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Nikola wants to disrupt your truck payments by including fuel costs John G. Smith, Today’s Trucking / April 17, 2019 SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – There’s water, water everywhere, and little of it being transformed into fuel. Nikola Motor wants to change that – as well as the way fleets pay for trucks and their fuel. As the company prepares to produce its hydrogen-electric Class 8 trucks by 2022, it’s also establishing plans for the related fueling network and a leasing model that promises to roll truck payments, full-service maintenance, and the fuel cost itself into a single price. Initial estimates from the company suggest that price will run between US 90 and 95 cents per mile over the course of a truck’s seven-year lease – what Nikola personnel refer to as “parity” with the price of running diesel-powered equipment. “We are talking about real disruption,” said Nikola CFO Kim Brady, referring to the pricing that would be available for those that run minimal distances, likely in the neighborhood of around 150,000 km per year. “No one is willing to take risk from fuel.” But doing this will mean delivering hydrogen “at scale” with the support of Norwegian-based Nel, establishing fueling infrastructure to support fleets that adopt the technology. “We’re building our hydrogen infrastructure where the trucks are,” said Jesse Schneider, Nikola’s executive vice-president – hydrogen and fuel cell technology, during briefings at an event dubbed Nikola World. “If you want to build a new type of disruptive vehicle, you have to build the infrastructure.” “This is really one of the most exciting projects that we’ve ever been involved with,” said Nel CEO Jon Andre Lokke. “It solves the chicken and the egg. Everything comes at the same time.” The fueling stations A standard Nikola fueling station is to produce eight tons of hydrogen per day – enough to support about 150 heavy-duty vehicles — although truck-focused depots could produce four times that much. “That’s where you see a lot of cost benefits to the hydrogen,” Schneider said. Public users would pay less than $6 per kilogram. Nikola’s first eight-ton station is to be in place by 2021, while the ramp-up to a target of more than 700 stations in the U.S. is to begin in 2022. Each station will cover a footprint similar to a truck stop covering a little more than seven acres, and also be able to fill mobile trailers for fueling at other locations. “The thing that worries me the most, the thing that would help us the most, is if [government regulators] would just get out of our way,” Nikola CEO Trevor Milton said during a press conference the night before. “Just let us go build stations and pull these diesels off the road. Some of them have standards so stringent, like bureaucracy so deep, you take three to four years to permit an hydrogen station. That should be done in three weeks … We went from start to completion of a hydrogen station [in Arizona] within about four months.” The goal is to be able to fuel a Class 8 Nikola truck with 80 kg of fuel within 10 to 20 minutes. There will undeniably be fewer hydrogen stations than diesel islands, but Lokke stressed that planning will make a difference. The U.S. could get by with fewer fuel islands than exist today, he said. “You have the opportunity to plan.” “We are trying to take the vehicle out of the carbon equation by removing carbon from the feedstock,” Schneider added. This means relying on renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines to develop the hydrogen on site, perhaps supplemented by adjacent solar farms. An entire station will run on about 17.6 megawatts, and at least 30-40% of that is to come from renewable resources. “It really drives down costs,” Lokke said of the business model, noting how it will make the hydrogen competitive with diesel in part because there is no need to transport the fuel. “You will find smaller stations around the world, that will produce hydrogen on site, but never at this scale.” Full-service leases It will be up to Ryder to maintain the equipment. “We perform literally thousands of total cost of ownership studies each year,” said Dennis Cooke, Ryder president of fleet management solutions. The fuel simply “brings another dimension” to the equation. Nikola’s proposed business model will follow the one already in place for Ryder customers in other respects, with leases involving full-service maintenance, pre-defined in-house maintenance service, or service on demand, said Karen Jones, Ryder’s executive vice-president and chief marketing officer. “What we’ve been perfecting in a diesel world, I think will be very transferrable.” “This is the potential to simplify your business model down to hiring and training drivers and keeping them on the road. We can fix all the other costs for you. That’s why we’re proposing lease as the base model,” said Nikola president Mark Russell. “We know that we can generate hydrogen for a cost that is competitive with diesel, and if you buy our truck with a bundled lease we’ll commit to selling it to you for the life of the truck.” Fleet shops that want to service such equipment on their own will require some upgrades, but the changes would be similar to those associated with natural gas vehicles. Hydrogen is 14 times more buoyant than air, which will require some ventilation in the case of any spills. “We’re making a giant step forward here in saving the planet, and we can save you money probably,” Russell said. It isn’t the only differentiator when it comes to options like battery-electric vehicles. “Every pro-forma we have does not depend on any government incentive,” Russell said. “Our bogey for everything is diesel parity and then try to beat it. We want to match it or beat it.” .

