TRUCKMAKERS´ NEWS WORLDWIDE * Japan - Isuzu restarts Japanese truck production

Fujisawa-shi,Kanagawa,Japan -Fleet Owner -Apr 5, 2011: -- Isuzu Motors Ltd. has resumed production at its Fujisawa truck plant, according to its U.S. subsidiary, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. Production at the plant had been suspended since March 11 when Japan suffered a severe earthquake and tsunami... The Fujisawa plant builds the Isuzu N-Series truck, engine and components for North America and other global markets. On March 28, plant engineers began testing production equipment for possible damage from the quake. According to Ryozo Tsukioka, exec. VP and director of Isuzu Motors, plans call for ramping up production gradually “because parts supply and the availability of electricity remain inconsistent,” according to a press announcement from ICTA... (Photo: Isuzu's Fujisawa plant aerial view)

* Belgium - Volvo Trucks engages 200 people in Ghent

(Video from Youtube, by AutoMotoTV -30 May 2008: Volvo Cars factory in Gent, Belgium)

Ghent,Belgium -Truck & Business, by Michael Buck -1 April 2011: -- The manufacturer Volvo Trucks announces increased production and employment and investment of nearly 25 million euros to support the growth of the plant in Ghent. From next August, the production Volvo Europa Truck in Ghent and go to 144 vehicles per day. To achieve this, 200 new employees will be hired as engineers and technicians. The assembly hall has been expanded to include 4,000 m2...

* Sweden - Euro 6 engine Scania arrives

Gotheborg,Sweden -Truck &  Business, by Hendrik Despiegelaere -31 March 2011: -- Scania launches its first engines comply with Euro 6...   Scania proposes two alternative Euro 6, for trucks series G and R, the 13-liter engine will be available in 440 and 480 hp, which covers most of the applications of long-haul and construction...  The biggest difference is a brand new exhaust after-treatment of exhaust gases, now integrated into the exhaust itself. This system, built in a quiet, includes an oxidation catalyst, particulate filter and a dual system of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts and auxiliary ammonium AdBlue dosing advanced (AdBlue consumption does is only 3 to 4% of that of diesel) which lowers emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NOx). According to Euro 6, these emissions were reduced by 80% compared to Euro 5 engines...

* India - Ashok Leyland eyes top-10 global truck makers list

Chennai,India -Press Trust of India/SmartInvestor -4 Apr 2011: -- Hinduja group flagship company Ashok Leyland today said it is adopting a three-pronged strategy to break into the lists of top-10 global truck manufacturers and top five bus makers in the next 5-10 years... Newly-appointed company Managing Director, Vinod K Dasari, told reporters today, the company would work on three strategies -- focusing on delivering quality products, developing and managing people, and leveraging the value of products by adopting new branding exercise... Talking about future plans, he said the company had set a target of selling around 1.10 lakh to 1.20 lakh units during this financial year (2011-12)... He said the company had ramped up the capacity of its Pant Nagar facility to produce 30,000-40,000 vehicles from next year from the present 2,600 units... (Photo from roadtransport/big-lorry-blog: Ashok Leyland U-thumb)

* Europe - EU CV registrations on the increase

Brussels,Belgium -HGV UK -April 1, 2011: -- New commercial vehicle registrations amounted to 141,914 units in the European Union in February, an increase of 16.8 per cent on the same month last year... All segments posted growth, except buses and coaches. The month counted on average the same number of working days across the region compared to February 2010... From January to February, new registrations increased by 18.5 per cent, compared with the same period a year ago, totaling 290,695 units. Growth occurred across categories... (Photo: Trucks are seen detained in a truck parking of the La Jonquera border in Gerona, Catalonia, northeastern Spain, 10 June 2008)