Production of Ford's Transit panel vans in the UK is to be extended into 2012.

 

The firm axed half of its 1,100 workforce at the UK's only assembly plant in Southampton last year.
Ford had said production of the panel vans, which is being moved to Turkey, would cease at the factory in 2011 to be replaced by Transit chassis cabs.

The manufacturer, which makes about 35,000 vans a year at the site, said the move should not affect jobs.
The site will produce similar numbers of chassis cabs, which allows users to adapt the body of the vehicle for specific use.

The final vans will roll off the production line once the next generation of Transit vans are ready to be manufactured in Turkey.

'Last outpost'
A Ford spokesman said: "The plan remains the same at Southampton but we are unsure when the next generation of Transit will come in which pushes production of the current panel vans beyond 2011 at the site.


"Ford has outlined a multi-million pound investment plan for Southampton as lead plant for the chassis cab variants of the next model.

"The UK remains an important market for Transit."

Steve Banner, from What Van? magazine, said it would be a sad day when the final panel van rolls off the production line in the UK.


He said: "The Transit plant in Southampton is the last outpost of vehicle assembly in the UK for Ford.
"The Transit will continue in chassis cab form, but of course it won't be a van."

More than 500 workers at the factory in Swaythling took voluntary redundancy or retirement last May.
The plant has also been reduced to a single shift.

The manufacturer blamed "unprecedented" economic conditions.

Article from the BBC

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General Motors urgent recall on 2010 van models

General Motors issued a recall and stop-sale on heavy-duty van models such as the 2010 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans due to a problem with the alternator that could potentially lead to a fire. With a panicky vibe, GM advises owners to stop driving the vehicles immediately, adding that vehicles should be parked away from buildings and vehicles, and owners should disconnect both battery cables. Vehicles should not be used until GM has come up with a fix for the problem.


Many of the recalled vans are owned by company fleets. The U.S. recall includes all 2500, 3500, and 4500 series models built in February and March of this year only. Light duty vans are excluded from the recall because they use a different alternator. Some of the affected vehicles are utilised for retail operations and as rentals. With the stop-sale order, the vans cannot be sold or leased.

It is unknown if any units are affected in the UAE or other GCC countries.

Article from drive arabia

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Vantastic - VW’s Transporter 60 years on.

IT’S hard to believe that the humble VW Kombi/Microbus is 60 years old and was born out of a concept developed by workers at the VW factory building the Beetle.
Now called the Transporter/Caravelle/Multivan, VW’s one-box utility vehicle can handle a multitude of uses (except sporty driving).

The range spans everything from working dual-cab Transporter utes and one-box vans in a variety of configurations through to Caravelle people movers and high specification Multivan passenger vans.
The Australian range includes all-wheel-drive 4motion models and a long wheelbase nine-seater minibus.
All models can tow up to two tonnes (750kg unbraked) and all provide a high level of safety including multiple airbags and stability control.

This is essentially the mid-model revamp of the T5 series Transporter ushering in new engines and transmissions including a seven-speed direct shift gearbox automated manual standard on Multivan and optional on other models.
All are powered by a new generation, efficiency improved, four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with 75kW, 103kW or 132kW outputs. Common rail direct injection has been used across the board.
The lower output engines have a single variable geometry turbo while the high output model has a twin turbo system boosting power with torque that maxes out at 400Nm.

All three versions of the engine deliver maximum torque (pulling power) at lower engine revs than the earlier T5s for gains in off-the-line performance and load lugging.

Hill start is standard across the range as are brake and transmission upgrades. All 132kW variants have dual piston calipers at the front.

The manual is a six-speed with closely spaced ratios and slick change action. A gear change indicator is provided to optimise efficiency.

VW has adopted more passenger car technology inside and in the way the new T5 drives.
Despite being a relatively high riding vehicle capable of swallowing two pallets in van configuration, the T5 feels agile and responsive with a super tight turning circle and simple ergonomically designed controls. There are plenty of practical features too.

It is available with a raft of options including side cornering lights, lane change assist and blind spot warning.
A rear view camera is optional but some models score rain sensing wipers, auto headlights and coming home lights.

