Sales of heavy-duty commercial vehicles in China dropped 36% in the third quarter
Pekin,China -Fleet Owner, by Brian Straight -Dec 31, 2010: -- After hitting record levels in the second quarter of 2010, sales of heavy-duty commercial vehicles in China dropped 36% in the third quarter, according to ACT Research Co... The drop hints at a continuing decline next year before the market for heavy-duty trucks returns to positive growth in 2012, ACT said... ACT compiles its research based on information obtained from China’s State Information Center and publishes it in its China Commercial Vehicle Outlook report... Third-quarter sales totaled 204,250 units, a 16% increase over third-quarter 2009 figures, but still a significant fall from 2010 second-quarter sales of 316,725 units. Sales of buses rose 11% year-over-year and 9% over the second quarter while medium-duty trucks declined 2% year-over-year... (Photo: China traffic jam)
* South Africa - Truck market posts recovery
Johanesburg,SA -Business Report -January 12 2011: -- The South African truck market staged a “significant recovery” in 2010, Hino SA, a division of Toyota SA, said on Wednesday... With total sales of 1,538 units reported in the final month of December, the cumulative total for the year was propelled to 22,022, resulting in a year-on-year improvement of 16.3% on 2009... There were some predictable short-term increases in the rate of passenger and distribution vehicle deliveries, but the magnitude of these was not sufficient to significantly disturb the natural balance of the market... However, it was also noted that some larger operators were circumventing any possible obstacles by making use of accumulated cash reserves to fund their vehicle acquisitions... The XHCV segment has regained its former market leadership position with more than a 38% share, compared with 34% in 2009... The combined sales of entry-level medium commercial vehicles (MCV) - trucks, vans and buses - finished the year with a penetration of 34.3%, down from just more than 38% one year earlier, while the distribution-rich heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) segment maintained its long-running station firmly anchored to the 20% market share line... In the aftermath of 2009, the commercial vehicle supply industry was looking to re-establish a firm platform from which to grow its sales volumes, and this manifested during the second half of last year... (Photo from static.flickr: SA loaded trucks)* Belgium -All figures of the Belgian market in 2010
Brussels,Belgium -Truck & Business -6 Jan 2011: -- After two years of crisis, the Belgian market heavyweight finally starting to find colors. Although a little pale in the light of the latest figures of registrations, but the outlook for the year 2011 will truly leave finally resumed... If one considers only the numbers of registrations issued by FEBIAC, 2010 is to mark a new black stone, as it results in a further fall in registrations of heavy trucks in Belgium 8, 49%... Key figures
- Holders of 3.5 to 6 tons: 68.48%
- Holders from 6 to 16 tons: -26.79%
- Carriers from 16 to 19 tons: -20.47%
- 19-ton carriers: -21.88%
- Holders of over 19 tons: -27.44%
- Carriers (total): -16.68%
- Tractors: 4.25%
- Global market: - 8.49%
(See details for each model & brands here) * Germany - Daimler Boosts Stake in Mitsubishi Fuso
Stuttgart,Germany -Transport Topics/Bloomberg -11 Jan 2011: -- Daimler AG boosted its stake in Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. by about $360 million, to benefit from a recovery in global demand for commercial vehicles, reported Tuesday... Daimler increased its holding in Kawasaki, Japan-based Mitsubishi Fuso to 89.29%, from 85%, the two companies said... Mitsubishi, whose stake dropped to 10.71%, will remain a “strong” business partner in Japan and internationally... * Germany - Mercedes: New Atego / Axor, Actros and special series hybrid
Stuttgart,Germany -Truck & Business, by Julie Widart -15 Jan 2011: -- Mercedes renewed at the same time its Atego and Axor, benefiting from a new grille, but also several improvements to the interior of the cabin seat covers, instrument clusters, multi-function steering wheel ... Mechanically Several improvements are also on the agenda, starting with a new magnetic retarder lightest and most powerful (650 Nm). The most powerful versions of the Axor also receive the Powershift gearbox... Two vehicles will also present the alternative drives developed by Mercedes: a Atego hybrid, now mass produced, and a gas Econic NGT. Spectacular truck enthusiasts will not be disappointed either, as the Actros will be in the form of a double special series Liner White / Black Liner exclusive look at and superbly equipped. A true driver's dream ...* S. Korea - Kia's gullwing KV7 reinvents the van
Seoul,South Korea -Gizmag, by Noel McKeegan -January 10, 2011: -- Park it somewhere picturesque, unbolt the wheels, dispense with the dash and Kia's KV7 Concept Van would become a comfy little lounge-room retreat ... What really grabs you about the KV7 is the interior – floating tabletop touch-screen computer display, four swiveling single-seats plus a three-seater corner mini-lounge, clever storage compartments, Wi-Fi connectivity and ... what every lounge-room needs ... a grand entrance courtesy of a long gullwing door and pillarless front door on the passenger side... The Concept is really about design experimentation though, and there are some interesting elements thrown into the mix... I'm not sure I fit the bill, but we'd love to see some of the design elements seen in the KV7 on the showroom floor (it would make one very handy mobile office for starters) and given Kia's track record of bringing its concepts to market, there's a better than even chance we will... (Photo: Kia KV7 Concept at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show)* Sweden - Scania presents solutions to Truck & Transport
Gotenborg,Sweden -Truck & Business, by Michel Buckinx -16 Jan 2011: -- Scania will present at the Fair Truck & Transport, which he calls his 'solutions'. More concretely, 6 vehicles will be exhibited in different configurations and several variations of the current engine platform, services and network... Vehicle side, a R730 with us pin CR19 Topline cab and pack design or the P310 V8 6x2 * 4 (photo) for the collection of refuse with a low-entry cab. Scania also exposes a new range of gas and biogas engines, confirming a strategy focused on alternative fuels. These engines of 270 hp and 305 can be fitted to trucks cab P (short or intermediate)...* Italy - Iveco expands fuel efficient truck range with Ecostralis
Torino,Italy -Transport Engineer, by John Challen -19 Jan 2011: -- Armed with a range of fuel-saving solutions, Iveco has now launched its Ecostralis, which, according to tests, offers fuel economy improvements of more than 7%... The truck, has an uprated version of the Cursor 10 engine under the bonnet, offering 460bhp – an extra 10bhp. This, coupled with some engine remapping, enabled test facility TÜV SÜD to confirm a 7.32% improvement in economy – making it not only the most frugal truck in the Ecostralis family, but also in its vehicle class... Interestingly, Iveco's new truck comes equipped with an ECO-switch, which uses information about the vehicle's weight to limit engine torque in line with gross vehicle weight. According to the company, this ensures an overall performance that best matches the fully laden vehicle... The ECO-switch works with the truck's gearbox to permit only fully automatic mode, ensuring that all gear changes are tuned to maximise fuel economy... Other technologies available as options include tyre pressure monitoring and lane departure warning systems, as well as adaptive cruise control...
4:52 AM
Admin
