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Green Car Congress / October 17, 2017 At the 8th US-China Energy Efficiency Forum in Denver, Chinese truckmaker Foton and Cummins signed a Memorandum of Green Power and Smart Truck Cooperation Development. Under the memorandum of understanding, Foton and Cummins will launch an in-depth cooperation to boost energy-saving, low-carbon and green development. The signing also marked the launching of the second stage of the “China Super Truck” program. The target of this program is to reduce fuel consumption up to 15-20%, decrease carbon emissions up to 20% and enhance transport efficiency up to 50%. This new cooperation aims at performing in-depth cooperation in green energy sources, using new energy-saving technologies to complete the optimization of the powertrain system and vehicle integration, reduce fuel consumption and enhance transport efficiency. Since 2008, when Foton Motor and Cummins established a joint venture, Foton Cummins has produced engines for light and heavy trucks in compliance with Euro 4, Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions standards. The ISG super powertrain, offered exclusively by Cummins in Foton EST and EST-A heavy trucks, can reduce fuel consumption and carbon emission, and enhance transport efficiency. The Foton’s EST series will be launched in Russia, Peru, Thailand, and other countries this year. It has been under development for 4 years based on R&D work from Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd. (BFDA), matched with the Cummins ISG powertrain, and integrated with globally top-level commercial vehicle core supply chains including Cummins, ZF, Wabco, Continental, and others. .

Renault Trucks’ global sales results.....versus the Volvo brand: January 2015 Renault up 24% Volvo down 4% February 2015 Renault up 26% Volvo down 13% 1st quarter 2015 Renault up 35% Volvo down 8% April 2015 Renault up 12% Volvo up 9% May 2015 Renault up 5% Volvo down 1% 2nd quarter 2015 Renault up 7% Volvo down 4% July 2015 Renault up 8% Volvo down 5% August 2015 Renault up 60% Volvo down 6% 3rd quarter 2015 Renault up 20% Volvo down 2% October 2015 Renault up 16% Volvo down 1% November 2015 Renault up 54% Volvo down 10% 4th quarter 2015 Renault up 29% Volvo down 7% Full Year 2015 Renault up 22% Volvo down 4% 1st quarter 2016 Renault up 8% Volvo down 8% 2nd quarter 2016 Renault up 12% Volvo down 9% 3rd quarter 2016 Renault down 5% Volvo down 12% 4th quarter 2016 Renault down 5% Volvo down 8% Full Year 2016 Renault up 2% Volvo down 9% 1st quarter 2017 Renault up 3% Volvo down 2% 2nd quarter 2017 Renault down 4% Volvo up 1% 3rd quarter 2017 Renault up 6% Volvo up 15%

The Numbers In Q3 2017, sales (deliveries) from Volvo Group’s truck operations amounted to 46,603* units, up 13 percent from 41,155 units in Q3 2016. Q3 2017 Volvo brand truck sales (overall) rose to 25,722 units globally, up 15 percent from 22,353 units in Q3 2016. Q3 2017 Volvo brand truck sales in North America rose to 5,076 units, up 9 percent from 4,645 units in Q3 2016. North American Volvo brand truck sales in review: 9 percent sales increase in Q3 2017 versus Q3 2016 17 percent sales decline in Q2 2017 versus Q2 2016 40 percent sales decline in Q1 2017 versus Q1 2016 49 percent sales decline in Q4 2016 versus Q4 2015 49 percent sales decline in Q3 2016 versus Q3 2015 39 percent sales decline in Q2 2016 versus Q2 2015 41 percent sales decline in Q1 2016 versus Q1 2015 4 percent sales decline in Q4 2015 versus Q4 2014 12 percent sales increase in Q3 2015 versus Q3 2014 27 percent sales increase in Q2 2015 versus Q2 2014 27 percent sales increase in Q1 2015 versus Q1 2014 15 percent sales increase in Q4 2014 versus Q4 2013 24 percent sales increase in Q3 2014 versus Q3 2013 17 percent sales increase in Q2 2014 versus Q2 2013 93 percent sales increase in Q1 2014 versus Q1 2013 19 percent sales increase in Q4 2013 versus Q4 2012 10 percent sales increase in Q3 2013 versus Q3 2012 7 percent sales increase in Q2 2013 versus Q2 2012 39 percent sales decline in Q1 2013 versus Q1 2012 17 percent sales decline in Q4 2012 versus Q4 2011 7 percent sales decline in Q3 2012 versus Q3 2011 19 percent sales increase in Q2 2012 versus Q2 2011 38 percent sales increase in Q1 2012 versus Q1 2011 66 percent sales increase in Q4 2011 versus Q4 2010 91 percent sales increase in Q3 2011 versus Q3 2010 152 percent sales increase in Q2 2011 versus Q2 2010 124 percent sales increase in Q1 2011 versus Q1 2010 78 percent sales increase in Q4 2010 versus Q4 2009 103 percent sales increase in Q3 2010 versus Q3 2009 58 percent sales increase in Q3 2010 versus Q3 2009 1 percent sales decline in Q1 2010 versus Q1 2009 Q3 2017 Volvo brand truck sales