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Reuters / November 15, 2018 WASHINGTON - American Airlines said on Wednesday it was "unaware" of some functions of an anti-stall system on Boeing Co's 737 MAX until last week. Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued guidance on the system last week after a Lion Air jet crashed in Indonesia on Oct. 29, killing all 189 people on board. The FAA warned airlines last week that erroneous inputs from the system's sensors could lead the jet to automatically pitch its nose down even when autopilot is turned off, making it difficult for pilots to control. The system was designed to prevent the jet from stalling, according to information provided by Boeing to airlines. "We value our partnership with Boeing, but were unaware of some of the functionality of the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) installed on the MAX 8," an American Airlines spokesman said. [Boeing never told American Airlines this rather important nugget of information] "We must ensure that our pilots are fully trained on procedures and understand key systems on the aircraft they fly." Indonesian investigators said on Monday the situation the crew of a doomed Lion Air jet was believed to have faced was not contained in the aircraft's flight manual. U.S. pilot unions were also not aware of potential risks, pilot unions told Reuters.

Ford's blueprint to turn self-driving tech into profits Pete Bigelow, Automotive News / November 15, 2018 With Waymo declaring it will launch a ride-hailing service with self-driving vehicles next month and General Motors indicating it will follow sometime in 2019, it is perhaps not surprising that some industry experts believe Ford Motor Co. trails the competition. But Ford is punching back. Just because the company doesn't have plans to launch a commercial business with autonomous vehicles until 2021 does not necessarily mean the company is behind, argues Sherif Marakby, CEO of Ford Autonomous Vehicles, the subsidiary the company started to handle businesses underpinned by self-driving technology. "If we wanted to launch 100 vehicles and call it a launch next year, we could do that," Marakby said Wednesday. "I don't think that's what we want to do when we get to the complexity of getting to profitability. We think it requires considering the entire value chain, and understanding customers, to call it a launch. We're talking launch at scale." For Ford, that amounts to launching thousands of self-driving vehicles and quickly turning profits. In outlining a comprehensive blueprint of its market strategy during an event at its Miami test hub Wednesday, Marakby and other Ford executives focused on the business and operations under its program as much as the automated-driving technology. "We are laser-focused on utilization and revenue, and that's what we call launch at scale," Marakby said. "Which I believe is different than what others are thinking." Waymo will likely commence service with perhaps dozens or hundreds of customers culled from its Early Rider Program in the Phoenix area, according to a Bloomberg report this week. Through its Cruise Automation subsidiary, General Motors has been testing its autonomous mettle in San Francisco. Details of its 2019 planned launch remain unclear. Ford intends to use purpose-built autonomous vehicles to carry both passengers and consumer goods. $332 billion market The company says it foresees a market worth $332 billion developing by 2026, in which ride-hailing revenues will account for $202 billion and delivery services valued at $130 billion. Along those lines, Ford hatched a partnership with Walmart on Wednesday in which the two companies will explore ways to collaborate on grocery delivery. It's not Ford's first foray into delivery. It started testing pizza-delivery services using an autonomous vehicle with Domino's Pizza in Ann Arbor, Mich., last year. More recently, it added a partnership with Postmates, a delivery platform, in Miami, through which Ford works with approximately 80 companies to provide autonomous delivery options. Those range from national companies such as Domino's to local dry cleaners and florists. Delivery is a major service Ford intends to approach the market. On Wednesday, the company described the steps it has taken so far -- and others that remain ahead -- to set up a business based upon autonomous vehicles. Marakby said the company needs a scalable vehicle platform, which is slated to arrive sometime before 2021. It needs a capable automated-driving system, which is being built and honed by Argo AI, a Pittsburgh tech company in which Ford has invested more than $1 billion. Fleet strategy Beyond those requirements, Ford is developing a fleet-management strategy using its Miami hub as a test bed to determine the best ways to keep its vehicles in frequent use and maintenance operations concentrated. It has developed the Transportation Mobility Cloud with Autonomic, a company Ford acquired 11 months ago, which will provide optimized dispatch, routing and payment services. And it will seek to use vehicles for passenger and delivery purposes, which helps keep the cars rolling throughout the day. Those are the necessary business components to evolve from a company testing technology to offering commercial service, Ford says. The company also has a city-solutions division, which is forging connections and partnerships with transportation officials in cities where it plans to launch service. So far, the locations include Miami and Washington, D.C. Markaby said a third city will be added to its launch strategy sometime next year. The current business model of selling cars to customers via dealerships generates a profit margin of anywhere from 6 to 10 percent, according to Ford. If there's skepticism on why traditional auto companies are chasing autonomous technology, Ford estimates the potential profit margin in an autonomous-vehicle business is "a level much higher than that," according to Marakby. "We're going to work on building the future by building an autonomous-vehicle business," Ford CEO Jim Hackett said Wednesday. "That's the center." .

