BYD California’s truck and bus facility isn’t much to look at – an elderly concrete tilt-up in a mostly still unbuilt industrial center in Lancaster, a high-desert community about 70 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. But things are changing for the electric vehicle maker, a unit of China’s giant BYD Co. BYD has started a factory expansion on a 200,000-square-foot lot in front of the former recreational vehicle assembly…
Read MoreFord Launches Commercial Vehicle Program
Ford is launching the Commercial Vehicle Center dealer program that will replace the Business Preferred Network (BPN) and offer improved service, better parts availability and a new loyalty program, Ford announced. The program is rolling out at 650 of Ford’s more than 3,000 dealers in the U.S. and replaces a program that was heavily used by smaller fleets to set up work trucks and vans. Much like a BPN dealer, a Commercial…
Read More2017 Navistar International Trucks Recall
Navistar, Inc. (Navistar) is recalling certain 2017 International ProStar, LoneStar, 9900i, and TranStar trucks. The affected vehicles have a metallic battery cover latch that may unlatch and contact the battery jump start stud, causing an electrical short to ground if the jump start stud is not covered. CONSEQUENCE: An electrical short to ground increases the risk of a fire in these trucks. REMEDY: Navistar will notify owners, and dealers will…
Read MorePenske Rental Trucks with Collision Avoidance
Penske Truck Rental is making collision avoidance systems and air disc brakes its standard spec on commercial tractors within its rental fleet. “These added vehicle features underscore our commitment to over-the-road safety for our commercial truck rental customers and their drivers,” said Don Mikes, senior vice president of rental at Penske. “These systems can help commercial drivers avoid collisions and the braking system provides additional stopping power when needed.” Penske has…
Read MoreMercedes-Benz Autonomous Delivery Van
At last year’s IAA show in Hannover, Germany, Mercedes-Benz Vans unveiled its drone-delivery Vision Van and teased the press with its Vans & Robots concept. On the eve of the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Stefan Maurer, head of future transportation for Mercedes-Benz Vans, went into greater detail about its ideas for incorporating new robot technologies in its Sprinter van to better optimize last-mile delivery in an ever-increasing…
Read MoreBendix Unveils New Truck Information Site
Bendix has launched a new center of commercial vehicle information at its website safertrucks.com, centered around a new multimedia center called the Knowledge Dock. The Knowledge Dock aims to help trucking professionals stay connected to the industry by providing updates on developments in truck operation, maintenance and safety. It also examines trucking trends and technology developments. It contains a growing list of videos, blog posts, podcasts and white papers from…
Read MoreElectric Truck Sales to Increase Tenfold
According to a new report from Navigant Research, global annual electric powered medium-duty and heavy-duty truck sales are expected to grow from about 31,000 vehicles in 2016 to nearly 332,000 by 2026. The report forecasts sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks for each major world region — segmented by electrified powertrain type, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell — through 2026. As local and national governments…
Read MoreRenault to Export & Assemble Trucks in Iran
Renault Trucks has signed two agreements with Iranian importer Arya Diesel Motors. The agreements cover the import of vehicles from the T, C, and K ranges, and the assemble of T range vehicles in Iran, according to Renault. The first agreement covers the import, distribution, and after-sales service of the T, C, and K range trucks. The agreement furthers the working partnership between Renault Trucks and Arya Diesel Motors that…
Read MoreNikola One Prototype Marks End of Diesel Era
Nikola Motor Co. on Thursday unveiled a working prototype of Nikola One, the company’s fully electric, zero-emissions Class 8 truck. The truck’s fully electric drivetrain is powered by high-density lithium batteries. The truck’s electricity is supplied on-the-go by a hydrogen fuel cell, giving it a range of more than 1,200 miles and delivering more than 1,000 horsepower and 2,000 ft.-lbs. of torque. “This is a real truck. This is not a…
Read MoreSelf Driving Semi Truck Makes First Delivery
Otto and Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch made history in October by successfully making the first delivery by a self-driving semi truck. Yesterday, one of Otto’s self-driving truck prototypes traveled 120 miles on a stretch of Colorado highway between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs to deliver 51,744 cans of Budweiser beer. According to Otto, a professional driver assisted the truck on the entrance and exit ramps but could spend the rest of the…
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