Nikola Rolls Out Trucks for Zero-Emissions Future Roger Gilroy, Transport Topics / April 17, 2019 SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Nikola Motor Co. CEO Trevor Milton, 28 months after unveiling a prototype Class 8 sleeper, presented to about 2,000 attendees and a global audience watching online two heavy-duty trucks and three other specialty vehicles he said are ready to spark a zero-emissions future. The heavy-duty trucks that drove out from behind the curtains one at a time, amid swirling lights and loud music as people put their cellphones on video, were the stars of the event. PHOTO GALLERY: Images of Nikola Two, Nikola Tre and more As a bright red Nikola Two day cab took center stage, Milton said, “This is a real truck. This is a real [hydrogen] fuel cell,” seeming to speak to those who doubted the emerging truck maker would ever get this far. Nikola introduced a hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 prototype Dec. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City, its former headquarters. It is now based in Phoenix. The day after the presentations here, Nikola offered the public a first look at the trucks as well as two zero-emissions power sport vehicles and another one designed for special forces operations, which included the ability to be operated remotely like a drone. “We want to transform everything about the transportation industry. With Nikola’s vision, the world will be cleaner, safer and healthier,” Milton said. The flat-front Nikola Tre, bound for Europe, and the Nikola Two day cab will be available either with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell or battery-electric power. As battery-electric vehicles, customers can order either one with 500 kilowatt-hours, 750 kWh or 1 megawatt hour battery-pack options. The U.S. truck is slated to go into initial production in 2022, after field trials. The Tre is expected to reach fleets by 2023, although Milton said during a later press conference he is looking to partner with a European truck maker to reach that market. Both the Two and Tre have enough space in the cab to accommodate bunks and other amenities found in sleepers. Nikola noted a hydrogen fuel cell will be cheaper to operate for longhaul operations, and it expects to see 50-to-1 more hydrogen orders compared with battery-electric. Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles for FTR, said, “You have the [traditional] truck makers trying to develop electric or alternative-fuel vehicles, and this just shows the push is on and it’s a race.” Anheuser-Busch announced nearly a year ago it placed an order for up to 800 hydrogen-electric heavy-duty day cabs. “They will be getting the first trucks because they have agreed to share risk with us and understand that we are going to have a lot of bumps in the road at first,” Nikola President Mark Russell told Transport Topics. “New products are always kinky, and those kinks have to be worked out. “This is a complex vehicle. It’s got a lot of parts. And that is some of the work going forward — to make it more simple to manufacture than the current iteration [would be]. If there was a range of requirements for something, we built it to the top end.” Russell said Nikola would be building what he called “Alpha Two” trucks as lighter test vehicles “pretty soon.” Meanwhile, there is much more to be done. Nikola’s Coolidge, Ariz., manufacturing facility is scheduled to come online in 2022 and will be capable of building up to 35,000 trucks per year at full production. The bare site now has road access, utilities and a rail spur. It encompasses 400 acres. Russell said just before speaking with TT, he met with a representative of a European government who said it was interested in “being in the running for our facility” to bring the Tre to that continent. He declined to identify the country. “And then you have people in the former Eastern European bloc who are really anxious to get something like this,” he added. Russell said all of Europe will be facing a diesel ban in the not too distant future. “Emissions are the enemy.” In the meantime, as of April, Nikola had built one hydrogen fueling station in Phoenix. It took six months from permitting to completion. “Imagine doing that in other places,” Russell said, as an illustration of Arizona’s favorable climate for entrepreneurial businesses. Nikola expects to create 2,000 jobs in the state. For Anheuser-Busch, Nikola will create an initial fueling network of eight stations by 2021. Nikola intends to have a network of 700 hydrogen fueling stations in place nationally by 2028. Then there is a fourth round of funding — this time $1.5 billion — to be raised, Russell said, noting investors had come to the event with its strong marketing overtones. “I promise you our model shows us becoming profitable. We start flowing cash in 2023, and then we become profitable some time after that,” Russell said. “Our seven-year, 700,000-mile lease is going to be on a per-mile basis, and includes the hydrogen fuel,” he said. “All you have to do is provide a driver and insurance, and you have a truck.” .

Nikola Two Demo Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / April 17, 2019 Two Nikola Two tractors took part in a brief demonstration at Nikola World, a two day event hosted by the company this week in Scottsdale, Arizona. .

