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Michelin launches complete aero package, wide-based drive tire Lucas Deal, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / March 4, 2018 Michelin is expanding out of the wheel well. The company on Sunday introduced Energy Guard, a complete five-piece SmartWay-verified aerodynamic trailer kit for the commercial trailer market. The announcement was made at ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Atlanta. Michelin describes Energy Guard as an “easy-to-use, fuel-efficient and aerodynamic solution.” Consisting of a resilient trailer skirt, trailer-end fairings, aerodynamic mud flaps and a wake reducer, Michelin says its integrated kit eliminates the need for boat tails or combining elements from various vendors. Available for use on 53-ft. dry-van truck load, refrigerated truck load and other long-haul and super-regional applications, Energy Guard “contributes to the sustainable progress” to moving people and goods, says Adam Murphy, vice president, B2B marketing at Michelin North America. “Fleets can be frustrated with the current market solutions for fuel savings as they strive to improve their margins and competitiveness,” says Murphy,“Our Energy Guard solution can result in a 7.4 percent fuel savings. Best of all, it requires no driver interaction in order to achieve these impressive results.” Michelin says the fully-integrated Energy Guard kit boasts several innovations with its patent-pending design. The resilient trailer skirt integrates with other aerodynamic components, while its advanced technology enables coverage and stiffness without sacrificing durability. The skirt’s flexible design folds out of the way if it strikes an obstacle or debris, while the trailer-end fairings direct airflow to the back of the trailer. Michelin says the system weighs around 200 lb. in total. Additionally, Murphy says the wake reducer minimizes the effect of the recirculation zone behind the trailer. The trailer end fairings and wake reducer are automatically functioning, always activated requiring no driver actions. The aerodynamic mud flaps reduce vehicle drag and road spray. Michelin Americas Truck Tires also on Sunday introduced its X ONE LINE GRIP D drive tire. The first launch in the revitalization of the X1 portfolio, the X ONE LINE GRIP D will be available in May. Murphy says the tire is developed to maximize driver confidence in harsh weather operating in long-haul and super-regional routes. Michelin says the tire will meet SmartWay requirements for low-rolling resistance tires and replaces the market-leading wide-base single, the X ONE XDN2. It is available in 445/50R22.5 and 455/55R22.5 sizes, allows fleets to carry 389 lb. of additional payload versus dual-wheel applications, critical for weight-sensitive fleets, the company says. “Protecting drivers and their loads while providing outstanding total cost of ownership are key factors for driver retention, load care and uptime,” Murphy says. “Michelin X ONE LINE GRIP D is the tire for miles of confident driving and all-weather grip while offering the right balance of fuel efficiency, weight savings and long tread life. The latest X One introduction continues our leadership in wide-base single innovation and provides a market-leading solution.” .

Jack Roberts, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / March 4, 2018 Michelin is one of the oldest legacy companies serving the global trucking industry today. But according to Adam Murphy, vice president of business to business marketing for Michelin, the company doesn’t so much view itself as a “tire” manufacturer today, as it does a supplier of integrated transportation systems. Taken in that light, the launch today of Michelin’s new Energy Guard aerodynamic system for tractor-trailers doesn’t seem like quite the departure it would’ve just a few years ago. According to Murphy, speaking at the Technology & Maintenance Council's annual meeting in Atlanta, Michelin’s approach to tractor-trailer aerodynamics is a solution that increases fuel economy, decreases maintenance costs and requires no driver interaction. Energy Guard consists of a trailer skirt, trailer-end fairings, aerodynamic mud flaps and a patent-pending wake reducer, which Michelin says eliminates the need for “boat tail” fairings or combining aerodynamic products from different suppliers. Murphy said Energy One features several innovations in its patent-pending design, including a trailer skirt that fully integrates with other aerodynamic components. The skirts are made from resilient, modern composites that bend out of the way when striking a objects. The wake reducer is much smaller in size than “boat tail” fairings in use today, Murphy said, but still minimizes the effect of the air recirculation zone that creates drag behind a trailer. Even better, he said, both are systems automatically functioning once installed and always activated without any driver actions. According to testing carried out by Michelin, Murphy said, the new Energy Guard aerodynamic system can deliver 7.4% fuel savings at 65 mph compared to tractor-trailers with no aerodynamic system. This works out to savings of $3,000 and 1,000 gallons of fuel per truck, per 100,000 miles run. All-Weather X One Drive Tire offers 25% better traction in snow and ice Michelin isn’t turning its back on its core business, of course, and drove that point home with the additional introduction of its new All-Weather X One Drive tire in Atlanta Sunday. The tire features new, wide open shoulder grooves to deliver improved grip and traction in ice and snow, which was verified in the 3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake Certification testing carried out in an Arctic test facility. The 25% increase in grip is largely thanks to Michelin’s Matrix siping technology, Murphy said, which features interlocking sipes with zig-zag walls to provide thousands of biting edges for the portion of the tire in contact with the road to provide additional grip in adverse weather conditions. The All-Weather X One tire is SmartWay certified, and features a top layer of dual compound tread to provide long tread life, while the bottom layer features dual compound treads designed to run cooler for longer casing life and retreadability. .