Ford and Walmart start autonomous-vehicle partnership Pete Bigelow, Automotive News / November 14, 2018 Ford Motor Co. and Walmart Inc. have started a joint pilot to explore how they can use self-driving vehicles to deliver groceries and other consumer goods. The automaker made the announcement Wednesday. The project has begun in the Miami area, where Ford has set up operations for a business revolving around autonomous vehicles that executives expect to launch commercially in 2021. Over the next several months, Ford and Walmart will join forces to understand each other's operations and identify which goods are best for automated delivery. They'll examine vehicle configurations or modifications needed to meet customer demands. "Like us, Walmart believes that self-driving vehicles have an important role to play in the future of delivery, and that true success comes from first learning how individuals want to use them in their daily lives," said Brian Wolf, business lead in Ford Autonomous Vehicles, a subsidiary set up to handle the automaker's self-driving business ventures. "Together, we'll be gathering crucial data about consumer preferences and learning the best way we can conveniently connect people with the goods they need." Ford has conducted ride-hailing and delivery test operations since February in Miami, completing more than 1,000 deliveries while working with partners that range from national pizza companies to local dry-cleaning businesses. One of those partners, delivery platform Postmates, will play a crucial role in the Ford-Walmart collaboration. Walmart has used Postmates and other networks to deliver groceries. Separately, Ford has worked with Postmates on vehicle dispatch and routing systems in its Miami pilot. Because Ford and Walmart have worked with Postmates, the companies intend to use that infrastructure to get their pilot "up and running quickly," according to Ford. Walmart deliveries Delivery figures to play a key role in Walmart's future. As the retail behemoth competes with Amazon, which already offers fast home delivery to consumers, Walmart must figure out a way to match that convenience. The company has grocery delivery options available in 800 stores across 100 urban areas nationwide. The number of stores that offer delivery is expected to double next year. This isn't Walmart's first automated-vehicle partnership. This year, the company began working with Waymo on a pilot from a store in the Phoenix area. Customers are brought to the store to retrieve their groceries in one of Waymo's autonomous Chrysler Pacifica minivans. "For retailers like Walmart, it will be crucial to figure out how they'll be able to offer a better customer experience for automated deliveries, to basically find a way to survive and succeed in 21st century retail," said Sam Abuelsamid, senior transportation analyst for research firm Navigant. "Developing these partnerships with Ford and Waymo and others is crucial, and they need to do it now to understand what's going to work and what's not going to work." More modifications? Together, Ford and Walmart will examine what vehicle modifications would be necessary for grocery delivery, in which orders tend to be larger and more varied. They'll also see how many individual orders can be supported on a single trip, and what compartments are needed onboard to ensure orders are secured. Ford has been developing a vehicle, expected to be unveiled soon, with its self-driving services in mind. While there are no plans in place, it is conceivable that if Ford, Walmart and Postmates find success in Miami, they could replicate operations in other markets, such as Washington, which Ford has announced will be the second city where it will set up commercial operations involving autonomous vehicles. .