Nikola Unveils Nikola Two Hydrogen-Electric Hybrid Truck Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / April 16, 2019 At the Nikola World event in Scottsdale, Arizona, Nikola Motor Co. showed off two new vehicles, the Nikola Two hydrogen electric Class 8 truck and the Nikola Tre, designed for the European market. The Nikola Two and Nikola Tre will be available with the company’s hydrogen-electric hybrid powertrain as well as all-electric versions for short-haul urban applications. The trucks feature up to 1,000 horsepower and 2,000 ft.-lbs. of torque. To accommodate the hydrogen-electric hybrid system, Nikola emphasized that the vehicles were built around the fuel cell. All of Nikola’s products will also include autonomous driving hardware. The company says there are currently more than 13,000 Nikola trucks on order. Anheuser-Busch has ordered 800 of Nikola’s trucks alone, as part the company's strategy to convert its entire long-haul dedicated fleet to renewable power by 2025. “I cannot wait to see your truck pull a load of Budweiser," said Ingrid De Ryck, vice president of procurement and sustainability with Anheuser-Busch, prior to the unveiling. "Give those Clydesdales a break," she said with a laugh. Anheuser-Busch expects to integrate the Nikola trucks into its dedicated fleet beginning in 2020. The trucks will be able to travel between 500 and 1,200 miles and can be refilled in 20 minutes. Nikola is currently building out a network of hydrogen fueling stations to support its vehicles. The company wants to build 100 hydrogen truck stations a year form 2020-2028 and plans to sell its trucks into routes or cities where they will be able to refuel. The company will start in areas with high concentrations of distribution centers. "We recently opened our first hydrogen station at our Phoenix headquarters,” said Jesse Schneider, Nikola’s executive vice president of hydrogen. “We are leading the way and working with industry and other OEMs to develop hydrogen standards to enable fueling in less than 15 minutes. The goal is safety and interoperability, so that anyone can fuel at our station. This is a big deal.” Nikola previously announced that the Tre will be put into production from 2022-2023. The first Tre will undergo testing in Norway in 2020. At Nikola World, the company also unveiled two non-commercial hydrogen electric vehicles, the Nikola Reckless, an autonomous-capable military all-terrain vehicle, a redesigned NZT off-highway vehicle, and the Nikola Water Adventure Vehicle, a personal watercraft. "We want to transform everything about the transportation industry," said Trevor Milton, Nikola CEO. "With Nikola's vision, the world will be cleaner, safer and healthier." .

Ford Trucks International / April 16, 2019 Ford Trucks F-MAX is now ready to share the loads on the roads of Slovenia! Delighted to introduce our “Big Boy” with a special launch! .

Utter incompetence.

Matt Cole, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / April 15, 2019 Daimler Trucks North America and Paccar each announced recalls recently affecting approximately 450 total trucks, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. Daimler’s recall affects approximately 361 model year 2019 Western Star 4700 and 4900 trucks. In the affected tractors, the odometers are accumulating distance in kilometers, but the odometer display is labeled as being miles. These trucks, therefore, do not comply with Federal Motor Carrier Vehicle Safety Standards for “Control and Displays.” Daimler says the odometer not registering the correct distance travelled could cause driver confusion, as well as possible incorrect assumptions about driver speed. DTNA will notify affected truck owners, and dealers will replace the speedometer for free. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with recall number FL-812. NHTSA’s recall number is 19V-171. Paccar’s recall affects approximately 93 model year 2020 Kenworth T680, T800, T880, W900 and W990 models. The rear axles of these trucks may not contain oil, which could cause the bearings, hub and axle shafts to wear, resulting in separation of a wheel end from the axle. The company will notify affected owners, and Kenworth dealers will inspect all of the rear axles for the presence of oil. If no oil is present, the wheel ends will be removed and the bearings, hub and axle shaft will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. Owners can contact Paccar customer service at 1-918-259-3258 with recall number 19KWA. NHTSA’s recall number is 19V-176.

