kscarbel2

Nothing but hot air.

Trump sets China tariff plan, edges away from global trade war Reuters / March 21, 2018 WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Thursday that “could” [not will] impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China, although the move was far removed from threats that could have ignited a global trade war. Under the terms of the memorandum, Trump will target the Chinese imports only after a consultation period, a measure that will give industry lobbyists and legislators a chance to water down a proposed target list which runs to 1,300 products. China will also have space to respond to Trump’s actions, reducing the risk of immediate dramatic retaliation from Beijing, and Trump struck an emollient tone as he started speaking, saying “I view them as a friend.” “We have spoken to China and we are in the middle of negotiations,” Trump said, adding that loss of American jobs from unfair trade was one of the main reasons he had been elected in 2016. (We’ve been negotiating with China for decades……it’s a waste of time) The United States runs a $375 billion goods trade deficit with China. Washington will also pursue alleged breaches of intellectual property law by China through the World Trade Organization, a body that has repeatedly drawn the ire of the administration but which could provide a resolution that avoids a trade war. Following Trump’s announcement on Thursday, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office will present a list of products that could be targeted, primarily from the high-tech sector. There will then be a 60-day consultation period before definitive action will be put into force. Chinese investments White House officials told a briefing ahead of the trade announcement that the administration was eyeing tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods. They said the figure was based on a calculation of the impact on the profits of U.S. companies that had been forced to hand over their intellectual property as the price of doing business in China. There was no explanation of the difference between the numbers provided by White House officials in the briefing and Trump’s $60 billion. “Many of these areas are those where China has sought to acquire advantage through the unfair acquisition and forced technology transfer from U.S. companies ... establishing its own competitive advantage in an unfair manner,” Everett Eissenstat, deputy director of the National Economic Council, told reporters. In addition, Trump will also direct the U.S. Treasury to propose measures that “could” [not will” restrict Chinese investments in the United States, Eissenstat said. The tariffs and investment restrictions will be imposed under the U.S. Trade Representative’s “Section 301” investigation into alleged misappropriation of U.S. intellectual property by China. Eissenstat said the investigation clearly demonstrates unfair practices by China, which forces U.S. investors to turn over key technologies to Chinese firms.

Since that DAF-produced cab is sold on DAF, Renault, Volvo and Tatra trucks side-by-side in the global market, I’d be surprised if such a situation existed.

MAN Truck & Bus Press Release / March 20, 2018 .

DAF Trucks Press Release / March 15, 2018 It’s our 90th birthday, this year! Join us on a journey through our rich history. #DAF90Years .

Volvo Group Press Release / March 14, 2018 Volvo Buses has now sold more than 4000 electrified Volvo buses to customers the world over. The latest order is for 90 hybrid buses from Brussels. Volvo Buses is one of the world´s leading developers of electric and hybrid buses. The advanced technology used in Volvo´s electric buses is also being developed and adapted to other products within the Volvo Group to create sustainable transport systems. The 90 Volvo 7900 Hybrids were ordered by STIB-MIVB, which provides public transport in Brussels. Most of the buses will be delivered and will enter regular traffic this year. With the new hybrid buses, Brussels is taking a significant step in expansion and modernisation of the city’s public transport. The aim is that the entire vehicle fleet should be electrified by 2030 at the latest. “Belgium continues to take the lead for cleaner and quieter urban traffic. Just a year ago we received an equally large order for electrified buses from TEC for the Belgian cities Charleroi and Namur. Now Brussels too is choosing our technology. This is a major success that takes our total sales of electrified buses to over 4000 units,” says Håkan Agnevall, President Volvo Buses. Volvo has sold 90 hybrids and 101 electric hybrids to Belgium. The Volvo Buses range of electrified buses encompasses hybrid buses, rechargeable electric hybrid buses, and all-electric buses. Facts, Volvo 7900 Hybrid The Volvo 7900 Hybrid is propelled entirely electrically and emission-free from standstill up to 15–20 km/h. As speed rises, a small diesel engine is activated. The Volvo 7900 Hybrid offers 30–40 per cent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than a corresponding diesel bus. Particle and nitrogen oxide emissions are 50 per cent lower. .

Volvo Trucks Press Release / March 20, 2018 . . . .

Volvo Trucks Press Release / March 18, 2018 . . .

Following in the footsteps of Scania and Iveco, MAN is reported to be developing non-EGR Euro-6 (near EPA2010) emissions engines. Non-EGR engines consume slightly more AdBlue urea (aka. DEF) but have longer engine life, maintenance intervals and higher performance since no exhaust gases are redirected back to the combustion chambers. .

