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The other day, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess wrote an article entitled "The car will become a software product". https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/car-become-software-product-herbert-diess/

Reuters / January 30, 2019 WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday signaled its three-year-drive to tighten monetary policy may be at an end amid a suddenly cloudy outlook for the U.S. economy due to global headwinds and impasses over trade and government budget negotiations. As it held interest rates steady, the U.S. central bank also discarded its promises of “further gradual increases” in interest rates, and said it would be “patient” before making any further moves. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said the case for rate increases had “weakened” in recent weeks, with neither rising inflation or financial stability considered a risk, and “cross-currents” including slowing growth overseas and the self-inflicted wound of a federal government shutdown making the U.S. outlook less certain. “We are now facing a somewhat contradictory picture of generally strong U.S. macroeconomic performance alongside growing evidence of cross-currents. Common sense risk management suggests patiently waiting greater clarity,” Powell said after the end of a two-day policy meeting. Continued U.S. economic growth was still “the likeliest outcome,” Powell said, but was now less certain than a month ago when the Fed said the economy was just as likely to grow faster than expected as it was to face a sharp downturn. Combined with comments that the Fed’s balance sheet would remain larger than previously expected, the Fed’s meeting this week may mark a somewhat anticlimactic end to its years-long battle to “normalize” monetary policy after the 2007-2009 financial crisis and recession. The current Fed policy rate of between 2.25 percent and 2.5 percent is well below historical averages and, if it goes no higher, the Fed will have little room to battle any future downturn with rate cuts alone. It may also raise questions about whether the Fed’s shifting stance - until recently Powell and other officials said monetary policy was unnecessarily loose - is a response to pressure from volatile financial markets or President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly attacked the Fed for raising rates, arguing that it was undercutting economic growth. Powell took advantage of a new regimen of press conferences after every policy meeting to lay out the series of touchy changes and insist the Fed was only reacting to economic data, not other pressures. He termed the Fed’s new posture one of “wait and see,” not necessarily a hard stop on rate increases. But he also made clear the central bank is no longer in any rush after raising rates almost every quarter during the past two years, and that absent some threatening rebound of inflation or evidence of risky financial behavior, the pause would likely last. Taken together with the balance sheet announcement, the Fed’s statement gives maximum flexibility to a central bank criticized by investors who saw the Fed itself becoming a source of market turbulence that was reflexively tightening policy even as economic risks mounted. “This marks a full 180 from what the Fed was signaling just a few months ago,” said Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at Allianz in Newport Beach, California. After the release of the Fed’s statement, U.S. stocks added to gains, with the S&P 500 index ending the day about 1.5 percent higher, while the dollar and short-term yields fell as investors gauged an even lower probability of additional rate hikes any time soon. Market expectations of future rates fell further. Contracts tied to the Fed’s policy rate continued to price about a one-in-four chance of a hike in 2019, and contracts maturing in 2020 were signaling a small but rising chance of a rate cut then. The Fed raised rates four times last year including in December, when it signaled it would do so twice more this year. The economic outlook, however, has become more clouded as a result of recent volatility in financial markets and signs that growth is slowing overseas, including in China and the euro zone. There are also ongoing concerns about the impact of global trade tensions and fears the recent 35-day partial shutdown of the U.S. government over a budget dispute may crimp consumer spending. “In light of global economic and financial developments and muted inflation pressures, the committee will be patient” in determining future rate hikes, the Fed’s rate-setting committee said in its policy statement. The Fed made no change to the $50 billion maximum monthly runoff of Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities from its balance sheet. Some traders have urged it to slow or halt its pullback from the bond markets, at least for now. In a separate statement, the Fed said it had decided to continue managing policy with a system of “ample” reserves, reinforcing the notion that the rundown may end sooner than expected. “Overall, this signals the Fed will not be on autopilot going forward,” said Justin Lederer, Treasury analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald in New York. The downgrade in the Fed’s language around rate increases included a change in its description of economic growth from “strong” to “solid,” and it noted that market-based measures of inflation compensation have “moved lower in recent months.” The Fed’s policy decision was unanimous.

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That is just too cool.

MAN Truck & Bus Press Release / January 30, 2019 MAN Mining Solutions for Africa! Through this company portrait, you can see TGS Trucks in action in sand mines in the East of Tunisia. Let this video convince you that these MAN trucks are perfectly adapted to the tough conditions in mines. .

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Commercial Motor / January 25, 2019 Charles Russel of Russell Transport shows off his classic V8-powered Scania 141. .

Commercial Motor / January 18, 2019 Heavy haulage specialist Smiths tells Truck & Driver why they run a Scania V8 to move their big loads. .

https://tlinetrucks.com/

GM Brands Have Cut Complimentary Maintenance from Three Years to One Drew Dorian, Car & Driver / January 30, 2019 General Motors has made changes to its brands' complimentary maintenance plans for 2019 model year vehicles. It now offers just one free service visit instead of the previous two or three visits (depending on brand). This sole free visit—which amounts to an oil change, a tire rotation, and a multipoint vehicle inspection—must be redeemed within the first year of ownership. GMC and Chevrolet both offered two complimentary scheduled maintenance visits on last year's models; the GMC website now shows details about the new one-visit program starting with 2019 models. Chevrolet has not yet updated its consumer website with details about its 2019 models’ complimentary scheduled maintenance plan, but a company representative has confirmed the brand is dropping its two year maintenance program in favor of a one-visit plan. A representative from Cadillac explained to us that the change aligns the company's offerings with those of many luxury rivals such as Audi, which offers exactly the same service. However, brands such as Jaguar and BMW continue their free-service programs, with Jaguar owners getting five years and BMW owners getting three years of complimentary maintenance. Cadillac and Buick have made no other changes to their standard warranty offerings, which currently are above average for the auto industry with six-year or 70,000-mile powertrain coverage. GMC and Chevrolet have held steady on their warranties as well but aren't as generous as GM's premium brands. For owners interested in prepaid maintenance plans, GM will continue to offer such products through franchised dealerships. The plans range widely in both cost and coverage—Buick, for example, offers plans as short as two years all the way up to 15 years—and can be made to cover basics such as oil changes or be far more inclusive by covering items such as spark plugs and air filters. We're hoping to hear more from representatives from each of the GM brands about why the company is making these changes and will update this article with more information as it becomes available.