Mulally: Ford 'will figure it out' Amy Wilson, Automotive News / November 14, 2018 PHOENIX -- Despite the headwinds it faces today, Ford Motor Co. "will figure it out," the automaker's retired CEO, Alan Mulally, said Wednesday at an industry conference here. "Ford, like everybody, is trying to figure out what's going on, and it's going to be messy," Mulally, 73, said at the National Auto Auction Association's annual convention, where he was the keynote speaker. "It's going to look messy because it is messy." Mulally, who helped turn the company around a decade ago and then retired from Ford in 2014, homed in on efforts by Ford and other industry players with regard to new mobility services. "You see everybody working the last-mile issue right now," Mulally said. "These bicycles are all over the place. I don't know if we're going to make money on that." It's not just Ford, he said. "The point is, everybody is working on this, about what transportation is going to look like," Mulally said. "And it's not going to be clear for a while. I think partnerships are going to be a really important part." However, he expressed confidence that the answers will come. "What I do know is, at Ford, it has the most talented people in the world, and they care," Mulally said. "They know they're working on something really important. And we're going to be there at the end, and we're going to figure it out." Mulally did not weigh in on Ford's leadership changes since his departure nor the automaker's current restructuring efforts. Ford ousted Mulally's successor, Mark Fields, in May 2017 and replaced him with current CEO Jim Hackett. In July, Hackett launched an $11 billion global restructuring of the company. .

In Taiwan, the first generation Ford Escape carried the Maverick nameplate.

Jon Harris, The Morning Call / November 13, 2018 [Volvo Group subsidiary] Mack Trucks is idling its second-shift production employees this week — and possibly beyond — due to a supply chain issue. Mack spokesman Christopher Heffner said the temporary layoff, which began Tuesday and runs through Friday, affects a majority of second-shift employees at the company’s assembly plant in Lower Macungie Township. He did not say exactly how many second-shift employees, who typically work from 3:15 to 11:15 p.m., are affected. “Our colleagues are dedicating significant resources to solve the supply chain interruption and keep this temporary layoff to only this week,” Heffner said. “However, the situation is fluid, and we won’t know more about shift impacts beyond this week until Friday.” For this week, Mack is treating it as a “shift curtailment” and plans to compensate all of the affected employees 80 percent of their pay, according to a document circulated among employees Friday and later reviewed by The Morning Call. Asked whether that will continue if the layoff extends beyond Friday, Heffner responded: “We have not made any decisions beyond this week, as our hope is to be back up and running as soon as possible.” Mack’s assembly plant, which employs a total of about 2,400 across two shifts and was closed Monday for Veterans Day, has been hampered by supply chain constraints throughout the year, especially since transitioning to its new truck range in the spring. In its third-quarter report, parent company Volvo Group mentioned supply chain issues as the reason for Mack’s heavy-duty market share dropping to 6.6 percent in North America. In addition to supply chain issues, Heffner has previously pointed to Mack ramping up its new highway truck, Anthem, during a hot highway market as another reason why the company’s market share has declined. “Now that we’ve worked through the ramp, our teams are fully focused on managing supply chain issues and we expect our market share will grow,” Heffner said in an Oct. 19 email to The Morning Call following the third-quarter report’s release. The most recent issue stems from a “supplier quality issue” that is causing the company’s Hagerstown, Md., powertrain production plant to run short on axle housings, according to the document provided to employees Friday. That shortage is related to a “porosity issue occurring in the supplier’s casting process,” the document stated. In the notice, Mack said it is working with the United Auto Workers Local 677, which represents Mack workers, to minimize the impact of the temporary layoff and to consider ways to “avoid incidents of this nature in the future.” Union officials did not return calls seeking comment Monday and Tuesday. As for when the affected second-shift employees could return to work, they will need to call the plant’s Production Interruption Line on Friday to determine whether to report to work Monday, Nov. 19. Even if they return then, the document makes it sounds like the supply chain issue could linger for a while. “The entire Volvo Group is focused on supporting the supplier to get them back on track with resources from around the world,” the notice says. “Unfortunately, [Lehigh Valley Operations] will continue to see production disturbances over the next couple of weeks until the supplier issue can be corrected and the flow of good material can be restored.”