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / March 5, 2018 Daimler Trucks North America has announced that the Detroit Assurance 4.0 collision mitigation system and Meritor EX+L air disc brakes are standard on all new Freightliner Cascadia truck models. “The safety of all drivers on the road – whether behind the wheel of a truck or in a passenger vehicle – has always been one of our key priorities. We have made significant enhancements to our trucks that are designed to reduce or mitigate collisions,” said Kelly Gedert, director of product marketing for Freightliner and Detroit Components. “We are committed to continuing to test and develop technologies that can improve the safety of commercial vehicles.” The Detroit Assurance 4.0 suite of safety systems includes Adaptive Cruise Control and Active Brake Assist 4.0. ACC helps drivers maintain a safe, continuous following distance and can be adjusted to following distances between 2.4 and 3.6 seconds. The Detroit Assurance 4.0 collision mitigation system is radar-based and always on. Its bumper-mounted radar tracks the distance from the front of the truck to other vehicles in its path. When a truck gets too close to another vehicle, the driver first receives an audible alarm with visual warning, followed by partial braking, and finally full active braking, where the system slows the truck using the transmission, engine brake and service brakes. In addition to the standard collision mitigation system, the new Cascadia can be spec’d with other optional safety features, such as Lane Departure Warning and Side Object Detection systems. Meritor Air Disc Brakes Additionally, Meritor EX+L air disc brakes will now be standard on all wheel positions for the new Cascadia starting in spring 2018. The EX+L has been weight-optimized and was designed to be the industry’s lightest truck air disc brake, according to DTNA. It features a gear-synchronized twin piston design that adjusts both pistons simultaneously, resulting in better performance and uniform pad wear. The internal adjuster mechanism’s double-sealing technology does not require periodic lubrication, and enhances reliability by keeping contaminants out. “Air disc brakes not only provide a shorter stopping distance, but they are best-suited to support our safety innovations,” said Gedert. “Our partnership with Meritor only adds to the new Cascadia being one of the safest, best-performing trucks on the road today.” .

Jim Park, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / March 4, 2018 Tractor-trailer aerodynamic device supplier FlowBelow has entered into agreements with a major truck OEM and trailer OE to provide its systems as an optional equipment spec, the company announced during the 2018 Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting Sunday. FlowBelow’s Quick Release wheel covers and Tractor AeroKit System will now be offered as optional equipment on all new International LT and RH Series trucks. The FlowBelow systems can now be ordered through the International dealer network with the installation work completed at the International Truck Plant and Truck Specialty Center. The Tractor AeroKit reduces aerodynamic turbulence on a truck by streamlining air past the drive wheels. FlowBelow also announced that its AeroSlider aerodynamic system will now be offered as a factory-installed option on Strick Trailers and have the system installed at the company’s trailer manufacturing facility in Monroe, Indiana. The Tractor AeroSlider system mounts directly to a trailer’s sliding suspension and travels with it underneath the trailer flooring. The system is designed to smooth out the complex airflow found around trailer wheels and in the wake of a trailer moving at highway speeds. .