Transport Engineer / March 16, 2018 Volvo Trucks has announced a new version of its low-entry cab (LEC) for the Volvo FE truck, saying this makes the cab suitable for a wider range of transport operations. The manufacturer is now offering a version optimised for the driver and a single passenger, with the option of an air-suspended passenger seat. The new cab option is an extension of the current LEC design, which can transport up to three passengers and offers a walk-through floor. These functions are needed in some operations, says Volvo, but are not necessary in all cases where a low entry could be an advantage. “In city distribution, for example, the driver does all the driving and deliveries alone,” explains Anders Edenholm, sector manager for distribution at Volvo Trucks. “However, the low entry offers a huge ergonomic advantage when you have to enter and exit the cab over 50 times a day, plus the enhanced visibility means improved safety for vulnerable road users,” he adds. The latest version has an engine tunnel instead of a flat floor, and the optional air-suspended seat makes it more suitable for city distribution work, says Volvo. The Volvo FE has a range of powertrain options, including the option to use HVO in the D8K Euro VI engines, and is available with adaptive cruise control and adjustable speed limiter options – both of which will also prove useful for urban distribution, Volvo points out. .

Transport Engineer / March 19, 2018 Cardinalis Concrete has taken delivery of its first Renault trucks, replacing 75% of its fleet with new Renault Range C vehicles. Supplied by dealer Norfolk Truck and Van, the Cambridge-based operator’s new additions are nine Range C460 8x4s, equipped with 9m3 production capacity Reimer ProAll P8525 mobile batch plants, and supplied with two-year full R&M contracts. The vehicles were chosen after discussion with mixer supplier Reimer, as Cardinalis general manager Michele Hall explains: “It was their high recommendation of the Range C chassis and overall package that has seen us convert three quarters of our fleet to Renault Trucks, a manufacturer that we previously haven’t used.” Gary Collar from Reimer says: “The Range C specification is impressive; it’s a whole lot of truck for the money. The high torque PTO of 1600Nm in particular is a great feature with the output above the gearbox at 12 o’clock, which enables a short prop to the machine and allows it to be switched on and off rather than constant, while the 1:54 ratio reduces the operating revs to 975rpm, giving fuel saving potential.” The dealer’s consistently high service levels is another key factor, adds Collar. The Range C is “proving its worth” for Cardinalis on deliveries in and around Cambridge, says Hall, adding: “Negotiating the small, narrow streets of Cambridge, as well as entering awkward and restricted access sites, calls for highly agile and manoeuvrable trucks and experienced drivers.” .

Transport Engineer / March 15, 2018 Humberside manufacturer and retailer Wren Kitchens has taken delivery of the first 25 of a 45-strong order of Isuzu Forward 7-5 tonne rigids, to meet the requirements of a new distribution strategy. The Isuzus will be covering the distribution routes previously handled by the company’s 100 Renault Master vans, delivering from regional sites to city centre customers. Supplied by dealer Thompson Commercials, all 45 of the Forward N75.150 (E) rigid chassis are fitted with purpose-designed demountable bodies and are expected to cover 150,000km a year over a five-year working life. Wren Kitchens operates an overnight trunking service from its manufacturing site in Humberside, using double and triple box-bodied drawbar combinations. At each Wren regional outbase, the demountable drawbar bodies are then transferred to the Isuzu rigids for onward distribution to key urban conurbations. “We undertook considerable due diligence to identify that the payload afforded us by switching to the bigger gvw Isuzus would enable us to operate fewer vehicles in total, while also increasing our efficiency in distribution through the increased payload achieved,” says Lee Holmes, head of transport for Wren Kitchens, adding that the Isuzu’s compact footprint makes it easy to deliver to the same locations as vans. “We have been able to achieve the minimum payload of 2.8 tonnes that makes this operation viable,” he says. “The first 25 Isuzu trucks are now in daily operation and we have had no issues so far, plus the support that we have had from Thompson Commercials has been excellent… Their ongoing service support is ideal for our operation,” adds Holmes. .

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The Australian V8-spec Value-Liner........few trucks are more attractive.

The Trump administration flip-flips (wusses out).......again. And this really mattered.

U.S. drops auto-content proposal in NAFTA talks Reuters / March 20, 2018 The U.S. government has dropped a demand that all vehicles made in Canada and Mexico for export to the United States contain at least 50 percent U.S. content, The Globe and Mail reported on Tuesday, citing sources. President Donald Trump's administration dropped the demand during the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations in Washington last week, which included talks between Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the Canadian newspaper reported. Freeland's chief spokesman declined to comment on the report and said Canada and United States continued to work well together. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this week that Trump appeared to be "enthusiastic" about coming to an agreement on NAFTA. The quotas for U.S. content in autos have been a major bone of contention for Mexico, Canada and many companies. The Trump administration had been seeking to raise the amount of NAFTA content in light vehicles to 85 percent from 62.5 percent and secure 50 percent of the total for the United States.

Ford, at times, is run like a family business (above example). At other moments, it's not run like a business at all.

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America / March 5, 2018 . .

Western Star Press Release / March 20, 2018 .

Western Star Press Release / March 14, 2018 .

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I haven't seen one of those in years. Those old Constellation Class dilithium crystals were so small, it's a miracle they could make warp 9. Always keep your distance.