GM bets it has a GEM of a plan to hit paydirt in emerging markets Nick Carey & Joseph White, Reuters / April 16, 2019 General Motors has spent five years rewriting its playbook for making money in Latin America and the interior of China. Now, it's showtime for the first results of a project code-named GEM, for Global Emerging Market. At events this week ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show, the U.S. automaker is unveiling two small utilities that will be part of a new family of sedans and utilities the automaker forecasts will make up one in five of its global vehicle sales by 2023. This is just the opening salvo in a nearly $5 billion bet by GM to sell up to 2 million technology-laden, modern-looking vehicles annually to consumers who today cannot afford GM vehicles designed for the United States, but may someday as their incomes rise. GM has struggled for years to crack the code for growing profitably outside rich markets, in part because vehicles designed for the U.S. or China's wealthy coastal cities cost too much for developing world consumers. The company has abandoned some Southeast Asian countries and pulled back from Africa because it could not compete. This time around, GM says, through disciplined cost-control it has finally found a way to make affordable vehicles in bulk for emerging markets, loaded with the technology that consumers want and still make a profit. The Chevrolet Tracker and the Buick Encore — not be confused with its American cousin of the same name — are the first tests of a new strategy for engineering vehicles to appeal to buyers in around 40 nations of the world's middle class such as Brazil and Mexico, and the huge developing market that exists within China's heartland. The GEM project involved an unprecedented level of cooperation with GM's Chinese joint venture partner SAIC Motor Corp. GM and SAIC shared engineering costs and collaborated on purchasing, GM executives said. What potential customers will see are vehicles that include amenities such as touch screens, mobile phone connectivity, rear-view cameras and safety features such as automatic emergency braking and airbags. What GM is counting on them not to notice is that the number of options is limited, to reduce complexity in purchasing and manufacturing, or that touches such as fully carpeted trunks are absent. "We may not be the absolute lowest price point in China," GM President Mark Reuss told Reuters at the automaker's downtown Detroit headquarters. "But we're going to be right in that segment where this is a pretty good-sized car... [with] a huge value for what you pay for it." Fewer parts, lower cost The team that set out to build GM's new vehicle family included engineers and designers from 14 different countries, meeting at the automaker's technical center in the Detroit suburb of Warren to hammer out details that were then executed in China and elsewhere, GM executives said. As the basic design of the GEM vehicles took shape, the strategy for where they would be sold changed. GM pulled out of some markets like India and Vietnam that were originally slated to be among the target markets. The challenge GEM project chief engineer Doug Houlihan faced was how to deliver low-cost vehicles that did not look cheap or lack key safety features. Sometimes, that meant spending more. Houlihan gave the green light to spend extra on machines that could weld on the tops of car doors rather than stamping the door in one piece. The extra investment delivered a door that fit smoothly into the roof of the car for a sleeker look. "This gives the customer more than they would expect," Houlihan said. To offset that cost, Houlihan and his colleagues dug into logistics and the supply chain. Shipping some vehicles by sea between Brazilian ports saved money in a market where moving goods by road can be a logistics nightmare. Houlihan said that Brazilian logistics savings more than paid for the extra $2 per vehicle GM invested for a rear axle five times stronger than its predecessor in South America. One GM plant in Brazil took over some work on engines and bumpers that had previously been outsourced, saving $120 per vehicle — a significant figure for a low-cost vehicle. Integrating the head rest on the front seat for some models saved $7 per vehicle. Chinese suppliers are key to the new GM vehicle line, but the automaker is shifting away from relying on Chinese production. GM has tried to localize costs for these vehicles as much as possible which can help offset currency fluctuations that hit markets like Brazil. That can also mitigate the impact of tariffs. U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated trade tensions with China and has threatened a broad tariff on U.S. autos and parts. "You try and tariff-proof yourself and get it as local as you can," GM's Reuss said. GM's new emerging market lineup will face plenty of competition. Chinese automakers are pushing into some of the same countries GM has targeted. Internally, a key test will be how GM applies the cost-saving strategies used in the global emerging market project to other vehicle programs. Houlihan has been named to lead efforts to apply the cost lessons learned from this project to GM's global lineup of crossovers for the Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet and GMC brands.

Chevy revives Trailblazer, Tracker for China Michael Wayland, Automotive News / April 16, 2019 General Motors is resurrecting the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Chevrolet Tracker nameplates for the Chinese market. The company introduced the two small crossovers on Tuesday at the Shanghai auto show. The vehicles are not expected to be imported from China to the U.S. A Chevrolet spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment. Other than their names, the vehicles appear to share little to no DNA with their predecessors sold in the U.S., which GM discontinued in the 2000s. The Trailblazer for China, according to GM, is a compact crossover inspired by the Chevrolet FNR-CarryAll concept, which debuted at the 2018 Guangzhou auto show as the new design language for the brand. In the U.S., the new styling is most notable on the midsize Chevrolet Blazer crossover that went on sale this year. The Tracker, GM says, will be the brand's new small entry-level crossover for China. For the U.S., GM last produced the Tracker, which was badged under several brands, after the 2004 model year. The Trailblazer was last produced for the 2009 model year. .

360 Truck / April 16, 2019 Commercial truck transmission has always been one of Eaton’s core strengths, and the company has brought to this year’s show a new generation 12-speed "Endurant" 12-speed automated manual transmission (AMT) developed jointly with Cummins. It features a top gear ratio of 0.77 and double intermediate shaft helical tooth structure design. Bowing to the popularity of hydraulic retarders on heavy trucks, Eaton for the first time in many years has designed the new transmission for the fitment of a retarder. The all-aluminum transmission weighs in at 298 kilograms (657lb), has a maximum input torque of 2,650 Nm, requires 7.5 liters of gear oil, and can be fitted with a rear and bottom power take-off. In addition, this new transmission offers a long 1.2 million kilometer (745,645 mile) oil change interval. .