When designing the new T5 VW took into account the fact that many owners spend upwards of 10 hours a day in the vehicle.

They made sure new T5 provides a comfortable and safe working environment.
Fuel economy is better than ever with the 2.0-litre 75kW van capable of returning as low as 7.5 litres/100km. All come in under the 10 mark. This is the first time the latest generation seven-speed direct shift gearbox has been used across a VW group product and can cope comfortably with high power and torque engines and loads.

The body is new from the B pillar forward and features a “corporate” nose similar to the new Golf. Behind the B pillar, the new T5 is pretty much the same as before.
The van load areas are from 5.8-9.3 cubic metres and barn doors or a tailgate are available at the rear.
Noise minimisation efforts yield a cabin with passenger car levels of refinement except in the case of an empty van.

Payload is up to 1.3 tonnes.

We were able to test drive all three engines and though the 132kW model is powerful and offers sporty performance, the 103kW and even the 75kW are fine for normal use.
We’d probably opt for the 103kW.

It sits on the road well, is comfortable and easy to drive. The tight turning circle and slick gear change are particularly pleasing.

It looks good, is practical and feels unbreakable.

Article from the mosman daily

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Could this be the ugliest van ever built?

What you are looking here is the Brazilian-built Transtina – Brazil’s answer to the Ford Galaxy/VW Sharan. I’d like to pretend that it was the product of an official joint venture between Ford and Volkswagen, but I think it’s more likely to be the result of someone with a sense of humour drinking one too many Caiprinhas.

Article from road transport

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Chrysler leaders excited about new Dodge Ram truck campaign

Chrysler Group LLC’s is launching the first comprehensive marketing and advertising campaign for the new Ram Truck brand.

In the past, Chrysler’s trucks have always been sold under the Dodge brand.

The Dodge name is not going away, Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ram Brand.

“It’s still going to be there on the trucks,” he said. If our loyal customers want to refer to their truck as a Dodge that’s fine.”

Diaz, however, said from now Chrysler’s truck advertising and marketing will emphasize the Ram name only. One of every eight vehicles sold in the U.S. is a truck, he said.

"The Ram Truck brand customer has been clearly identified and this campaign marks the beginning of how we will begin to build a deeper relationship with that consumer," Diaz said.

"We know truck customers; we understand their passion and what drives and motivates them. We plan to connect with them on an emotional and rational level," he said.

Olivier Francois, the president of Chrysler brand, who is in overall charge of marketing and advertising for the Chrysler Group, said a key reason for selling trucks under the Ram name was to create more space for the Dodge brand and its line of cars, minivans and crossover vehicles.

The success of the Ram is in the truck market, he said.

Francois also he believes the new television campaign focuses on the American spirit and delivers a realistic view of how Ram Heavy Duty pickups are used.

“We know who drives the truck and we have built our advertising to talk with them one on one,” said Francois, who was brought in from Fiat last year to assemble a new marketing strategy for the Chrysler Group.

Marissa Hunter, Ram marketing director, also said the new campaign also will emphasize events that draw a large number of truck buyers.

The new marketing and advertising campaign for the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty was filmed in variety of locations. It highlights “the nobility of work,” Francois said.

Hunter also said the Ram brand's all-new web site, RamTrucks.com, engages consumers in the full brand experience — whether it's building and pricing a vehicle or finding merchandising and accessories to meet their lifestyle.

Diaz also offered an assessment of Chrysler’s sales so far this month saying they were solidly ahead of the pace during February. But overall sales could still wind up 10 percent below the total number of units sold in March, 2008, when Chrysler pushed up incentives to an unsustainable level to clear out inventory.

Article from The Oakland Press

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GM 'close' to deal to keep Luton plant open

General Motors is close to reaching a joint-venture agreement that will keep its van plant at Luton open beyond 2013, the company's European boss has revealed.

Luton is operated through a partnership between GM Europe and Renault until 2013, but its future beyond that has looked bleak since GM crashed into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US last year and began a major restructuring of its European operations.

However, in an interview on Monday, Nick Reilly, chief executive of GM Europe, said he was "pretty near the end" of discussions with Renault about extending their deal.