EPA Aims to Cut NOx Emissions from Heavy-Duty Trucks David Cullen, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / November 13, 2018 Seemingly acting out of character, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Nov. 13 announced it will launch a rulemaking to further cut the emission of nitrogen oxide from diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks. EPA said it intends to publish a proposed NOx rule in early 2020. While the EPA under President Trump has been heavily engaged in rolling back dozens of environmental rules, the agency could now be said to be aiming to promulgate a single federal rule to forestall a patchwork of federal and state rules on NOx emissions from commercial vehicles. Indeed, even as California moves toward writing new state emissions rules, trucking and truck-manufacturing lobbying groups along with state environmental officials have been pushing EPA to set a new nationwide rule on allowable NOx emissions for diesel trucks. California would actually prefer a national rule, if it is tight enough, as more than half the trucks delivering goods there are registered in other states. EPA has tagged its new effort as the “Cleaner Trucks Initiative,” which Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler said will include a “future” rulemaking that will update the existing (federal) NOx standard, which was last set in 2001. In addition, he said the new rule would “streamline” compliance and certification requirements. “The Cleaner Trucks Initiative will help modernize heavy-duty truck engines, improving their efficiency, and providing cleaner air for all Americans,” said Wheeler, speaking at a public announcement in Washington that was shown live online. “The U.S. has made major reductions in NOx emissions, but it’s been nearly 20 years since EPA updated these standards. Through rulemaking and a comprehensive review of existing requirements, we will capitalize on these gains and incentivize new technologies to ensure our heavy-duty trucks are clean and remain a competitive method of transportation.” “Today’s announcement makes clear that reducing NOx emissions from heavy-duty vehicles is a clean air priority for this administration,” said EPA Office of Air and Radiation Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum. “EPA’s Cleaner Trucks Initiative is an important signal to all interested stakeholders that we will work hard on reducing emissions while producing a more effective and efficient program.” EPA is not required by statue to update the NOx standard. However, in a news release, the agency asserted that although U.S. NOx emissions fell by more than 40% from 2007 to 2017, “there is more work to be done.” EPA estimates that heavy-duty trucks will be responsible for one-third of NOx emissions from the transportation sector in 2025. The agency said “any update to the standards will result in significant mobile source NOx reductions, which will aid communities across the country in the attainment of ozone and particulate matter standards.” Referencing the agency’s rollback already of over two dozen regulations since Trump took office, EPA said that in addition to NOx emissions standards, the “CTI will cut unnecessary red tape while simplifying certification of compliance requirements for heavy-duty trucks and engines.” The agency said that “areas of deregulatory focus will include onboard diagnostic requirements, cost-effective means of reassuring real world compliance by using modern and advanced technologies, the deterioration factor testing process, and concerns regarding annual recertification of engine families.” Commenting on the EPA initiative, John Mies, manager of corporate communications for Volvo Group North America (parent of Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks) told HDT that the OEM “supports the agency’s decision to investigate whether additional NOx reductions are needed to address any of the nation’s last remaining air quality challenges. “This is a great opportunity to update and streamline the certification and compliance processes, ensuring a focus on real-world emissions control with minimal impediment to market vitality,” he continued. Mies added that, historically speaking, trucking has “delivered dramatic emissions reductions in response to EPA’s leadership in developing challenging but practical national emissions regulations.” The American Trucking Associations also applauded EPA for “taking the first step” toward issuing new NOx standards. “As an industry engaged in interstate commerce, ATA strongly favors a single national emission pathway as opposed to a patchwork of state standards,” ATA Executive Vice President of Advocacy Bill Sullivan said in a statement. He pointed out that trucking has “repeatedly demonstrated that it can work proactively and in partnership with the federal government in achieving these aims. We look forward to working with the EPA in developing a standard that achieves nationwide air quality improvements across the country while maintaining a strong and robust economy.” Global diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. also announced support for the EPA effort. “Cummins has a long history of working with regulators to help develop tough, clear and enforceable standards that lead to a cleaner, healthier and safer environment,” said Jennifer Rumsey, vice president and CTO. “We can and should do more to reduce NOx. This is an important step forward because a streamlined, national regulatory program brings consistency across the country allowing manufacturers to develop cleaner, more cost-effective solutions for our customers.” The Diesel Technology Forum advocacy group said that EPA’s action “follows petitions for rulemaking from a number of state and local air agencies, as well as support for a new low NOx standard from truck and engine makers. The EPA last revised these standards in January 2001. The CTI proposal [rulemaking] is slated to be released in 2020.” DTF added that it expects the planned low-NOX rulemaking for trucks will “help bring today's generation of diesel even nearer to zero emissions than ever before.” Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association President Jed Mandel called the Cleaner Trucks Initiative “a tremendous opportunity. We – EPA and the manufacturers – have done this before, and we’re ready to step forward to do it again. We ask the agency to follow that same successful roadmap by leading a collaborative, open regulatory process involving all stakeholders.” Mandel also stated that adopting a national low-NOX truck program with sufficient regulatory lead time, stability and certainty will be essential to provide a clear path for [truck and engine] manufacturers to succeed. “By working together,” he said, “we believe we can reduce emissions and improve and streamline the compliance program while at the same time preserve the necessary diversity of the commercial vehicle marketplace and protect the needs of our customers for durable, reliable products.” EPA has set up a website devoted to its new Cleaner Trucks Initiative. .