Jim Park, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / March 4, 2018 The Trifecta Pre-Adjusted Hub Assembly from Stemco could revolutionize wheel installation. Its eye-popping simplicity has left technicians slack-jawed in surprise with its simplicity and ease of installation. The new wheel end system was developed in partnership with Webb Wheel Products and announced at the 2018 Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibit in Atlanta. Designed for safety, performance and confidence, the Trifecta Pre-Adjusted Hub Assembly features the industry-first Discover XR (extreme runtime) wheel seal with GlideLock technology. The seal glides on and is self-locking, reducing installation force by 50%, with no pre-lube required. The combination of the Discover XR wheel seal, Webb Wheel’s hub and the Defender composite hub cap provides the a high level of contamination and corrosion resistance. The Trifecta assembly also features Stemco’s Zip-Torq unitized axle spindle nut, increasing simplicity and safety for end users. There are no additional clips, keepers, snap rings or screws to install. The self-ratcheting locking feature prevents inadvertent back-offs, Stemco says. Additionally, Stemco President Todd Anderson said installation of the new hub assembly requires no bearing adjustment, ensuring the hub is installed correctly, quickly and easily. "When we took this to fleets to demonstrate its ease of installation, technicians went through the procedures and were stunned to discover how simple and repeatable it was and that it no special tools," he said. "The new Zip Torq nut literally allows the mechanic to install, adjust and walk away." Anderson says when installed according to specifications, the wheel end will be well within established TMC tolerance recommendations, "usually somewhere between three-thousandths of an inch of freeplay to a very slight preload, which is absolutely optimal for a wheel bearing." “Trifecta is the latest innovation to combine safety, performance and confidence into one complete package,” explained Mark Holley, segment business leader of wheel end products for Stemco. “By combining Stemco manufactured products with patented technology, the assembly is uniquely developed to extend wheel end life while providing unmatched contamination prevention." Anderson said the Trifecta wheel end assembly has 1.4 million miles of fleet testing behind it to date. It will come with a five-year/500,000-mile warranty for on-highway vehicles, and three-years/350,000 miles for vocational trucks. Trifecta is now available for pre-order; deliveries will begin in the second quarter of 2018. For more information on the Stemco Trifecta Pre-Adjusted Hub Assembly, visit stemco.com/product/trifecta-pre-adjusted-hub-assembly/. .

Jim Park, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / March 4, 2018 Dana introduced its new Spicer S172 series single drive axle for Class 7 and 8 vehicles during a press conference at the Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting in Atlanta. According to Dana, the new axles retains the robustness and strength of the existing S170 drive axle while reducing weight by more than 60 pounds. The axle is crafted for 4x2, 6x2, and 8x2 applications up to 25,000 pounds gross axle weight rating. It offers a broad range of gear ratios, from 3.07 to 6.14, and features a low hypoid offset with High-Power Density AdvanTek gearing to optimize efficiency. The high-strength pinion bearings allow for greater lifespan under heavy loads, improving durability and overall performance, the company says. In addition, a passive lube management system has been added that requires less lubricant overall while maintain optimum lobe flow. "It uses a venturi-cover design to optimize the lube flow in the axle and to make better use of the available lubricant, so we require less lubricant that a standard axle," said Steve Slesinski, director of Dana's global product planning. "We coupled the venturi-cover with a patented lube meter that controls the amount of lubricant going in between the bearing system of the pinion. That helps reduce spin losses due to churning and thus improves axle efficiency." The single drive axle can also be paired with the Dana tag axle as part of the Spicer EconoTrek tandem axle, a durable, lightweight 6x2 configuration that offers increased fuel economy, improved performance, and reduced maintenance for heavy-duty linehaul tractors. This system is up to 3% more efficient and up to 380 pounds lighter than typical 6x4 offerings. The tandem version is more than 60 pounds lighter than existing D170 series tandem axles, and it's available in a broad range of gear ratios, from 3.07 to 6.14, to serve a variety of needs, especially heavy-haul applications such as the Canadian logging sector with GWV up to 160,000 pounds and 50,000-pound gross axle weight ratings. “Dana engineers are continuously examining innovative ways to improve our existing products,” said Mark Wallace, president of Dana Commercial Driveline Technologies. “We were able to build upon the advanced features of the S170 and make it lighter without sacrificing its industry-proven durability and efficiency. We remain a company committed to finding a better way to address the needs of our customers and the commercial-vehicle market.” .

The picture above is Communist Party Secretary Li Shufu. He is the largest shareholder of Volvo Group, and thus the Mack brand.