He added: "We both understand what requirements we have, we think we have got a compromise that both parties can accept and, so I think the time frame for that is within the next month or two at most."
Mr Reilly also disclosed that the UK Government only provided loan guarantees of €300m (£270m) to safeguard the future of GM-owned Vauxhall, which employs 5,000 people in the UK, after asking the American parent company to commit an extra €400m to the business.

GM was initially to seeking to raise €3.3bn from is own funds and European governments to finance the restructuring of GM Europe. However, GM announced earlier this month that it would add €415m to this and treble its own commitment from €600m to €1.9bn.

Mr Reilly has now revealed that this increase was made after specific requests from the UK Government, whose negotiations were led by Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary. Mr Reilly added: "When they looked at the plan, they said: 'We think this is a good plan and relatively conservative, but if we do have a real double-dip recession and we go back into much weaker economic conditions, then you may need some more money than you are asking for'. And so they asked us for an additional €400m, guaranteed by GM."

The Government also asked for other terms, which Mr Reilly would not disclose, and reassurances about the future of Vauxhall's plants. Ellesmere Port is "an important part of the company going forward" and in line for a third shift, according to Mr Reilly, but Luton, which employs 1,500 staff, has faced serious doubts about its future because sales of vans slumped in the recession and it was not clear whether Renault wanted to extend the venture. More than 350 jobs will go at the plant in GM's European restructuring.

Article from the Telegraph

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Tata Motors offers early conversion to note holders

Tata Motors Group recorded a global growth of 59 per cent in its vehicle sales last month.

The latest figures released by the company showed that Tata sold 89,768 units in February 2010, representing a growth of 59 per cent over the corresponding period of last year.

The Tata group comprises Tata, Tata Daewoo and Hispano Carrocera range of commercial vehicles, Tata passenger vehicles along with distributed brands in India, including Jaguar and Land Rover.

A statement made available to our correspondent by Tata in Nigeria gave the cumulative sales figure for the fiscal year (April 2009 - February 2010) as 771,238, higher by 17 per cent over statistics for 2008-09. Tata motors operate in Nigeria through its subsidiary TATA Africa Services Nigeria Limited.

It specifically, ”Sales of all commercial vehicles were 42,660 units in February 2010, a growth of 70 per cent while cumulative sales for the fiscal stood at 365,120 units representing a growth of 35 per cent.”

”Sales of all passenger vehicles were 47,108 units in February 2010, a growth of 50 per cent as cumulative sales for the fiscal were 406,118 units, a growth of four per cent.”

It also said that 29,911 units of the Tata passenger vehicles, including those distributed were sold last month, representing a growth of 45 per cent. It put the cumulative sales for the fiscal as 235,674 units, a growth of 24 per cent.

The firm also said that another 17,197 vehicles sold in February were Jaguar and Land Rover. This represents 60 per cent increase over last year‘s. While Jaguar sales for the month were 3,292 units, higher by 55 per cent, Land Rover sales were 13,905, higher by 62 per cent.

Meanwhile, Tata Motors has been declared as the commercial vehicle maker of the year in the Commercial Vehicles Awards 2010. The award is facilitated by CV magazine.

The award was given to Tata Motors for its steadfastness in a challenging environment in 2009 and introducing a whole number of products, which are ”going to change the face of the Indian industry and bring it at par with the global commercial vehicles industry”.

This was disclosed through another statement by Tata Motors, which it said also received two other awards.

The commercial vehicle award was said to cut across all types of commercial vehicles - goods carriers or buses, large or small and four-wheelers or three-wheelers.

”This is the first time that awards dedicated to commercial vehicles have been instituted. The award ceremony was attended by the leadership of companies from across the country,” the firm said.

Article from The Punch

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Commercial sector will dominate electric vehicle market

 

 

It may be the latest electric sports cars and sedans that dominate the headlines, but over the next five years it is the humble delivery van that is likely to determine the success of the burgeoning electric vehicle market.
That is the conclusion of new research from analyst firm Frost & Sullivan to be released later this week, which predicts that electric buses, vans and trucks will account for 70 per cent of the electric vehicle market in the EU and North America by 2015.