Ford's 2020 baby Bronco off-roader emerges in photos from dealer meeting Michael Martinez, Automotive News / November 13, 2018 Photos leaked from Ford Motor Co.'s annual dealer meeting last month in Las Vegas provide the first public look at the so-called baby Bronco, an upcoming off-road compact crossover. The vehicle, expected to slot between the EcoSport and Escape in Ford's crossover-heavy lineup, will debut in 2020 as a smaller companion to the Bronco SUV also due out that year. A name has not been announced, but one possibility is the Maverick, reviving a name that Ford used in the 1970s and trademarked this year. The images were first reported Tuesday morning by Off-Road.com, which believed them to be of the Bronco. They show front, side and three-quarter views. The vehicle has round LED headlights and "FORD" stamped on the grille without the company's blue oval logo, consistent with a teaser image of the Bronco companion that Ford showed this year. In the side view, the vehicle sits in front of a more boxy silhouette that is consistent with teasers of the Bronco that Ford has shown. Ford, in a statement Tuesday, said it doesn't comment on speculation. Jim Farley, Ford's president of global markets, told reporters last month that dealers were not shown any images of the Bronco at the Las Vegas meeting, although he did tease them with a shot of his own 1973 classic. .

Contact your axle's manufacturer. Call customer support at 1-800-826-HELP (4357) and ask them.

Smithsonian Channel / November 10, 2018 Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8MM1CavmO8