How China's Geely sought to buy FCA Luca Ciferri, Automotive News / March 5, 2018 GENEVA -- The most-watched name in the global automotive industry, Chinese billionaire Li Shufu, won't attend the auto show here this week. The founder and chairman of privately owned automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., who last month drew a harsh spotlight in Germany by becoming Daimler's largest shareholder, will be keeping his usual distance from the auto world's biggest stages. Li rarely attends auto shows outside China. His public appearances in Europe -- with a contingent of Chinese politicians, entrepreneurs and media -- are typically at events tied to his growing list of European brands. He was in Berlin on Oct. 20, 2016, to unveil Lynk & CO, a near-premium brand co-developed by Geely with Volvo Car, which Li had acquired from Ford Motor Co. six years earlier. He was in England on March 22, 2017, to open the London Taxi Co.'s new facility near Coventry. The 2013 purchase of the legendary black cab maker marked Li's second acquisition in Europe. And he's planning to attend a Lynk & CO event this month in Amsterdam, says a spokesman, who also confirmed Li's decision to skip Geneva. In Amsterdam, Li is expected to announce that Volvo's plant in Ghent, Belgium, will build Lynk & CO cars for Europe. And in the midst of such public appearances, there was a trip to Europe last spring that could have dramatically reshaped the global auto industry -- and Li's expanding role in it. Flight to Turin In May, Li flew to Turin in a Geely-owned jet for a private meeting with John Elkann, the Agnelli family heir who chairs Exor, the holding company that controls Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, said people involved in the trip and the talks. They asked not to be identified, as the meeting wasn't made public. A Geely spokesman in China said "it was normal to have business contacts" but declined further comment. An FCA spokesman deferred any comment to Exor. An Exor spokesman declined to comment. Li was scouting for options to expand Geely outside China. FCA is the third-largest automaker in the U.S., the fourth-largest in Europe, a major player in Latin America -- and weak in Asia. It could have been a perfect fit for Geely, and not only geographically. In a world that is turning to SUVs and premium brands, buying FCA would have given Geely an iconic U.S. marque synonymous with SUV across the world -- Jeep. Geely also would have received such storied sporty brands as Maserati and Alfa Romeo. On top of that, FCA would have added 4.7 million annual vehicle sales -- under the names Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, Ram and Maserati -- in more than 150 markets to the growing Geely empire. FCA has 231,000 workers operating in 162 manufacturing facilities and 87 r&d centers, company data show. In China, Geely's sales were up 45 percent in January, making it the second best-selling automaker. It was No. 5 overall for production, but that ranking includes joint ventures with foreign automakers. Among domestic automakers, it was No. 1. Last summer, amid Automotive News reports of Chinese suitors, FCA said it had had no contact with Geely. Technically, that was accurate, as Li was not talking with FCA but with its controlling shareholder. Exor owned 29 percent of FCA shares and 42 percent of voting rights as of Jan. 10 this year, Exor data show. Differences After Li's trip to Turin in May, representatives of the suitor and potential seller held discussions in private meetings in London in July and August, three sources told Automotive News Europe. The initial offer valued FCA at $20 billion. It constituted Geely purchasing Exor's stake as well as a public tender for the 71 percent of shares held by other investors. The offer was rejected. Geely's emissaries then raised their offer to $22 billion, with no success. Two sources with direct ties to the discussions gave different views on why a deal didn't happen. The first source, speaking under condition of anonymity, said the sweetened $22 billion offer was deemed too low. Exor was convinced it could have extracted more value by selling FCA in parts. Under that scenario, one step would have involved the spinoff or sale of FCA's Magneti Marelli parts business, a move FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne still wants to pull off this year. Another step would have combined Alfa Romeo and Maserati into a separate company to be sold. A third would have seen the Jeep and Ram brands being sold as a package. Finally, the remaining European, U.S. and Latin American businesses would have been offered to a fourth buyer, possibly a Chinese group. The second source said FCA was open to accepting a $22 billion deal if Alfa and Maserati were excluded. Geely rejected that idea. The discussions were over by the end of August. Not an easy surrender Li, 54, the son of a farmer from China's eastern Zhejiang province, has been seen as a Chinese remake of Henry Ford, a century later. He founded Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in 1986, which was at the time focused on refrigerators. He moved into motorbike manufacturing in the 1990s before turning to autos in 1997. The purchases of Volvo and London Taxi and the creation of Lynk & CO followed the Great Recession. Last year, he won control of British sports car maker Lotus, acquired a 49.9 percent stake in Malaysian automaker Proton and spent $3.3 billion to become the biggest shareholder of Volvo, the world's second-largest truckmaker. Then, this year, came the stake in Daimler. Reports surfaced in late November that Daimler had rebuffed advances from Li, who reportedly was seeking to acquire about 5 to 7 percent. Then, last month, Li disclosed that after a series of stock market purchases, he had acquired a 9.7 percent holding in Daimler through the Geely Group, which is owned by Li and managed by Zhejiang Geely Holding. Since moving on from FCA last summer, Li has spent more than $12.5 billion in automotive acquisitions. Considering that he was ready to buy FCA for $22 billion, he could have nearly $10 billion handy for further acquisitions. Getting financial resources seems to be no obstacle. He plays an active political role in China and is a regular delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a largely ceremonial political advisory body. His political savvy may have helped get the Daimler investment done smoothly, analysts and local media said, especially amid a crackdown by China on overseas deals. In announcing the Daimler deal, China's official Xinhua news agency said Geely reflected a wider "bullish" push by local automakers overseas and the overall "rising strength of Chinese automakers." Li's business ambitions also appear to align with those of China's government, which wants to strengthen the country's high-tech expertise and leapfrog global rivals by becoming a leader in electric vehicles and autonomous driving. But, for now at least, Li's ambition won't include FCA. .