"On an optimistic note, Frost & Sullivan analysis shows that close to four per cent of the total commercial vehicle sold by 2015 will be electric," said Vishnu Muralidharan, senior research analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Automotive Practice. "Vans and light trucks offer the maximum electrification potential in both US and Europe."

The company said depot-based delivery vehicles were likely to prove a particularly fertile market for electric vehicle manufacturers as they tend to operate on a limited range and undertake predictable journeys.
It also predicted that while most electric commercial vehicles available today are light weight vans, expected improvements in battery technologies mean that medium and even large sized trucks are likely to be available on the market in the next few years.

The sector has also been further bolstered by generous government incentives, such as the British government's recent pledge to provide tax breaks for electric vans.

Article from Business Green

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Council bans ice cream vans from stopping outside schools

A council has banned ice cream vans from stopping outside schools in a bid to improve the diet of children.
Traders have been warned that if they park up outside schools in defiance their vans will be impounded.

The vans are also not allowed to stop in town centres because they "cause congestion."

Hillingdon Council in west London said they were forced to act because there is "a need to encourage healthier eating habits in children."

But the new regulations were criticised as petty by ice cream sellers - who said headteachers used to welcome them with open arms.

Pete Bhogal, aged 45 years, who has worked as an ice cream man for the last 26 years said the new rules were pointless.

"Ice cream is a dessert, it's not unhealthy. An ice lolly is only unhealthy if you have three or four in one go," he said.

"I go around to schools in the afternoon, the headteachers even invite me there.

"I have seen traders who have had their vans confiscated in Westminster for not observing the rules there. It costs £30-40,000 for a van. It is not right but then you have to observe the law.

"Rules and regulations make our work more challenging and the recession has made it harder too, as people are more cautious with their money, but if the sun shines, I'll be out there. It is a British tradition and they can't ban that."

Traders in Uxbridge, Ruislip and Hayes, west London, will be forced to sell ice creams only in residential streets.

The new healthy eating regulations apply to secondary schools, primary schools, special schools, under five centres and nurseries.

Kathy Sparks, deputy head of environment and consumer protection at Hillingdon Borough Council, said the new rules were necessary to encourage healthy eating.

"Hillingdon Council is not banning ice cream vans but is tightening rules on where they can stop and trade in light of ongoing complaints and concerns from residents and health organisations," she said.

"Ice cream vans now need a licence to trade within the borough and a number of conditions of this licence will be in place.

"These include not trading outside schools where there is a local and national need to encourage healthier eating habits in children.

"The restrictions will also include town centres in a bid to ease congestion problems and respond to noise complaints that have been received."

A council spokeswoman said: "Hillingdon Council is tightening the rules on where ice cream vans can stop, not banning them. It's in an effort to ease congestion and noise complaints, as well as encourage healthier eating habits."

Article from The Telegraph

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AMG Gets New Boss, Former Head Moved To Van Division

 
Volker Mornhinweg is officially stepping down from his top role at AMG in Affalterbach, Germany to become the new chief of Mercedes-Benz’s commercial van division. Mornhinweg will replace Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, who was appointed as a member of the board of management of Daimler back in February.
Instead of working on cars like the SLS AMG or the new 5.5-liter range of twin-turbocharged V-8 engines, Mornhinweg will be responsible for overseeing production of models like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Viano vans.

Filling Mornhinweg’s shoes will be Swedish exec Ola Kaellenius, who is leaving his position of plant manager at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa. Kaellenius previously was head of Mercedes-Benz’s High Performance Engines division based out of Brixworth, UK and also worked for a short time at McLaren, so he definitely knows a thing or two about high performance sports cars.

A successor to Ola Kaellenius will be decided on and announced in the near future.

Article from Motor Authority

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Renault's masterplan for new vans

RENAULT has been the undisputed leader of western Europe's commercial vehicle market for the past 12 years, and a market share of 14.81 per cent in 2009 put the company in a good position to resist the downturn in the van markaet

To try and maintain its dominance, the French company is launching three new models – the New Master, Trafic Phase 3 and a new Kangoo Van Maxi.