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Transport Engineer / November 6, 2018 Welton Aggregates has added two new Range C430 8x4 tippers to its line-up – the latest of six new Renault vehicles to join the fleet in the past year. Supplied by Thompson Commercials of Grimsby, the Lincolnshire-based operator’s new additions are equipped with aggregate tipping bodies by Broughtons of Barnetby. The Range Cs are powered by the DTi 11-litre Euro VI engine, which produces 2550Nm of torque, coupled to an Optidriver 12-speed automated manual transmission system. The spacious cab is a hit with drivers, says Guy Tomlinson, Welton’s transport manager: “8x4 rigid tippers are not usually known for their comfort, but the Range C’s level of refinement is leagues ahead.” The vehicles also deliver on the road, he adds: “We’ve found them to be extremely sturdy, powerful and reliable, ideal for our application in off-road heavy construction and quarry work. “In fact we are so pleased that we’ve just placed an order for another vehicle, an 11-litre 6x4 C380 demountable mixer-tipper.” Other recent additions to the fleet, for use in the concrete operation, include three Range C 8x4 tridems with rear steer and 8m3 McPhee mixer bodies. .

Commercial Motor / November 9, 2018 We head to Northern Ireland to meet Kevin Mackin and to take a look at his impressive collection of vintage Scania trucks. .