Paccar Australia Press Release / December 8, 2017 Australia’s number one heavy-duty truck manufacturer, Kenworth, has delivered its 60,000th Australian-designed and built truck at its Bayswater plant in Melbourne. Andrew Hadjikakou, Managing Director of PACCAR Australia, handed the keys of the T610SAR prime mover to long-standing Kenworth customer Peter Wickham, co-founder of Wickham Freight Lines – one of Australia’s largest privately-owned transport companies, at an event at Kenworth’s head office and factory in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Andrew said Kenworth’s achievement in manufacturing 60,000 trucks was a major milestone, not only for the company and its dealer group, but for its suppliers, the vast majority of whom are local. “Celebrating key production milestones is a Kenworth tradition, one that began in April 1974 when we handed over the keys to truck number 1,000. Since then we’ve celebrated each major milestone, leading to today, when we hand over the keys to the 60,000th truck that’s rolled off the Kenworth production line since we began designing and manufacturing uniquely Australian trucks in 1971,” Mr Hadjikakou said. Kenworth trucks are the mainstay of Australian transport businesses of all sizes, from large fleets to single owner-operators. Its trucks are also exported to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. “The heavy-duty truck market in Australia is one of the most competitive in the world,” Andrew stated. “In an industry with no tariff protection, no government financial assistance and often volatile exchange rate movements, Kenworth successfully maintains its status as the market leader against imported brands from the US, Europe and Asia. We continue to successfully deliver high value-added manufacturing – that is, world-class trucks, which provide distinct business advantages,” he said. Andrew said Australia had a diverse range of operating environments unlike anywhere else in the world. Trucks must deal with extreme heat in remote, dusty mines and across deserts. Others must haul loads that are two or three times heavier than overseas, and on rough and unmade roads. Often trucks are required to perform an inordinate amount of hours, some as much as 24 hours a day. “It’s critical this country has a local manufacturer that understands the challenges facing transport businesses. Kenworth is the only local truck manufacturer offering full design capability, technical expertise and resources to application-engineer trucks for the most extreme on and off-road operations,” Andrew explained. “Our trucks are designed to satisfy these unique needs. They feature higher cooling capacities to handle heavier weights and hotter conditions, more robust construction to manage the roughest roads, and embody a design philosophy that means cost-effective maintenance and reliability,” he added. Mr Hadjikakou said Kenworth’s more than 45 years of local manufacturing have a significant ripple effect that has benefited many Australian industries and Australians. The company currently employs more than 1,000 staff in Melbourne, the majority of whom are directly or indirectly involved in the manufacturing operations. It also supports the industry’s best nationwide network of PACCAR dealers who employ about 3,000 people throughout Australia. In addition, the company supports a variety of local suppliers who provide the majority of the parts and materials which make a Kenworth. As part of its manufacturing commitment, Kenworth has made a substantial investment in design engineering. This enables it to purpose-build trucks with short lead times – a feat imported trucks cannot match. “Local design and manufacturing remains the driving force behind our business, and we’re in it for the long haul. We are continually reinvesting in expanding our operations, continually refining our techniques and introducing new technologies. Most importantly, we listen to our customers and we meet their needs,” Andrew added Wickham Freight Lines takes possession of 60,000th Kenworth Mr Hadjikakou said it was fitting Kenworth’s milestone truck was built for Wickham Freight Lines. “Wickham Freight Lines is one of our long term customers,” Mr Hadjikakou said. “They are knowledgeable and passionate about the road transport industry and forthright with their thoughts and opinions, which has contributed to the continuous improvement of our trucks for close to four decades. It’s been a win-win for both parties, and it’s the epitome of how we conduct business with all of our customers.” “It’s gratifying to receive this milestone vehicle,” Darren Eather, Chief Executive of Wickham Freight Lines, said at the official hand-over. “We have been working with PACCAR for many years; it’s being part of a team. They satisfy all of our trucking needs – not just sales, but also finance, servicing and parts. PACCAR and Brown and Hurley take the stress out of maintaining a large and diverse fleet, enabling us to focus on improving our service to customers,” Mr Eather said. Wickhams is one of the largest privately-owned transport companies in Australia. Established in 1992 it specialises in transporting fresh, chilled and frozen meat and produce, as well as consumer products and dry goods, servicing retail supply chains and other logistics providers. With its unique head office in the shape of a Kenworth K108 cabover in Warwick, Queensland, and terminals in Sydney and Melbourne, the company now operates a Kenworth fleet of 160 prime movers with its distinctive red and white livery. Wickhams employs various Kenworth models to handle different applications, but the fleet is predominantly the cabover K200. The company’s latest T610SAR – Kenworth’s 60,000th truck – is powered by a Cummins X15 engine, producing 600 hp and 1850 lb/ft of torque. The engine uses SCR exhaust after-treatment technology for emission reduction, which meets Euro 5 and Australian ADR 80/03 emissions regulations. The truck is equipped with an Eaton Fuller RTLO22918B 18-speed manual transmission, Meritor MF573 (7.3t) front axles and Meritor RT46-160GP rear axles. It also features two 480-litre and two 400-litre rectangular fuel tanks, Kenworth Airglide 460 suspension and an 860mm Aero Roof sleeper. Wickhams’s T610SAR, will go to work transporting meat and produce in refrigerated trailers travelling to approximately 250,000 kilometres a year along the eastern seaboard. Kenworth’s T610SAR is the brand’s latest release. In just one year since its launch on December 3, 2016, it has established itself as a versatile and hard yards specialist, which can manage a variety of applications; including interstate line haul up to 19m B-double and tipper and dog applications. The T610SAR features a significantly wider cabin, which is centred around the needs of the driver. With increased walkthrough space between seats, greater room head-to-toe for the driver, more standing room in the sleeper cabs, the interior is far easier to move around in. With advanced heating and cooling that’s more powerful yet efficient, the cabin maintains optimum temperature at all times. The expansive windscreen offers a panoramic view of the road, the cabin’s superior ergonomics means controls are positioned intuitively and dashboard instrumentation is visible at a glance. With a complete range of active and passive safety features, including advanced collision avoidance technology, the T610 readily adapts to operating conditions to enhance fuel economy with no impact on productivity. Mr Eather says the T610, like all Kenworth models, offers significant advantages compared with other American-style and European brands he has tried over the years. “We have bought almost 250 Kenworths, and we continue to buy them every year because it’s good for business. With Just In Time (JIT) deliveries now the norm, our customers need our trucks there on time every time. Kenworths are designed and manufactured in Australia for Australia’s harsh environments and applications. And Kenworth builds trucks to our exact specifications and requirements – and that makes all the difference,” he said. “Kenworth trucks are more reliable, durable and cost effective to run. They can handle hard work, long hours and many years of service. It’s no wonder our drivers love them. The trucks are also safe and comfortable to operate, and they perform well under any conditions,” he explained. Mr Eather says Kenworth’s nationwide dealer network, in particular Brown and Hurley, also plays an integral role in its transport efficiency. “Our trucks cover a lot of territory, so it’s comforting to know that if they ever have a problem, there’s a Kenworth dealer nearby,” he added. Kenworth trucks, with GCM from 39 to 260 tonnes, cover the full spectrum of heavy and extreme-duty applications. This includes multiple-trailer regional and interstate freight, tipper and dog construction work as well as off-highway operations for the logging and mining industries. .