The flagship of Renault's commercial vehicle range is the latest Master which had undergone a complete makeover and goes on sale in the UK on May 7.

Outwardly the Master has a sleeker, modern style and it has an entirely redesigned interior with added comfort features for drivers and new storage capacity.

The new Master's front-end styling features a broad grille and large, headlamps. The large wheel arches and blunt bonnet give it a purposeful look.

Article from motors merseyside

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Movano's a mover for Vauxhall

AN ambitious drive to boost its commercial vehicle strength has been launched by Vauxhall with the arrival of a new Movano van. The company aims to double its annual sale of the popular Movano as the vehicle enters its second incarnation. The new Movano features trademark Vauxhall elements like a horizontal chrome bar - housing the largest Griffin badge on any vehicle in the company’s history - and the signature crease on the front hood. Special attention has been paid to the interior design, resulting in a cab that is 5.7 centimetres longer than that of the outgoing model and boasts durable materials and surfaces, plus multi-adjustable seats and a height-adjustable steering column. Movano also provides one of the widest ranges of body variants on the commercial vehicle market, offering a model for every potential customer. Article from motors merseyside  Looking to buy a Commercial Vehicle? Visit VansandTrucks.co.uk

Truck Repairs Advice

When you’re putting a truck through its paces from one day to another, it’s not surprising that after a short time it can begin to look a little worse for wear. If buying a new truck is not an option, you will need to focus on carrying out regular repairs to ensure the vehicle stays safe and looks good when you’re out on the road. Read some of our advice guide below to learn more about truck repairs.

Truck Repairs: Tricks of the Trade

• When you’re using a truck daily, it’s sometimes easy to become complacent about the state of the vehicle. If business is brisk, making regular checks on a van or truck can seem a waste of valuable time and resources. Sometimes it’s not until you stop and assess the state of........Read More

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Happy 60th Birthday To The World's Most Popular Van

Production of the Volkswagen Transporter van officially started in March 1950 and during the 60 years since then it has become one of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ best-selling models globally, the number one imported van in the UK as well as one of the most iconic and popular vans in the world.
With over 10 million produced, the Volkswagen Transporter has evolved through five generations of functional and practical bodystyles, each representing the ultimate multi-purpose vehicle of its time and loved by business and private users alike for transporting goods or people for work or leisure. This unique heritage is the focus of the current ‘Evolution of Van’ advertising campaign for the new Transporter which was launched in the UK in January.

The first T1 ‘split-screen’ model was powered by a four-cylinder, air-cooled, 1.1-litre petrol engine mounted at the back of the vehicle. It produced 25 PS of power and had a top speed of about 60 mph. By comparison, the new Transporter enjoys the refinement of Volkswagen’s latest 2.0-litre, common rail, turbocharged diesel engine, available with power outputs ranging from 84 PS to 180 PS and a top speed of up to 119 mph, plus the latest stability control systems and braking technology that would have sounded like something from a science fiction novel 60 years ago.
Although the design has evolved over the years, the first and the latest Transporter share the same badge on the front and the same design principles of a generous loadspace and an enviable reputation for quality and durability.

Similarly, comparing the latest Volkswagen California with a T1 campervan shows that both make efficient use of the space available to create a vehicle equally suitable for daily trips to work or the shops, as for weekend escapes or continental capers.

Over the years, Volkswagen Transporters have endured challenging round the world trips by enthusiastic travellers, been used as the preferred choice of travel for rock bands since the 1960s to the present day, and been relied upon by many businesses needing a fleet of delivery or passenger carrying vehicles.
The first Transporter was imported into the UK in 1955, and the latest version of the van as well as today’s people-carrying and campervan versions, the Caravelle and California, arrived in the UK this January, 55 years later.

British commercial vehicle hire users 'safer than foreign counterparts'

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has expressed its support of a new report, which states that British commercial vehicle hire users are safer on the roads than those from abroad.

Particularly pleasing to the RHA is the acknowledgement of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, which completed the report, that foreign lorry and truck operators contribute little to the British economy and present significant difficulties in terms of policing.