in Europe rose to 12,924 units, up 12 percent from 11,585 units in Q3 2016. Q3 2017 Volvo brand truck sales in Africa/Oceania (includes Australia, New Zealand) rose to 1,298 units, up 7 percent from 1,216 units in Q3 2016. Q3 2017 Mack brand truck sales (overall) rose to 5,100 units globally, up 29 percent from 3,963 units in Q3 2016. Global Mack brand truck sales in review: 29 percent sales increase in Q3 2017 versus Q3 2016 1 percent sales decline in Q2 2017 versus Q2 2016 24 percent sales decline in Q1 2017 versus Q1 2016 42 percent sales decline in Q4 2016 versus Q4 2015 40 percent sales decline in Q3 2016 versus Q3 2015 22 percent sales decline in Q2 2016 versus Q2 2015 21 percent sales decline in Q1 2016 versus Q1 2015 2 percent sales decline in Q4 2015 versus Q4 2014 6 percent sales increase in Q3 2015 versus Q3 2014 9 percent sales increase in Q2 2015 versus Q2 2014 16 percent sales increase in Q1 2015 versus Q1 2014 30 percent sales increase in Q4 2014 versus Q4 2013 24 percent sales increase in Q3 2014 versus Q3 2013 2 percent sales increase in Q2 2014 versus Q2 2013 31 percent sales increase in Q1 2014 versus Q1 2013 14 percent sales increase in Q4 2013 versus Q4 2012 13 percent sales decline in Q3 2013 versus Q3 2012 15 percent sales decline in Q2 2013 versus Q2 2012 38 percent sales decline in Q1 2013 versus Q1 2012 25 percent sales decline in Q4 2012 versus Q4 2011 37 percent sales increase in Q3 2012 versus Q3 2011 48 percent sales increase in Q2 2012 versus Q2 2011 54 percent sales increase in Q1 2012 versus Q1 2011 45 percent sales increase in Q4 2011 versus Q4 2010 34 percent sales increase in Q3 2011 versus Q3 2010 99 percent sales increase in Q2 2011 versus Q2 2010 37 percent sales increase in Q1 2011 versus Q1 2010 38 percent sales increase in Q4 2010 versus Q4 2009 16 percent sales increase in Q3 2010 versus Q3 2009 7 percent sales decline in Q2 2010 versus Q2 2009 36 percent sales increase in Q1 2010 versus Q1 2009 Q3 2017 Mack brand truck sales in North America rose to 4,624 units, up 29 percent from 3,581 units in Q3 2016. North American Mack brand truck sales in review: 29 percent sales increase in Q3 2017 versus Q3 2016 3 percent sales decline in Q2 2017 versus Q2 2016 27 percent sales decline in Q1 2017 versus Q1 2016 46 percent sales decline in Q4 2016 versus Q4 2015 41 percent sales decline in Q3 2016 versus Q3 2015 21 percent sales decline in Q2 2016 versus Q2 2015 21 percent sales decline in Q1 2016 versus Q1 2015 1 percent sales increase in Q4 2015 versus Q4 2014 6 percent sales increase in Q3 2015 versus Q3 2014 8 percent sales increase in Q2 2015 versus Q2 2014 15 percent sales increase in Q1 2015 versus Q1 2014 38 percent sales increase in Q4 2014 versus Q4 2013 31 percent sales increase in Q3 2014 versus Q3 2013 9 percent sales increase in Q2 2014 versus Q2 2013 49 percent sales increase in Q1 2014 versus Q1 2013 31 percent sales increase in Q4 2013 versus Q4 2012 4 percent sales decline in Q3 2013 versus Q3 2012 16 percent sales decline in Q2 2013 versus Q2 2012 42 percent sales decline in Q1 2013 versus Q1 2012 32 percent sales decline in Q4 2012 versus Q4 2011 49 percent sales increase in Q3 2012 versus Q3 2011 68 percent sales increase in Q2 2012 versus Q2 2011 61 percent sales increase in Q1 2012 versus Q1 2011 47 percent sales increase in Q4 2011 versus Q4 2010 30 percent sales increase in Q3 2011 versus Q3 2010 138 percent sales increase in Q2 2011 versus Q2 2010 34 percent sales increase in Q1 2011 versus Q1 2010 36 percent sales increase in Q4 2010 versus Q4 2009 21 percent sales increase in Q3 2010 versus Q3 2009 12 percent sales decline in Q2 2010 versus Q2 2009 63 percent sales increase in Q1 2010 versus Q1 2009 Q3 2017 Mack brand truck sales in South America rose to 203 units, up 39 percent from 146 units in Q3 2016. Q3 2017 Mack brand truck sales in Africa/Oceania (includes Australia, New Zealand) rose to 272 units, up 15 percent from 236 units in Q3 2016. Q3 2017 Renault Truck brand sales (overall) rose to 10,530 units globally, up 6 percent from 9,920 units in Q3 2016. Q3 2017 Renault Truck brand sales in Europe rose to 9,377 units, up 5 percent from 8,925 units in Q3 2016. (Q3 2017 Renault Truck brand medium/heavy truck sales in Europe rose to 6,072 units globally, up 10 percent from 5,540 units in Q3 2016. Q3 2017 Renault Truck brand light truck sales in Europe declined to 3,305 units globally, down 2 percent from 3,385 units in Q3 2016.) Q3 2017 UD (Nissan Diesel) brand sales (overall) rose to 5,251 units, up 7 percent from 4,919 units in Q3 2016. Q3 2017 UD (Nissan Diesel) brand sales in Asia rose to 4,207 units, up 5 percent from 4,022 units in Q3 2016. Total Global Deliveries by Brand Q3 2017 Q3 2016 % Change Volvo 25,722 22,353 15 Renault Trucks 10,530 9,920 6 UD (Nissan Diesel) 5,251 4,919 7 Mack 5,100 3,963 29 Total Deliveries 46,603 41,155 13 Total Global Deliveries by Truck Size Q3 2017 Q3 2016 % Change Heavy Duty (>16 metric tons) 39,882 34,255 16 Medium Duty (7-16 metric tons) 3,312 3,328 0 Light Duty (<7 metric tons) 3,409 3,572 -5 Total Deliveries 46,603 41,155 13 Total Global Deliveries by Region Q3 2017 Q3 2016 % Change Europe 22,301 20,510 9 Heavy & medium 18,996 17,125 11 Light duty 3,305 3,385 -2 North America 9,747 8,309 17 South America 3,046 2,413 26 Asia 8,338 6,923 20 Africa & Oceania* 3,171 3,000 6 Total Deliveries 46,603 41,155 13 * includes Australia, New Zealand

