New York,NY,USA -Fleet Owner -Jan 21, 2011: -- According to WardsAuto.com, Ward’s own data shows that “a 2.6% uptick in December helped boost U.S. sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks to a 9% full-year gain over 2009” ... What Ward’s describes as “big-truck sales (Class 4-8 GVW) for 2010 totaled 217,702 units, compared with the prior year’s 199,686 tally... But “putting the jump in clearer perspective,” Ward’s Christie Schweinsberg stated in her report that 2008’s total was 298,424... For the year:
* Class 8 outpaced 2009 by 13%, led by a 65.4%
* Class 7 lost 1.9% of its 2009 volume
* Class 6 for the year was the hottest sector, “soaring 32.5% from 2009 levels.”
* Class 5’s 51.9% jump was December’s biggest percentage-based improvement
* Class 4 incurred the biggest loss in December and for the year, dropping 65% and 39.2%, respectively...
* Freightliner touts 2010 retail sales, market share growth
Portland,ORE,USA -Truck News -Jan 21, 2011: -- Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has declared it finished 2010 as the market share leader for the US and NAFTA regions in the Classes 6-8 and Class 8 markets... The company attributes its market share growth to the acceptance of its selective catalytic reduction (SCR) engine emissions technology... DTNA's Classes 6-8 retail sales climbed to 67,800 units in the NAFTA market in 2010, reaching 31.6% market share, a gain of 2% over 2009, according to the company... US sales accounted for 56,900 units and 32.6% of the market... Daimler also scored 32.4% of the Class 8 NAFTA market and 33.9% of the Class 8 US market... Not surprisingly, Freightliner led the way among DTNA brands. The NAFTA market saw 42,800 Class 8 Freightliners sold for 30.3% of the market share. Western Star also saw retail sales growth over 2009... (Photo from fargofreightliner)
* GM to add 3rd shift, 750 jobs to Flint plant
Flint,MICH,USA -Fleet Owner -Jan 24, 2011: -- General Motors has announced plans to add a third shift at its Flint, MI, Assembly plant. The shift will result in the addition of 750 jobs, the company said... The plant builds the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups... The new shift is expected to begin production in the third quarter. GM employs 2,100 currently at the Flint plant over two shifts. It produces 115,000 trucks a year, the company said... (Photo from t2.gstatic: GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickup )* Chicago taxi firm adds Ford natural-gas vans
Chicago,ILL,USA -Fleet Owner -Jan 24, 2011: -- Medallion Management affiliated with Yellow Cab Chicago, has purchased 12 Ford Transit Connect vans that run on natural gas instead of gasoline. In a statement issued by Ford and Taxi Medallion, the companies said the commercial vans are expected to help the cab company reach its goal of cutting total emissions by 25%... The Ford Transit Connect typically is used as a delivery van, but second-row seats can be added. According to the announcement, the natural gas-powered vans achieve some 23 mpg in combined city-highway driving-- 21% better than a conventional taxi cab such as the Ford Crown Victoria sedan... The natural gas-powered Ford Transit Connects are scheduled to be delivered in March... (Photo from unnen: 2011 Ford Transit Connect Taxi )
* US Xpress buys a thousand Petes
Chattanooga,TENN,USA -Hooked Up/Truck News, by James Menzies -24 Jan 2011: -- Peterbilt has announced that US mega-fleet US Xpress has placed an order for 1,000 new Model 587s. It's significant order any way you look at it, but it's especially interesting since US Xpress had been a devout Freightliner user since, well, pretty much since the company's inception... (Photo from farm3.static.flickr)
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