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the RHA, says: "Until May 2009 foreign operators had a free ride. No penalties were imposed, in practice, unless someone was actually killed. Today’s report highlights that … there is still work to be done."

Mr Dunning adds that the RHA is also pleased the report highlights the higher rate of tax paid by UK-based commercial vehicle hire users.

One of the biggest threats to safety on Britain's roads is tiredness, according to a recent report by Fleet News

Article from Hitachi Capital

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GM says Sierra Denali HD outpowers Ford Super Duty

As promised, General Motors is raising the stakes in its big-truck he-man macho showdown with Ford's Super Duty.

GMC, GM's serious-truck division, just announced the new 2011 Sierra Denali HD will offer a 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine with a stunning 397 horsepower and 765 foot-pounds of torque. That's seven more horsepower and about 30 more foot-pounds of torque than the Super Duty, according to PickupTrucks.com. While that's not a lot of difference in the real world, the bragging rights will clearly go to GMC and its ad campaign.

The new Denali can tow up to 20,000 pounds -- 10 tons. The bed payload is rated at more than three tons.

"The new Sierra Denali HD is the latest expression of GMC's Denali philosophy of blending capability with premium features and styling," said Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director.

The new giant diesel engine will get 11% greater highway fuel economy, up to 63% lower emissions and is capable of burning bio-diesel fuel, GMC says. With a larger fuel tank, it can go 680 miles between fill-ups.

Article from USA Today

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Wraps Taken Off All-electric Commercial Pickup/Delivery Van

Over the past year, Enova and Freightliner have been testing a 120 kilowatt all-electric drive system with several chassis platforms, but now they are ready to accelerate plans to serve corporate fleets.

The Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) truck just made its official debut at the 2010 National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show.

The vehicle, which is geared for the commercial pickup and delivery market, is built on the FCCC MT-45 WIV chassis platform.

Bob Harbin, FCCC president, said that the company’s vision was “clearly focused on transitioning the all-electric chassis into the mainstream of … walk-in van production programs.”

In a test on delivery and service routes, a study shows that customers could save up to $15,000 per vehicle a year compared with traditionally powered walk-in vans.

The vans use Enova’s 120kW all-electric drive system technology and are rated to haul 14,000 to 19,500 pounds. Powered by Tesla Motors lithium ion batteries, the chassis is 100 percent electric, including its HVAC system.

The van has a 100-mile driving range per charge. It takes six to eight hours to recharge, FCCC says.

The vehicle should enter full production in the first quarter of 2011, after which it will undergo testing with some “major” U.S.

Article from environmental leader

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Navistar Planning New Line Of Lighter Trucks

Navistar International Corp. (NAV) plans to offer a new line of commercial trucks aimed at penetrating the lighter-weight end of the medium-duty truck market.

Navistar said the new line is part of broader strategy to emphasize smaller, lighter vehicles across all its truck and bus lines in North America. Chairman and Chief Executive Dan Ustian said truck users are increasingly looking for smaller trucks with more fuel-efficient engines.

"Weight, weight, weight. That's all our customers talk about," Ustian said Wednesday during a conference call with Wall Street analysts. "They need something less [for] lighter, regional, shorter runs. It used to be highway [speeds] of 70 and 80 miles an hour. Not anymore."

Ustian said growing traffic congestion in the U.S. is reducing the need for trucks built primarily for high-speed, long-haul trips.

Other truck builders also apparently are eyeing lower weight classes. Volvo Trucks North America is evaluating options for medium-duty models in its Mack truck lineup, according to a report Tuesday by AutomotiveWorld.com. Mack and Volvo currently offer only heavy-duty trucks in North America.

Navistar's new TerraStar line will feature trucks with a gross weights from 14,001 pounds to 19,500 pounds. Such trucks are larger than pickup trucks and are typically used as tow trucks, utility service repair vehicles, ambulances and general construction trucks.

Navistar expects to begin selling two-wheel drive versions of the trucks by early fall; four-wheel drive models will be added in 2011. The company hasn't identified where the trucks will be built.