Ford adding overtime Ranger production as first-month sales hit 1,200 Michael Martinez, Automotive News / January 30, 2019 DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. expects a total of 1,200 U.S. Ranger sales in January — the revived midsize pickup's first month on sale — and plans to start running overtime shifts at its Michigan Assembly Plant next week to keep up with demand. Kumar Galhotra, Ford's president of North America, on Wednesday said the Ranger is exceeding expectations, and that about 300,000 consumers already have indicated plans to purchase the vehicle. "Based on the orders coming in, and based on the hand-raisers, we think the demand's going to be so strong, that starting in February our assembly plant will be going into massive overtime," Galhotra said at a media briefing. A Ford spokesman declined to offer any additional details about the overtime schedule. Ford currently builds the Ranger on one shift at the plant, which recently was converted from small-car assembly to body-on-frame truck production. Ford hasn't sold the Ranger in the U.S. since 2011, when it ceded the segment to Toyota, General Motors and other rivals. Executives said the business case for the vehicle's return became clear as the F-150 full-size pickup got larger and more expensive. The previous Ranger regularly was among the segment's top sellers and No. 1 as recently as 2004. Ranger sales routinely totaled more than 300,000 a year in the 1990s before fading in the early 2000s. The new model starts at $25,395, including shipping, and tops out at more than $40,000. It enters an increasingly competitive segment as new entries including the Jeep Gladiator challenge the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. .

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Ford's return to Le Mans in 2016, Bob. Sharp looking trucks (1846Ts).

https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/2019-ATA-SFR---SSCI.pdf?utm_source=Gov Delivery Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Media Contacts Email

When you contacted your Mack brand dealer or Volvo's Mack brand customer satisfaction hotline for technical support, would they not assist you?

Ford Trucks International / February 19, 2018 .

Ford Trucks International / November 29, 2018 Ford Trucks, one of the largest international heavy truck manufacturers in the world, recently announced that it has selected F Trucks as the official dealer for Ford Trucks Heavy Commercial Vehicles in Czech Republic. F Trucks is a joint venture company of Auto In and Kar Group. The company will provide sales, after sales and spare parts to Ford Trucks customers in Prague. Ford Trucks will also continue to expand its network through F Trucks' 5 additional locations in Czech Republic by 2018 Auto In has been representing world leading automotive brands for more than 15 years and is one of the largest Ford dealers in Czech Republic. Kar Group runs a wide range of businesses including, logistics, parts distribution and Trucks & Bus services. This new partnership was announced and celebrated during a press event at the Corinthia Hotel Prague. The event was attended by Milos Pavlicek and Tomas Vratny the founders of Auto In and Kar Group, Vice President of Ford Trucks, Serhan Turfan, Director of International Markets at Ford Trucks, Emrah Duman, executives from Ford Trucks, Auto In and Kar Group and other prominent guests. Director of International Markets at Ford Trucks, Emrah Duman, said: “Since our 1st contact with two professional business groups, we understood that both sides share the same vision in business and will be good partners to each other in the future. We are very pleased to partner with F Trucks to launch our range of heavy commercial vehicles for the first time in Czech Republic. They are now expanding their successful Ford business with Ford Trucks distributorship, to serve our customers with a wide range of products from passenger cars to heavy commercial vehicles. With our new partner, F Trucks, we are committed to provide the highest levels of customer service and competitive after-sales solutions through dedicated facilities for sales, service and parts. I believe F Trucks will represent our brand in the best possible way in Czech Republic.” E6 Ecotorq Engine, the source of power, technology and efficiency in Ford Trucks: Improvement in fuel economy; higher performance with up to 480 PS power The new Ford Trucks series offers a range of power options from 330 to 480 PS with E6 emissions. The latest Ecotorq engines deliver better fuel economy than previous versions and are the most competitive in the segment, according to tests conducted by independent bodies — while increasing both the torque and power for performance in all conditions. The new Ford Trucks models have improved power but also braking force, with a braking system that is seven times stronger than in the previous generation. The retarder option and engine brake provide 600kW and 400kW of braking force respectively, for a total braking output of 1.000kW. With these new features, the new generation of Ford trucks provide greater reliability and safety. All vehicles are also offered with 10mm, 500-megapascal chassis frames that further improve the durability of the vehicle. The new Ford Trucks models also yield savings after purchase. Maintenance costs have been reduced, while service periods have been extended to reduce the scheduled downtime and provide a further competitive advantage for Ford customers in the logistics and construction sectors. The service periods extended to 120,000 km, offered for the Tractor and Construction series will allow the customers to have the most competitive maintenance advantage in the logistics and construction sectors. .

Bob, if I remember correctly, that covers the hitch while the plow is removed for the summer months. It's functional from a safety standpoint, and aesthetically appealing.

Ford Trucks International The advanced 12.7-litre Ecotorq engine at the heart of the Ford Trucks "Construction Series" will impress you with its superb balance of performance and fuel economy! .