TRUCKMAKERS NEWS WORLDWIDE * UK - Ford takes wraps off Transit SuperSportVan at CV Show

London,UK -HGV UK -April 13, 2011: -- Ford has taken the wraps off the next evolution of its iconic SportVan bloodline – the one-off Transit SuperSportVan (SSV)... For this special project, the largest has been partnered with the smallest – Ford’s range-topping, five-cylinder 3.2-litre, 200PS Duratorq TDCi engine has been shoehorned into a short wheelbase Transit, for maximum power-to-weight ratio. The engine, normally to be found in bigger Transit models like the 4.25 tonnes Transit Jumbo, delivers 470Nm at 1700-2500 rpm and mates with a six speed gearbox. Under the striking livery, the rest is fundamentally the base SportVan... The exterior features Le Mans-style bonnet stripes, twin exhausts, alloy wheels, low profile 235/45 tyres, front and rear lower spoilers, side skirts and extended wheel arches. Standard safety features include ABS, ESP and driver and passenger airbags...

* Australia - Mack Trucks forges premium modern classics in steel

Brisbane,QLD,Australia -ATA Friday Facts -15 April 2011: ...  The most popular models in its 2011 range offer more power and torque, improved fuel economy and longer service intervals while all models have a host of cab refinements...

And in addition to stronger, cooler running engines, Mack has introduced the first automated manual transmission designed and engineered for Mack Trucks, mDRIVE. There’s no clutch pedal and the gearshift is operated by intelligent electronics. mDRIVE automatically selects the best gear for the engine and road conditions, which puts less strain on the driveline for longer life and less wear...  The 2011 range of Mack Trucks is designed, engineered and assembled at Mack’s Brisbane factory.

The birth of a bulldog breed

Mack Trucks delivered 2,000 of its famous AC model trucks to the British Army during World War I. The story goes that the British Tommies in France said the trucks had the tenacity and looks of a bulldog – and so the Mack symbol was born...  (Image from Mack Trucks Australia: A parade of Mack AC trucks in 1918, recognisable because of their distinctive blunt hoods)

* Japan - Isuzu soars on Volkswagen considering taking stake in it

Tokyo.Japan -Reuters, by Ayai Tomisawa and Antoni Slodkowsk -Apr 14, 2011:  --  Japan's Nikkei average inched up on Thursday but stayed in a narrow range as investors awaited earnings, while Isuzu Motors jumped on a report that Volkswagen was considering buying all or part of the Japanese truckmaker. Isuzu climbed 6.2 percent to 310 yen, and traded at 3.5 times its average daily volume of the last 30 days...

* Germany - Truck maker MAN set to launch production in Russia next year

Sr. Petersburg,Russia -Ria Novosti -14 April 2011: -- German auto maker MAN Truck&Bus AG will launch truck production in St Petersburg in northwest Russia at the end of the first quarter of 2012, MAN Chief Executive Georg Pachta-Reyhofen said on Thursday... The St Petersburg authorities and MAN signed a memorandum of intention on Thursday to establish truck production in Russia... MAN's production facilities will be located in the Arsenal plant, the former production site of the U.S. auto giant GM. The German auto maker also intends to invest an additional $25 million in construction of its own facilities, the chief executive said... The plant's annual output will reach about 6,000 trucks in 2013...

* UK - Malcolm Taylor says used trucks represent better value

London,UK -Laurie Dealer -April 12, 2011: -- Laurie Dealer loves it when used truck dealers bang the drum for second hand motors and Malcolm Taylor Commercials is right on the money. Previously, Malcolm Taylor offered hints on buying used trucks... On the website's 'latest news' section the company says "trucks are instrumental in the smooth running of many businesses, especially in today's modern society" ...  It continues: "Buying a new truck is expensive, and with the steep increase of petrol steadily rising, businesses are looking to cut costs elsewhere. Buying a used truck is one of a number of ways to cut costs...  A used vehicle has many advantages that businesses are beginning to realise, not least the considerable price difference. At Malcolm Taylor we realise the important operation that vehicles have for modern businesses, and as such we provide an impressive range of new and used trucks to suit any budget and specification" ...