KENWORTH RELEASES NEW T610 SLEEPER CAB OPTION Paccar Australia Press Release / February 28, 2018 Following the introduction of the T610 and T610SAR in early 2017, Kenworth announced today the release of a 760mm mid roof sleeper cab, complementing its existing day and 860mm sleeper cab options and providing customers with even more choice. The new sleeper cab option is suitable for many different applications including 19m tippers, tankers, and 19m B-double applications. Designed from the inside out in a decade-long development process, the T610 cabin is centred entirely on the needs of the driver. Touted as Kenworth’s ‘Best Truck Yet’, the design incorporates greater foot space, more storage, wider walkthrough access between the seats and more expansive door and windscreen glass, providing space, visibility and ergonomics never before seen in Kenworth’s suite of Australian-made trucks. “The core of the T610 project was about building a bigger cab to create the ultimate driver environment, which leads to better all-round driving performance, safety, efficiency and productivity” said Brad May, PACCAR Australia’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “This 760mm sleeper cab option allows even greater flexibility for our customers whose applications demand it. The mid roof allows access under gantries and suits many height restricted truck and trailer combinations and provides an additional 90mm of head room than the day cab.” Significantly wider and with increased walkthrough space between seats and greater room head-to-toe for the driver, the T610 interior delivers the driver a more open and relaxed cabin that is far easier to move around in and rest during breaks. The new mid roof sleeper offers an inner spring mattress with hinged pan for under bunk storage, optional under bunk fridge and open shelving as standard. Kenworth spent significant time optimising the shape and surfaces over the sleeper cab roof to improve the aerodynamics and optimised clearance. The T610 The result of more than 100,000 Australian design hours and more than ten million kilometres of testing and validation, the T610 has been the single largest investment in product development the company has ever made in Australia. From idea to reality, this significant investment in new technologies and design is specifically for the Australian road transport market. The T610 and T610SAR represent everything a Kenworth should be in terms of durability, reliability and safety. Yet the really noticeable product improvements are the superior space, ergonomics and driver comfort and control – the drumbeat behind Kenworth’s ‘Best Truck Yet.’ The T610 builds on a proven approach honed over many years, starting in 1975 with the first Australian designed and manufactured Kenworth, the W900SAR and later the development and evolution of other iconic models such as the aerodynamic T600, and the K series range. It is the culmination of more than 40 years of Australian design and application engineering experience, integrating with a parallel development program drawing on the global resources of PACCAR. The T610 delivers Kenworth’s most innovative, durable and productive truck yet, designed and manufactured right here in Australia for our local conditions and applications. .

