RoadwayR

Oh boy. The company I work for had a few back in the day, and I did get a chance to drive one on occasion. I thought it was ugly, the side-opening hood was a PITA, the old early-60's vintage International cab was an ergonomic nightmare and rusted like crazy. Steering wheel was too big and at a goofy angle. Heat/defrost/temp. knobs got stuck all the time. And I loved it! It was one of the last ones built (had the 'Binder' nameplate on the hood), 345 2bbl. with a 5 speed (maybe a Clark?), 12' flatbed. For all it's vices it never let us down.

Just like those Ford Ecoboost engines. I guess the emissions are better.

Oh there it is. Sorry for the duplicate topic. Isuzu has been offering CNG and LNG for some time in Asia. I have a feeling gaseous fuel will be a big part of this collaboration.

I missed this from the other day. Sounds interesting: https://www.truckinginfo.com/315019/cummins-and-isuzu-agree-to-evaluate-global-partnership-opportunities

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-unit-ipo-banks/volkswagen-set-to-hire-four-banks-for-truck-unit-ipo-sources-idUSKCN1MI20Z

Think GM will make a move on AM General? Fits nicely in their plans, but AMG doesn't appear to have much future at the moment. HMMWV is winding down (though they got a big contract for ambulances recently), not much else on the horizon. Maybe that postal vehicle? Maybe together GM and AMG could develop a fuel cell powered autonomous 2.5 ton 6X6 successor to the CCKW and M-35!

It seems to me that from Dearborn's standpoint, Otosan-Ford isn't much more than the source of the Transit Connect. Beyond that there seems to be no interest in anything Otosan does. Case in point, the new award-winning Otosan heavy truck didn't so much as rate a mention in any of Ford's domestic media.

Nope, like it didn't even happen. But, great things happening with that train station!

New product might be the International version of the GM JV medium duty truck.

Will the new Ford be sold in Western Europe? If so, by whom?

I think VW wants a light commercial JV with Ford primarily for Western Europe. I have a suspicion Ford sees VW as a way OUT of Europe if things get much worse for them there. Something of a win-win. Or maybe a win-'not loose so much'! Traton wants to be Daimler Trucks, simple as that. And they have a chance.

Maybe, maybe not. Even if Traton does buy Navistar, I think it would be highly unlikely that either MAN or Scania would be introduced to the U.S. market. However, a JV with GM could be valuable to Navistar, particularly in class 3-6. GM provides engineering, components, and a lot more dealers focused on the medium duty market. Sure, there would be some internal competition between International and Chevy Commercial dealerships, but the combined number of dealers would be a very serious competitor to Ford in class 3-6. Why wouldn't Traton want that? A strong presence in class 3-5 is something DTNA does not have.

Sounds like the IPO decision has been made, it's just a question of timing. Still not convinced Traton will make a move to acquire all of NAV. Quite possible that NAV doesn't want to sell, and Traton can get all they want through equity and JV projects.

Ford will not enter class 8 in the U.S.. They do not want to spend the money and they don't want to build a vehicle with the required options or vendor supplied components to be competitive.

Same plant in Detroit where they have always been. I noticed in the video they are not shy about their General Motors heritage.

I wonder what they will do for a dealer network. Ford's presence in Western Europe is the subject of much debate these days, and in any event they have not sold trucks there in many years. If Ford is working on a deal with VW, I don't think VW would appreciate any new competition for their truck unit. Daimler, MAN/Scania, Volvo/Renault, Iveco, DAF. Western Europe needs another truck manufacturer? Have to wonder though. The new Ford looks like a solid, competitive truck. Could there be another partner lurking in the shadows?

Don't forget the train station!

On one hand they have some making up to do as they have been out of the medium duty picture for awhile, but a lot of former GM medium duty customers never stopped buying light duty from them. That will help. That 6500 needs a 22.5" wheel option to make it 'dock height'.

Hard to say what's going on, but I think that Automotive News article of 09/01/2018 may have some clues. I think that Ford is very concerned about their situation in Western Europe, and even though they may be the #1 producer of LCV's in that market there may be some serious questions as to how profitable that operation is or may become. Sending the big Transit to North America likely helped profitability of that vehicle line, but maybe it is not enough. VW is likely also under considerable pressure (I am told that they may be the least efficient major auto manufacturer in the world today) and looking at the LCV market in Europe jointly developing the next generation Transit and Crafter starts to make a lot of sense. This could be all well and good because LCV's in Europe are just about a commodity now with little real brand differentiation. I have heard the question raised that if VW comes to the North American market with their own version of a Transit/Crafter JV van, it could cause undo competition for Ford, possibly negating any advantage Ford might enjoy from reduced development expenses. That's certainly a possibility, but I don't think VW has any plans to enter the North American LCV market. Conversely there may be some LCV overlap in Europe, but perhaps VW is not concerned. After all, they had a JV with Mercedes Benz for a long time in the same market. And, if Ford is planning on leaving Europe, there would be no issues at all. It is very clear this is strictly LCV's. With VW is moving to spin off their heavy truck unit and Ford-Otosan a JV I don't see any reason they would factor in to these particular negotiations. However, one can't help but think VW's truck unit may look at Ford's share of Ford/Otosan as a nice acquisition.

I kind of like it. Maybe not quite as much as I like an old W-925, but I do like it. Going by looks alone I think the International HX is the best looking of the new trucks, but this KW don't look bad to me.

If GM got behind this a little bit, it might be something. I can see it for certain users. More range would broaden the appeal, naturally. Is Spartan building these with no powertrain for conversion?

You are right, I enlarged the picture. Neat truck.

Local school district is buying propane buses and delivery trucks. They are Freightliners with GM 8.0L Powertrain Integration engines. I have not heard anything bad about them yet.

It's definitely a White 3000. Could have a REO Gold Comet gas V-8 in it, a few 3000's were built with them. Maybe seller thinks it has a Dodge engine.

Why bother with an old engine that will be out of production soon? The upcoming Ford V-8 likely be a fine gaseous fueled engine.