* Turkey - Mercedes Turkish truck sales increased by 181 percent first quarter

Istanbul,Turkey -Zaman/Balkan Business News -14 April 2011: -- Mercedes-Benz, German manufacturer of motor vehicles with truck and bus production in Turkey, saw its truck sales in the country increase by 181 percent in the first quarter of 2011, year-on-year... Mercedes-Benz Turk, the local division of the group, sold 3,551 trucks in the first three months of the year, a figure second only to Germany...  In addition, the company almost tripled its heavy truck sales in the first quarter with 1,887 vehicles sold. Actros model trucks manufactured in the company’s Turkish plant proved especially popular among logistic companies with large fleets... The company’s total sales of trucks in Turkey surpassed its sales in the UK, France, Italy and Spain combined, making Turkey the second biggest market of Mercedes-Benz trucks after Germany...

* South Africa - Truck market to grow between 10% and 15% in 2011

Johannesburg, S.A. -Engineering News, by Irma Venter -13 April 2011: -- Hino South Africa VP Dr Casper Kruger expects the new truck market to grow between 10% and 15% in 2011, reaching a level between 24 000 units and 26 000 units, compared with the 22 021 new trucks sold in South Africa in 2010, and the 18 934 units moved in 2009...  The powerful earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the Asian country in March have disrupted automotive supply chains globally...  Despite this disaster, Kruger remains positive that the recent growth trend evident in the local truck market will continue in 2011, with the total new vehicle market up 22% for the first two months of the year, and the truck market outpacing this at 27%...  Hino sold 3 148 new trucks in South Africa in 2010, securing the number two position with a market share of 14,3%...

* South Africa - Hino 700 is even tougher

(Photo: The Hino 700)

Johannesburg,SA -iAfrica -11 Apr 2011: -- Significant changes have been made to the Hino 700 Series extra-heavy duty truck tractor that was introduced to South Africa in 2004... The most important new feature, which will find favour with many truck operators and drivers in South Africa, is the introduction of the ZF-AS Tronic electronically-controlled, 16-speed, automated manual transmission... The two-pedal system incorporates an automatic start function and eliminates the need to operate the clutch manually, which makes life much easier for the driver and cuts maintenance costs into the bargain...

* South Africa - Truck manufacturer expects yet more Sacu market growth in 2011

(Photo from t2.gstatic: UD Truck)

Johannesburg,SA -Engineering News, by Irma Venter & Martin Zhuwakinyu -18 February 2011: -- UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA) expects the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) truck market –incorporating all vehicles a gross mass above 3,5 t – to grow by 14,38% in 2011, reaching a level of 28 187 units...  UDTSA CEO Johan Richards says 2011 market growth will come on top of a 16,3% jump in sales in 2010 over 2009 figures...  When considering the specific sectors, UDTSA expected the medium commercial vehicle market to grow by between 6% and 7% in 2011, the heavy truck market by between 15% and 17%, and the extra-heavy commercial vehicle market by 22%...  UDTSA sold 2 533 trucks in 2010 compared with 2 372 units in 2009...  UDTSA ended the year as South Africa’s top truck exporter outside Sacu, at 240 units, compared with 162 units in 2009...

* Germany - MAN will spin off completely Euro-Leasing

Munich,Germany -Truck & Business, by Claude Yvens -12 April 2011: -- MAN has acquired the remaining shares of Euro-Leasing, the leasing company which he had taken 50.1% in 2009. Euro Leasing has a fleet of 3,200 motor vehicles and 8300 trailers in Germany, Poland and Denmark. The company is also the operational arm of the MAN brand Rental, in which MAN has developed its own leasing operations and also intend to develop soon in Sweden...

* Belgium - 16 new MAN TGM 15,250 for bpost

Bruxelles,Belgium -Truck & Business, by P. A. -6 April 2011: -- bpost acquired 16 MAN TGM 15,250 with a superstructure Bruecker. TGM the first of the fleet is already operational for some time and the 5 following copies will be delivered shortly...

* China - MAN launches its China brand Sitraka

Shanghai,SH,China -Truck & Business, by Claude Yvens -19 April 2011: -- On the occasion of the Shanghai Motor Show, MAN has launched a new brand in a joint venture with local manufacturer SINOTRUCK. One, or rather two, since this brand called Sitraka on export markets in China and Shandeka same. The first model launched in Shanghai is the T7H which will go into production before the end of the year. The two partners hope to produce 200,000 units per year in 2018, including 160,000 for the Chinese market. MAN has 25% plus one share stake in Sinotruk ...