michigan Business Development Program grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund, according to documents submitted this week to the Detroit City Council. FCA's plans to spend $1.6 billion converting its Mack Avenue engine plants into a Jeep assembly plant and $900 million retooling and modernizing the company's nearby Jefferson North Assembly Plant will add 4,950 jobs and is expected to result in a "gross fiscal benefit" of $300 million, according to the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. "FCA confirms that it has applied for up to $160 million from existing state incentive programs as related to its proposed development at the Mack Avenue Engine Complex and Jefferson North Assembly Plant," an FCA spokeswoman said Tuesday. "As these incentives have yet to be approved and negotiations are still pending, we cannot comment further." If approved by state economic development officials, the tax incentives would amount to 6.4 percent of the automaker's total investment at the two east side Detroit plants. By comparison, Ford Motor Co. received $239 million in tax incentives over 30 years for a planned $740 million autonomous vehicle campus in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood, anchored by the long-vacant Michigan Central Station train depot. If that ambitious project comes to fruition, Ford's incentives will amount to 32.3 percent of its investment. The disclosure of FCA's potential tax incentives comes three days after the city's self-imposed deadline to assemble 200 acres for FCA's plant expansion, which could add millions of dollars to the value of the subsidies for the automaker to expand its manufacturing footprint in the Motor City. The potential tax incentives for Fiat Chrysler would need approval by the Michigan Strategic Fund's board. A spokesman for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. would not confirm the $160 million figure. "At this time, FCA and the MEDC are still finalizing the incentive package that will go before the MSF board," MEDC spokesman Otie McKinley said in an email. " As is always our process the MEDC does not share project details until time of MSF board approval." No date has been set for the MSF board to consider tax incentives for the automaker, McKinley said. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's administration has committed to building a wall along the the new property line with abutting homes on Beniteau Street as part of a $17.4 million contribution to a community benefits agreement that is pending before City Council. John Roach, spokesman for Duggan, said the mayor's office was "making significant progress" on the land deals and there will be "an announcement when everything is done." Detroit's efforts to assemble public and private land around the two FCA plants is said to be a complicated matter involving a series of land swaps to lower the city's out-of-pocket costs. DTE Energy Co., the Great Lakes Water Authority and Hantz Farms have already publicly agreed to land deals with the city. City Council approved those land swaps Tuesday on a 7-2 vote, The Detroit News reported. One of the biggest landowners with which Duggan's team has been negotiating is Crown Enterprises, the real estate development arm of billionaire trucking mogul Manuel "Matty" Moroun's family business. The Morouns own an 80-acre paved parking lot that they lease to FCA for finished vehicle storage. It's the site of the former Budd Wheel plant, which Crown Enterprises demolished in 2017 to build a logistics and vehicle shipping center for FCA. On Friday, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy's Air Quality Division approved FCA's air pollution-control permit for expansion of the Mack Avenue plant.

Ford Trucks International / April 30, 2019 Ford Trucks is your most trusted partner in public service! Our water tanker trucks range in tank size from 8,000 to 18,000 L, giving you everything you need to get the job done. . 1507940147251-drlcss.mp4

The new Liebherr LTM1230-5.1. Powered by a Liebherr engine....of course. .

Volvo Trucks Press Release / April 30, 2019 Volvo Collision Warning with Advanced Emergency Brake – AEBS –is an active safety system designed to support the driver, to reduce or mitigate the effect of an incident with another vehicle, travelling in the same direction. Designed as a driver training aid this short film highlights how this important active safety system can support the driver in emergency situations, from how the system works, daily checks and warnings through to what the system can and can’t do on the road. It is a safety and not a comfort system, so hopefully you never have to use it. Drive safely. .