This is a great presentation on FPT's (Iveco's) latest emissions technology mentioned in the article. DOC+DPF+SCR+CUC Diesel Oxidation Catalyst + Diesel Particulate Filter + Selective Catalytic Reduction + Clean-Up Catalyst http://ibb.iveco.com/Lists/Markets/Attachments/59/EURO VI.pdf

360 Truck / April 16, 2019 The Italian-Chinese truck and engine producing joint venture SAIC Fiat Hongyan Powertrain is exhibiting four Euro-6 emissions engines at the Shanghai International Auto Show. The emissions level is known as National 6 in China. The engine line-up includes both diesel and natural gas variants of the Cursor 9 , plus the Cursor 11 and Cursor 13. Powering Iveco trucks in the global market, Fiat Powertrain's Euro 6 engines utilize the company's highly efficient HI-eSCR technology which reduces the nitrogen oxide content in the exhaust gas without using an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. Without EGR, there is no loss of engine operating efficiency. Instead, maximum horsepower, high torque density and low fuel consumption is achieved. Moreover, the engine turbocharger design of the EGR-free exhaust gas circulation system is simplified, resulting in higher engine reliability and longer component life. The Cursor 9 6 engine has a displacement of 8.7 litres and weighs 835 kilograms (1,841lb). It is available in 290, 320, 350, and 390 horsepower ratings, with torque ratings of 1250, 1400, 1500, and 1600 N.m. respectively. The 11.12 litre Cursor 11, successor to the 10.31 litre Cursor 10, has a weight of 1,050 kilograms (2,315lb). It is available in 390, 430 and 460 horsepower ratings, with torque ratings of 2000, 2050, and 2100 N.m. respectively. The 12.88 litre displacement Cursor 13 weighs 1,230 kilograms (2,712lb) and is available in 480, 520 and 560 horsepower ratings with maximum torque ratings of 2200, 2400 and 2500 N.m. respectively. The natural gas powered Cursor 9 6 natural gas engine weighs in at 870 kilograms (1,918lb) and is available in 340 and 380 horsepower ratings with peak torque of 1500 and 1700N.m respectively. The Cursor 9, Cursor 11 and Cursor 13 all offer 100,000 kilometer (62,137 mile) oil change intervals in on-highway operation, while the Cursor 9 natural gas engine has a 60,000 kilometer (37,282 mile) service interval. FPT's HI-eSCR emissions reduction technology integrates DOC+DPF+SCR+CUC, one of the attractive solutions for heavy truck engines to achieve the global Euro 6 emissions standards. Coupled with the latest developments in ultra high pressure common rail fuel injection and variable geometry turbocharging (VGT), nitrogen oxide emissions can be significantly reduced. .

So then what becomes of the FIREMAAX? https://www.hendrickson-intl.com/Truck/Fire-Rescue/FIREMAAX-EX

Trailer-Body Builders / April 12, 2019 Hendrickson Truck Commercial Vehicle Systems recently introduced ROADMAAX heavy-duty rear air suspensions for fire and rescue vehicles in North America. ROADMAAX will serve as the new rear air suspension for Rosenbauer’s new SA Viper aerial truck, the company said. ROADMAAX is designed for heavy-duty fire and rescue markets with ride quality and equipment protection as its cornerstone features. “ROADMAAX is the future of high-capacity performance suspensions for the fire protection industry,” said Chris Batsch, director of the specialty vehicle business unit for Hendrickson. “This system was designed with a low maintenance, unique suspension geometry providing maximum control, predictable handling and premium ride quality.” The new system was put through rigorous test and validation procedures based on real world road conditions, Hendrickson said, and received “outstanding” feedback on its performance and capabilities. “We are excited to offer another innovation to the fire industry and provide first responders with the products and reliability that they need to do their job.” said Dave Scharphorn, director of sales for Rosenbauer Motors. ROADMAAX is designed to deliver enhanced handling in challenging environments where vehicles encounter sharp turns and unexpected ground and environmental conditions. The integration of Hendrickson’s main support member spring technology, with its wide stance air springs, provides a balance of predictable handling and ride quality over a variety of terrain, the company said. Available initially in capacities of 35,000 pounds per axle at Rosenbauer in North America, ROADMAAX is approved for fire and rescue applications. .