There's quite a bit of massaging Bob. And most of the parts were resourced from within China.

At any given point in time, there are thousands of secret agreements between countries, orchestrated by "big business".......the world's wealthy aristocracy who know no boundaries. It's literally impossible for the masses to connect the dots and make any educated guess as to what is really going on.

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China market Ford Cargo - 6x4 tipper Exterior - https://product.360che.com/img/c1_s63_b17_s7015_m45378_t16.html Chassis - https://product.360che.com/img/c1_s63_b17_s7015_m45378_t18.html

Hyundai Truck & Bus Press Release / January 9, 2018 .

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Trump threatens to tax European auto imports Reuters / March 4, 2018 WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump kept up pressure on trading partners, threatening European automakers with a tax on imports if the European Union retaliates against his plan to impose tariffs on aluminum and steel. Trump's tweet showed he is refusing to yield to U.S. business interests and foreign trading partners alarmed at the prospect of a trade war that rattled financial markets this week. "If the E.U. wants to further increase their already massive tariffs and barriers on U.S. companies doing business there, we will simply apply a Tax on their Cars which freely pour into the U.S.," Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "They make it impossible for our cars (and more) to sell there. Big trade imbalance!" The United States imposes a 2.5-percent tariff on cars assembled in Europe and a 25-percent tariff on European-built vans and pickup trucks. Europe imposes a 10-percent tariff on U.S.-built cars [China imposes a 25% import tax on most cars, and a 35% import tax on luxury cars as well as commercial trucks]. Trump criticized Europe in remarks at a fundraiser, according to video posted online Saturday, and suggested they would not increase tariffs. "The European Union: brutal. They've been brutal to us," Trump said at a Florida fundraiser. "They've banded together in order to beat the United States in trade." Trump did not respond to questions about tariffs or other topics upon returning to the White House Saturday. In a speech Friday night at Harvard University, European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager said the EU will respond to the tariffs "to defend European industry, and the world trading system," according to a copy of her remarks. She called the Trump action "one-sided protectionist measures, which hurt, not just jobs, but the whole system of rules that makes our global economy work." German automakers Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG and BMW AG build vehicles at plants in the United States. BMW employs more than 9,000 workers in South Carolina and is one of the state's largest employers. The United States accounts for about 15 percent of worldwide Mercedes-Benz and BMW brand sales, while it accounts for 5 percent of VW brand sales and 12 percent of Audi sales. The United States had a $22.3 billion automotive vehicle and parts trade deficit with Germany in 2017 and a $7 billion deficit with the United Kingdom, according to U.S. government data. Last year, Germany's automotive trade association said "the United States would be shooting itself in the foot by imposing tariffs or other trade barriers." Trump's threat comes amid mounting transatlantic tension on trade. On Thursday, Trump said the United States would apply duties of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum to protect domestic producers. Major automakers say the move will hike the cost of cars and trucks. The next day, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told German television that "We will put tariffs on Harley-Davidson (motorcycles), on bourbon and on blue jeans -- Levis." Canada also has said it will retaliate for any tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump had tweeted on Friday that trade wars are good and "easy to win," roiling U.S. financial markets. In January 2017, Trump warned German car companies he would impose a border tax of 35 percent on vehicles imported to the U.S. market.