Daimler Press Release / November 12, 2018 Successful production of transmissions for Daimler Trucks & Buses since 1955 Transmissions made in Gaggenau are used in seven vehicle brands of Daimler Trucks & Buses worldwide Frank Reintjes, Head of Global Powertrain, E-Mobility & Manufacturing Engineering Daimler Trucks: "Five million transmissions 'Made in Gaggenau' are an impressive milestone for both Gaggenau and our global production network: they stand for reliably high quality, for 63 years of competence and experience in the Daimler Trucks manufacturing network and not least for millions of satisfied customers worldwide." Matthias Jurytko, Head of Operations at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Gaggenau: "The only way to successfully produce this magnitude of transmissions and with this quality, is to have a highly-qualified and motivated team work hand-in-hand and with the greatest commitment. We can all be very proud of this at the plant." Gaggenau – The Mercedes-Benz plant at Gaggenau has set another milestone in its long history. On 12 November 2018 the five millionth commercial vehicle transmission left the production line at Rastatt's Gaggenau plant. The proud production team watched the 12-speed automated transmission (G330) ceremoniously leaving the production line – which is going to be exhibited, on show at the Rastatt plant. Dr. Frank Reintjes, Head of Global Powertrain, E-Mobility & Manufacturing Engineering Daimler Trucks acknowledged this very special achievement: "Five million transmissions 'Made in Gaggenau' are an impressive milestone for both Gaggenau and our global production network: they stand for reliably high quality, for 63 years of competence and experience in the Daimler Trucks manufacturing network and not least for millions of satisfied customers worldwide." The plant located in the northern Black Forest region boasts a long tradition of producing transmissions and can fall back on a great deal of experience: the production of the first special transmissions for the Mercedes-Benz Unimog began there in 1951. Production of medium-duty and heavy-duty transmissions for trucks and buses followed in 1955. Now part of a global production network, the Gaggenau plant delivers its drive assemblies and components the world over: to the truck assembly plant in Wörth in Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate region; to the Turkish plant in Aksaray; to Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico and the USA, for example. The medium and heavy-duty transmissions from Gaggenau are fitted in seven Daimler Truck and Bus brands: Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Fuso, Western Star, Freightliner, Thomas Built Buses and BharatBenz. Dr. Matthias Jurytko, Head of Operations at the plant thanked employees for their commitment during the ceremony: "Five million heavy-duty transmissions in 63 years once more underscores our excellent competence as a transmissions plant as well as the huge capacity of our factory. The only way to successfully produce this magnitude of transmissions and with this quality, is to have a highly-qualified and motivated team work hand-in-hand with the greatest commitment. We can all be very proud of this at the plant." Michael Brecht, Head of the Works Council also praised his colleagues: This is a fantastic achievement of the whole team, and each and every one should be very proud of that. Especially in the last few months the workload was extremely high due to an ever increasing output. We have already made a lot of investments in order to increase capacity and we will continue with those in the next two years. Therefore, I would like to give my special thanks to all colleagues – you do a brilliant job!” About the powerful manual transmissions for Daimler commercial vehicles The medium and heavy-duty transmissions are fitted in vehicles with the greatest output. These include the Mercedes-Benz Actros, the long-distance haulage truck and the Mercedes-Benz Arocs for construction site operations, the Mercedes-Benz Atego for short-radius distribution as well as the touring coaches, intercity and urban buses from Setra and Mercedes-Benz. Global Daimler truck brands fitted with transmissions from Gaggenau include the Freightliner Cascadia and Fuso Super Great. Over the years and during numerous development cycles, the manual transmissions have become increasingly fuel-efficient and consequently more economic for customers. This is mostly thanks to the aluminium housing whose weight has been continually optimised. A further important innovation was the move from manual transmissions to fully-automated manual transmissions that provide for further fuel savings, particularly in long-distance haulage thanks to finely tuned gearshift processes. The automated transmissions have been produced at the plant since the 1990s. Truck and bus transmissions of the current generation weigh between 200 and 300 kilograms, are over a metre in length and house 15 individual cogs and ripples. The fully-automated manual transmissions impress with easy operation, a high degree of shifting and driving comfort as well as low fuel consumption. About the production of heavy-duty transmissions at the Gaggenau plant Highly complex manual transmissions have been produced in the northern Black Forest region since 1955 – initially directly in Gaggenau and later in the Rastatt plant. Until 1965 when the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth was opened, cab-over-engine trucks like the "millipede" or the round-nosed trucks were produced in Gaggenau. After that, production focused on transmissions, axles and components for commercial vehicles and the Unimog. Whilst production of the first million manual transmissions took just over 20 years, only six years were needed for the fifth million. An overview of all production milestones since 1955: one million by 1976, two million by 1986, three million by 1993, four million by 2012 and five million by 2018. About the global platform strategy at Daimler Trucks For more than ten years now, Daimler Trucks has been relying on one uniform platform for the drivetrain for heavy-duty trucks. This comprises for the most part the engine, axles and transmission. The transmission generation in which production and the major components are standardised, is designed such that it can be adapted flexibly and individually to customer and market demands in the USA, Europe and Japan using the same technology. Detroit Diesel began series production of the automated DT12 transmission for the NAFTA market in 2015. In a close cooperation, staff from Gaggenau helped their colleagues with the run-up at the site in Detroit and trained them in modern production processes. About Global Powertrain at Daimler Trucks Global Powertrain doesn't just stand for integrated powertrains, but also for the integration of all global locations and the relevant functional areas along the value-added chain. The division produces innovative and reliable drive components with internationally uniform quality standards. The components are fitted in all of Daimler's commercial vehicle divisions and brands as well as in those of external customers. The drivetrain makes up approximately 50 percent of the added value of a truck – the largest share in fact – and thus makes an important contribution to the economic success and growth of Daimler Trucks. About the Mercedes-Benz Gaggenau plant The Mercedes-Benz Gaggenau plant was founded in 1894 as "Bergmann-Industriewerke GmbH" and is the oldest automotive manufacturing plant in the world. With around 6300 employees, it is not only the biggest employer in the town but also the region's most active company for apprenticeships. In addition to transmissions for all Daimler vehicle divisions, planetary and portal axles as well as torque converters for passenger cars are also produced at this plant. The Mercedes-Benz plant at Gaggenau is the Centre of Competence for commercial vehicle transmissions in the international Daimler AG manufacturing network. The staff support quality management worldwide, help with run-ups on site and train international teams at the Gaggenau plant. .

Renault Trucks International Press Release / November 6, 2018 Renault's international technician START competition is over. Thanks to all participants, who were able to demonstrate their many skills! And congrats to our great winners .

DAF Trucks Press Release / November 13, 2018 Our DAF Engine Plant in Eindhoven enters a new era in engine manufacturing. An area of almost 7,500 square meters is freed up to make room for more than 43 ultra-modern machines and 10 state-of-the-art robots. We’re now able to manufacture cylinder blocks and cylinder heads for our popular PACCAR MX-11 engines. .