Roger Gilroy, Transport Topics / April 15, 2019 U.S. sales of medium-duty trucks in March held steady, settling above 21,000, WardsAuto.com reported. Classes 4-7 hit 21,105 units, down 0.2% compared with 21,135 a year earlier, according to Ward’s. “Nobody is looking for a lot of incremental demand to come out of this space. I think it is largely sated at this point,” one industry analyst said. “Much of what we are going to see is replacement as opposed to people trying to increase fleet size,” he said. “The amount of work is not going to change appreciably through the year.” Year-to-date, sales improved 2% to 56,166 compared with 55,041 a year earlier. “I am calling for a 2.5% gain this year. Again, no surprises,” he said. Class 7 sales fell 6.2% to 4,731. Freightliner notched a leading 43% share on sales of 2,041. Many vehicles in this class are destined for municipal customers, he said, and these include single-axle dumps and work trucks with booms and digger derricks that lift and place utility poles, for example. In related news, Kenworth Truck Co. announced an expanded list of options for its Class 7 medium-duty cabover models. For the Kenworth K370 Class 7 cabover, these options include the Dana Spicer S23-172E 23K high-entry axle, Reyco 23,000-pound rear suspension, Dana 1710 driveline series, 8,000-pound lift-axle pusher, pusher tires and wheels, and upsized park and spring brakes. These options are appropriate for heavy freight delivery, dump trucks, small concrete mixers and cranes, while also opening the door for other vocational uses, such as a larger concrete mixers or 43,000-pound dump applications. The Kenworth cabover has 55-degree wheel cut for a tight turning radius, which aids in maneuverability when operating in crowded urban environments, according to the Kirkland, Wash.-based company, a unit of Paccar Inc. “It will be fun to see [heavier cabovers] come back into the marketplace. In 2005 or 2006, before the housing bubble imploded, I think all the mainstream manufacturers had announced cabovers, and the timing of the introduction could not have been worse,” he said. “It fell apart just as they were getting their trucks to market, so, they tucked tail and ran.” Meanwhile, Class 6 sales were flat at 7,199, or two trucks more than a year ago. Classes 4-5 rose 3.2% to 9,175 compared with 8,892 a year earlier. .

Ford Trucks International / April 12, 2019 With Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Ford trucks won't be falling into any black holes. They'll be right on track, whatever happens. #FordTrucks #blackhole .

Ford Trucks International / March 19, 2019 The "New Big" Ford F-MAX caused a lot of excitement at the Croatian Road Show! The ITOY 2019 award winner Ford Trucks F-MAX was in Zagreb and Rijeka on March 19 and 21, respectively! .

Daewoo Trucks South Africa / April 9, 2019 Daewoo Trucks add robust and high efficiency on our heavy-duty truck applications. Maximum torque and fuel efficiency are improved which provides customers easier and faster maintenance for Daewoo Trucks. .

Ford Trucks International / April 13, 2019 The New Big: The Ford Trucks F-MAX was revealed in Hungary with a special product launch ! Excited to share the load of the Hungarian market! .

Commercial Motor / April 10, 2019 Turning tighter circles with MAN's Steering Brake .