Navistar is hoping to move into the anticipated vacuum in the medium-duty market created by General Motors Corp.'s plans to close its commercial truck business. But Ford Motor Co. (F) remains a force in the market, along with Japan's Mitsubishi Fuso trucks and other foreign-based truck builders.

"It's a good move for Navistar," said Dennis Huibregtse, an analyst in Michigan with truck market forecaster Power Systems Research. "It'll be keenly competitive though because Ford is a mass producer. The question is can Navistar get its price down initially to where it can compete with Ford and the others."

Navistar maintains its trucks will be able to compete because the TerraStar models will draw heavily from components and designs already in use on other Navistar trucks, including the company's 6.4-liter and 7-liter diesel engines.

"It's a great way to leverage the assets that we have and get our costs right, so we can make some money on this sector," Ustian said.

Navistar also intends to introduce a smaller school bus and a small commercial bus typically used for airport shuttle service. Navistar, which dominates the full-size school bus market and holds a leading share in heavyweight side of the medium-duty truck market in the U.S., said many of the biggest users of lighter commercial trucks are already Navistar customers for larger trucks.

Navistar on Wednesday reported sharply lower sales and income for its fiscal first quarter. Navistar's stock closed down 5.29%, or $2.34, at $41.91 a share.

Article from WSJ

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Nissan takes aim at Detroit with new commercial vans

Another longtime profit bastion for domestic automakers is about to see a serious run from a foreign automaker. Nissan just unveiled its first production commercial vehicle for the U.S., which will go on sale later this year.

The van comes with a tall roof or a short one. Either way, it could spell trouble for Ford E Series.

CAPTION

By Nissan

It will be called the Nissan NV -- for "Nissan Van." And the thing is about as sexy as its name -- a plain-Jane, framed truck that only plumbers will love. It comes in high-top and low-top versions.

For a generation, Ford has dominated the commercial van market with its E Series, formerly called the Econoline. General Motors has its Chevrolet Express van. Now Nissan is serious about getting in on the action.

"As the first non-domestic nameplate to design, manufacture and sell (commercial vans) in the United States, we bring a more than seven-decade tradition of durability, quality and reliability to our products," said Joe Castelli, vice president for commercial vehicles for Nissan North America

He goes on to say:

"We've taken a fresh look at every aspect of the ... business – including styling, powertrain, interiors, cost of operation and ownership, dealership sales and service operations and, most importantly, real world customer needs."

The new vans will comes with 4-liter V-6 and 5.6-liter V-8 engines and in two body styles, standard roof like the E Series or high roof, like Daimler's Sprinter van. The high roof offers the ability to walk in without banging your head.

"It's been too many years since any manufacturer in this segment has taken a 'clean sheet' look at the needs of owners and operators in the (van) segment," said Castelli.

Article from USA Today

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Toyota expanding recall of rusty Tundra pickups

Toyota is going to expand its recall of the 2000 to 2003 Tundra pickup to include the entire country -- not just 20 cold-weather states.

Owners of Tundras originally sold or currently registered in the remaining 30 states will be notified by Toyota in the coming weeks. In the original recall, corrosion could lead to spare tires falling from the vehicle's underside, as well as excessive corrosion affecting brake lines and fuel tank straps.

The original recall covered 110,000 Tundras. Not sure how many more the expanded recall will pick up.

Article from USA Today

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Commercial vehicle hire users 'set for significant savings on fuel'

Plans to make commercial vehicle hire fleets greener will save firms £300m in fuel costs over five years, transport minister Paul Clark has said.

The proposed changes, which include retraining fleet drivers to drive in a more fuel-efficient way, should also help save more than three million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the same period.

If the plan is adopted, those driving commercial vehicle hire trucks and lorries will have to take eco training before being awarded the European Union's Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.

Mr Clark stated: "With initiatives like this I am confident we will succeed in creating a greener and cleaner industry fit to meet the environmental challenges we face."

He added that with 20% of road emissions coming from commercial vehicles, fleet operators can play a key role in reducing the impact motoring has on the environment.

The Road Hauliers Association last week labelled the planned 2.5p rise in diesel prices set to come into effect on April 1st as "a joke".

Article from vehicle solutions

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