Matt Cole, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / November 12, 2018 A brake light issue on certain Freightliner Cascadia tractors has prompted Daimler Trucks North America to recall more than 6,000 units to fix the problem. Daimler’s recall affects 6,326 model year 2017-2018 Cascadia tractors in which the brake lights may remain on after the brake pedal is released. Trucks included in the recall were manufactured between June 8, 2016, and June 30, 2017. Daimler has yet to develop a remedy for the recall, but it will begin notifying affected truck owners on Dec. 17, according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Owners of affected trucks can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with recall number FL-799. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-742.

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Opposed-Piston Diesels Enter Limited Production Tom Berg, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / November 9, 2018 A pair of heavy-duty opposed-piston engines will be produced for an emissions-reduction project in California, officials with the program announced Nov. 8 at a press event in San Diego. The two 10.6-liter 450-hp engines designed by Achates Power will run in Peterbilt tractors in regular service to prove the low-emissions performance that they’ve demonstrated in laboratory simulations, officials said. They will be operated within the state by the transportation arms of Tyson Foods and Walmart, and will be running by late 2019. Achates’ heavy-duty engine met the ultra-low nitrogen oxide standard of 0.02 gram per brake-horsepower-hour, which is 90% less than the current federal limit, said David Johnson, the firm’s president and CEO. That’s also up to 15-20% below the greenhouse gas requirement for carbon dioxide. The 0.02 grams per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr) Ultra-Low NOx standard target has been achieved in natural gas engines but not yet in a production diesel engine, according to a company announcement. The project team has started building the engines that will run in the Peterbilt demonstration vehicles. Achates is a development company whose engineers have been working to perfect the opposed-piston, or OP, concept since 2004. It expects to license designs to existing engine manufacturers but will assemble the in-service test engines at its San Diego facility. The demonstration project is funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and several air-quality districts, and managed by CalStart, a Pasadena-based non-profit organization that encourages use of sustainable transportation methods. The Achates OP engine also achieves superior fuel efficiency by virtue of its lower heat losses, improved combustion and reduced pumping losses, Johnson said. An OP engine has two pistons per cylinder, facing each other, and a central combustion chamber. Explosive fuel burn pushes the pistons apart and their connecting rods twist separate crankshafts at each end of the cylinder. Through pulleys and gears, the crankshafts transfer their power to a single output shaft. It is a two-stroke design with no intake or exhaust valves; fuel-air mix and exhaust enter and leave the combustion chamber through ports in the cylinders. Achates Power is leading a project team with personnel from Aramco Services, BASF, Corning, Dana, Delphi, Eaton, Faurecia, Federal Mogul, Honeywell, Litens and Federal Mogul, along with the Southwest Research Institute. Peterbilt will integrate and deploy the new engine in two of its Model 579 Class 8 road tractors for the project. “This project challenges conventional wisdom in the industry: that ultra-low NOx cannot be combined with ultra-high efficiency in a diesel engine,” said Bill Van Amburg, CalStart’s executive vice president. “This impressive team is showing that you can significantly improve air quality while also making progress on climate change. We can and must do both. “Success in this project will support widespread commercial adoption of the ultra-low NOx standard in Class 7 and 8 trucks, which will support CARB’s – and the world’s – air quality and environmental goals.” Said Johnson, “Achates Power is committed to bringing the opposed-piston engine to market to provide a practical solution for ultra-clean, ultra-efficient and cost-effective transportation. Our project with CalStart for CARB shows the need in the market for solutions that will meet the goals we all desire, without forcing solutions on the industry.” .

We've all known people who are driving 20 to 30 year-old Toyota pickups, or Honda cars, and they still look great. You just don't see that many old GM vehicles, and if you do they're beat up. The interior materials used by GM right up to the present day, and both Car & Driver and Motor Trend often comment on this, are cheap when compared to the competition.