Volvo Trucks Malaysia / April 10, 2019 Shah Alam – Volvo Trucks, one of the world’s largest providers of commercial vehicles, is commemorating its 50th anniversary of achievements and milestones in Malaysia this year. The company was started in Malaysia in 1969 under Federal Auto Industrial Sdn Bhd and a year after the Swedish Motor Assemblies plant had begun operations in the country. Its first product brought into the country in that year was the complete built-up N Series truck, which was a tipper and heavy haulage transporter that also featured the three-point safety belt that was created by Volvo. It was one of the first trucks to have sported this important safety feature. Over the next five decades, Volvo Trucks expanded its footprint through the launching of new truck models, opening of more dealerships across Malaysia, gaining more new customers and introduction of many key aftermarket services and activities to meet the needs of its growing customer base. “Volvo Trucks is extremely glad to be celebrating our 50th anniversary in Malaysia this year. This is one of the most momentous milestones for us and we are very satisfied with everything that we have been able to accomplish over the past five decades. We also feel truly honoured to have the continuous support of the industry and our customers as they have made it possible for us to grow our business in this market,” said Mitch Peden, Managing Director, Volvo Malaysia. Highlights of Volvo Trucks Heritage in Malaysia Laying the foundation in 1969 This year marked the setting-up of Volvo Trucks’ operations in Malaysia and the introduction of the complete built-up N Series tipper and heavy haulage truck. Establishing footprints in the 70s The 70s paved way for a stronger establishment of the brand in Malaysia. The complete knocked-down assembly of the N Series truck was initiated and the 3-point safety belt equipped in all the units, making Volvo the first truck brand to emphasise safety. Over the course of this decade, Volvo Trucks made several breakthroughs including the introduction of the turbo engine used in the F Series truck. It also continued serving the country by delivering the Volvo F88 truck to the Malaysian Army, further cementing its importance in Malaysia. Charting more milestones in the 80s Volvo Trucks’ development into the eighties was built upon the introduction of new innovative technologies and features focused on improved efficiency, performance and safety. The company introduced the Euro 1 engine in the FL10 model and became the first truck brand to introduce the airbag as well as the 6x2 tag axle. With these products, business began to expand and had propelled the arrival of other new models to service the booming transport and logistics sector. Thus, Volvo expanded its portfolio with the arrival of F7, F10, F12, FL10, N10, N12 and NL12 truck models. It also delivered the N10 trucks to the local Fire Department and the first batch of N12 logging trucks to its customers in East Malaysia. Driving progress in the 90s The 90s saw the arrival of the Euro 2 engine and the latest FL10, FL12 and FH12 models and the introduction of its Blue and Gold Service Agreements to serve the customers’ demand for cost-effective preventive maintenance and repairs. In addition, Volvo also introduced its first Breakdown Service Team to ensure that its aftermarket support reaches its customers whereever they are. This was significant as Volvo Trucks continued to expand its network of dealerships across Malaysia. Making impact beyond 2000s The 2000s were significant for Volvo Trucks as it continued to build upon its successes and made bigger impacts in the industry. Realising there was an increasing demand for reliable heavy-duty trucks to meet industry needs, the Volvo FM9 and FM12 models were brought into Malaysia in 2002. This was followed by the launching of its Customer Care Centre (CCC) to provide 24/7 breakdown service support. Playing a bigger role in driving productivity and enhancing road safety, the Volvo Driver Training programme and the annual Fuelwatch Challenge to promote safety and fuel-efficient driving behaviour among truck drivers were also launched. The Volvo I-Shift transmission which uses road grade, speed, weight, and engine load to gauge the optimum time for switching gears to increase fuel efficiency was introduced as one of its latest advancement in trucking solutions. As business expanded, Volvo Trucks’ appointed Dai Lieng Machinery Sdn Bhd as its first private dealer for Volvo in East Malaysia in 2008. In the ensuing years, Volvo Trucks continued to expand its business and launched programmes to deepen its customer relationship. This included an investment of RM 75 million [TSHK1] [JO2] for its network enhancement strategy across both Peninsular and East Malaysia. This 3-year long project saw Volvo’s dealerships in Kuantan, Prai, Ipoh and Sibu being relocated to newer and bigger locations, a new Kota Bahru dealership established and other dealerships across the country upgraded with additional facilities. This also included the significant upgrading and transformation of Port Klang dealership into its flagship outlet, serving the needs of at least 2,000 Volvo trucks in the area. In 2014, two new models joined the Volvo Trucks fleet with the launch of the new facelifted and improved Volvo FM and FMX to meet different industry applications. The following year, Volvo upped the ante by introducing to the market Volvo Dynafleet – its telematics system for customers to better manage their fleet and keep track of their trucks and drivers’ performance in real-time. However, Volvo’s most significant product milestone was achieved when the premium flagship Volvo FH Series comprising two variants, FH13 and FH16, made their epic entry into Malaysia in 2017. With breakthrough innovations such as the ultra-low crawler gears and Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS), the FH series offers superior handling, performance, safety, fuel efficiency and ergonomics and can withstand extreme heavy loads. The introduction of the Volvo FH was touted as setting a new industry benchmark for innovative trucking solutions in Malaysia. More than just business and in line with its commitment to sustainable social and environmental responsibility, in 2018 Volvo Trucks carried out its biggest local corporate social responsibility project ever in Bario, Sarawak. This project saw Volvo Trucks funding an estimated RM500,000 to build a fire-fighting system for the Bario Asal Lembaa longhouse settlement and five eco-shelters along the 25-km distance Bario ancestral jungle trail to help improve the lives of the Kelabit community there. And in the last two years, Volvo has continuously launched additional aftermarket services to ensure that its customers receive the highest global standards which Volvo has always adhered. These included the Volvo Service Planning, 24-months Fitted Parts Warranty and Extended Workshop Hours programmes to further boost customer satisfaction and long-lasting truck ownership experience. “Volvo’s strategy revolves around making bigger difference through more sustainable, smarter and efficient transport solutions for the industry, customers and communities at large. Stongly guided by our three core values which are safety, quality and environmental care, Volvo Trucks has successfully achieved 50 years in Malaysia by continuously expanding our resources, products and service offerings and giving back to communities,” commented Peden. He added, “Although today we are well positioned as the market leader in the heavy-duty European brand segment in Malaysia, there’s still a lot to achieve. The next 50 years will pose new challenges and we are thrilled and ready to embrace it as we remain focused on driving efficiency, innovation and excellence for all our stakeholders.” .