VW to pursue IPO plan for trucks division Reuters / March 4, 2018 BERLIN - Volkswagen intends to change the legal structure of its trucks business this month as a first step towards an initial public offering (IPO) of the division, German paper Handelsblatt reported. Changing Volkswagen Truck & Bus, with brands MAN and Scania, to a public limited company would be a first step to making the unit ready for capital markets, Handelsblatt reported, citing company sources. The next stage would be to engage investment banks. “Shares could be traded for the first time in the early part of the coming year,” the paper quoted an unnamed manager as saying. Handelsblatt said that VW intends to retain a majority stake in the division for now and that the IPO could bring the group proceeds of more than 10 billion euros ($12.3 billion). The paper added that no final decision has been taken and that the plans require approval from the supervisory and management boards. Staff councils would also have to be brought into the process, which could happen in the next few weeks, Handelsblatt reported.

Transport Engineer / February 27, 2018 Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK has announced that 100 of its Actros1 tractors will be released to the UK market in March. Described as “the ultimate in premium exclusivity”, the Actros1 has been designed for owner-drivers, although the manufacturer says the truck’s name means it could be the flagship in other fleets. Based on the 6x2 chassis with top-spec GigaSpace cab, Actros1 comes in either a black or silver/black colour scheme. Mercedes-Benz expects most of the 100 to be the 2563LS variant with 616bhp OM473 15.6-litre, six-cylinder engine, but points out that the 2553LS model with second-generation 12.8-litre OM471 with 523bhp output is also available as a fuel-efficient alternative. As well as a Safety Pack with Active Brake Assist 4 and Proximity Control Assist systems, and a driver’s airbag, it comes with a high-performance engine brake and tyre pressure monitor. Fuel performace is boosted with Predictive Powertrain Control and Fleetboard telematics hardware. The vehicle also comes with Uptime maintenance technology, which uses sensors to advise the allocated dealer of vehicle condition so parts can be ordered in advance. Inside, the luxurious Style Line design is complemented by a leather-trimmed steering wheel and Comfort leather massage seats for driver and co-driver, an uprated multimedia entertainment system and a Premium Comfort mattress. Other features include automatic climate control, an electric sunroof and sunblind, a microwave and pull-out refrigerator, and rear overhead lockers. Externally, the Actros1 has painted sideguards and catwalks, Alcoa Dura-Bright alloy wheels (wider than standard at the front) with painted hubs, and roof-mounted air horns. Bi-xenon headlamps, LED tail lights and an illuminated grille-mounted star complete the look. “Actros1 brings together the very best Mercedes-Benz has to offer in terms of performance, comfort, safety, economy and maximised use, in a stunningly designed package which will make it the envy of every other driver on the road,” predicts Ben Grayson, marketing communications manager for Mercedes-Benz Trucks. He adds: “Actros1 has been crafted from start to finish with the driver in mind and, with a maximum of 100 being built, demand is sure to be strong from discerning customers who desire the ultimate in premium exclusivity.” .

“He’s now president for life, president for life. And he’s great,” Trump said about China's President Xi Jinping at a fundraiser in Florida on Saturday. “And look, he was able to do that [Yes, dictators can do that]. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot someday,” said Trump. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictators for life running the United States. Shocking to hear a U.S. president say "we’ll have to give that a shot someday”. But then again, if they're "great" and all............