Trailer-Body Builders / April 11, 2019 Lowbed trailer manufacturer Fontain Heavy-Haul recently introduced a trailer designed to carry heavy loads in a lighter package—the new Fontaine Magnitude 55L. “The Fontaine Magnitude 55L is designed for haulers that do not need a spread axle setup and want to maximize their payload,” said Todd Anderson, vice president of sales and marketing. “Since the new Magnitude 55L operates close-coupled only, our engineering team managed to shed 2,000 pounds in the design. “So if a hauler only needs three or four axles close-coupled, the new Magnitude 55L will carry an additional ton of payload.” Fontaine said the new lowbed trailer handles 55 tons in only 13 feet. Fabricated with 100,000-pound minimum yield steel flanges, the Magnitude 55L is built tough and designed to provide years of reliable service. The trailer boasts a 26-foot clear deck length and a loaded deck height of 18 inches, with 6 inches of ground clearance. The 55L also features the most versatile hydraulic removable gooseneck in the industry, Fontaine claimed. It can be connected and disconnected in a matter of seconds—not minutes—and can connect or disconnect on uneven ground. A wide variety of accessories are available. Check with a local dealer for the right configuration for each application, and visit fontainetrailer.com for more information. .

Microsoft worked with Chinese military university on artificial intelligence Financial Times / April 10, 2019 Microsoft has worked with a Chinese military-run university on artificial intelligence research, a revelation that has sparked anger among China hawks on Capitol Hill. Three papers, published between March and November last year, were co-written by academics at Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing and researchers with affiliations to China’s National University of Defense Technology, which is controlled by China’s top military body, the Central Military Commission. One of the papers described a new AI method to recreate detailed environmental maps by analysing human faces, which experts say could have clear applications for surveillance and censorship. The paper acknowledges the system provides a better understanding of the surrounding environment “not viewed by the camera”, which can have a “variety of vision applications”. Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at the think-tank New America and a China tech policy expert, said the papers raised “red flags because of the nature of the technology, the author affiliations, combined with what we know about how this technology is being deployed in China right now”. “The [Chinese] government is using these technologies to build surveillance systems and to detain minorities [in Xinjiang],” Ms Sacks added. The US government is debating whether research collaborations, particularly in sensitive areas such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality, should be subject to stricter export controls. After the Microsoft work was reported by the Financial Times, Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who has emerged as a leading China hawk, warned “we must ensure that American business interests are not enabling the [Chinese Communist party’s] oppression.” “American companies need to understand that doing business in China carries significant and deepening risk,” Mr Cruz added. “In addition to being targeted by the Chinese Communist party for espionage, American companies are increasingly at risk of boosting the Chinese Communist party’s human rights atrocities.” Microsoft defended the research, saying it was part of a worldwide effort by its scientists, who were often academics, to work with their international counterparts on cutting-edge technology issues. “The research is guided by our principles, fully complies with US and local laws, and . . . is published to ensure transparency so that everyone can benefit from our work,” the company said. But Adam Segal, director of cyber space policy at the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank, noted the revelation comes at a time US authorities, including the FBI, have put academic partnerships with Beijing “under the microscope” because of fears Chinese students and scientists working on “frontier technologies” are assisting China’s People’s Liberation Army. Last week, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology cut ties with telecoms group Huawei and launched an “elevated risk” review process for its Chinese collaborations. Pedro Domingos, a professor of AI at the University of Washington, said the Microsoft paper on environmental mapping could provide crucial help to authorities seeking to monitor individuals. “Let’s suppose I’m an intelligence agency and I have pictures of people of interest,” said Mr Domingos. “I can use the system to tell something about the place they’re in that they didn’t realise they were giving away.” Microsoft’s research arm in Beijing has collaborated on at least two other papers with NUDT researchers, including in the area of machine reading — a way for computers to understand online text. “Machine reading comprehension may not seem directly concerning but it could be used for censorship, which is an interest of the Chinese government,” said Elsa Kania, a Chinese military technology expert and a fellow at the think-tank Center for a New American Security. “They see natural language processing as a way to enable censorship at scale.” The papers underscore Microsoft Research’s long-running links to Chinese military-funded academia, including its operation of several “tech clubs” for students at Chinese universities known to have military links including NUDT, Beihang University and Harbin Institute of Technology. The US commerce department is seeking public comment to help identify emerging technologies that are essential to US national security because they may improve intelligence collection, weapons of mass destruction, have terrorist applications, or provide the US with a qualitative military or intelligence advantage, according to law firm White & Case. “[These papers are] at the centre of a perfect storm with . . . issues top of mind as the US is redrawing its relationship with China,” said Ms Sacks. “There is a massive overhaul of the export regime, and emerging and foundational technology, particularly AI, is a considered category under that,” she added. “Because this is open academic research, the question is to what extent is the Chinese government exploiting the openness . . . and extensive history of joint partnerships.”