Volvo Group Press Release / October 20, 2017 “In the third quarter both the Volvo Group’s sales and profitability continued to increase, with an especially strong performance in our construction equipment business. The quarter was also characterized by the completion of an historic upgrade of our North American truck lineup and further successes for our electric buses that continue to make inroads in new markets. From an overall perspective, market demand is strong, as evidenced by a 32% increase in truck orders and 45% in construction equipment orders,” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO. • In Q3 2017 net sales increased by 12% to SEK 77.2 billion (68.8). Adjusted for currency movements and acquired and divested units sales increased by 16%. • Adjusted operating income amounted to SEK 7,024 M (4,846), corresponding to an adjusted operating margin of 9.1% (7.0). Adjusted operating income excludes a capital gain of SEK 400 M from the sale of the Group’s holding in Deutz AG in Q3 2017. Adjusted operating income in Q3 2016 excluded a provision for the settlement with the European Commission of SEK 190 M. • Currency movements had a negative impact on operating income of SEK 223 M. • Operating cash flow in the Industrial Operations amounted to SEK 0.6 billion (2.1). • Mack Trucks’ new highway truck, Mack Anthem, launched in North America. CEO’S Comments Sales increase and continued profit improvement In the third quarter both the Volvo Group’s sales and profitability continued to increase, with an especially strong performance in our construction equipment business. The quarter was also characterized by the completion of an historic upgrade of our North American truck lineup and further successes for our electric buses that continue to make inroads in new markets. From an overall perspective, market demand is strong, as evidenced by a 32% increase in truck orders and 45% in construction equipment orders. Net sales increased by 12% to SEK 77 billion, with growth in all our businesses. We improved our profitability with Volvo Construction Equipment as the main contributor. Adjusted operating income improved to SEK 7.0 billion (4.8), corresponding to an adjusted operating margin of 9.1% (7.0). We see high activity levels with many of our customers, supporting the growth of our service business which on a currency adjusted basis increased by 5% in the quarter. In Europe, demand for trucks continues to be good with support from a strong freight environment. We see demand improving in both North and South America and most markets in Asia are on good levels. Our deliveries of trucks were up by 13% in the quarter with higher volumes in all regions. The adjusted operating margin in Trucks was 8.6%, somewhat better than last year but held back by the stretched situation in parts of our supply chain. We are moving ahead with a comprehensive renewal of the truck portfolio in North America. Earlier this year Volvo Trucks launched new regional and long haul trucks, and in September Mack Trucks announced an update of its existing range in the vocational and regional haul segments as well as a re-entry into the long haul segment with the new Mack Anthem sleeper cab. These product launches mark the biggest upgrade of our North American truck range in 20 years. We also continue to invest in new technologies [licensed use of Westport HPDI 2.0]]. In Europe, Volvo Trucks announced long and regional haul trucks running on liquefied natural gas or biogas. They have the same performance as the diesel -powered models, but their CO2 emissions are 20–100% lower depending on choice of fuel. Demand for construction equipment continues to grow in most markets. Volvo Construction Equipment has successfully managed to respond to the growing market demand with a volume increase of 48% while at the same time taking a significant step up in profitability with an adjusted operating margin of 13.4%. We also continue to gain market shares within our strongholds in the construction equipment market. During the quarter we produced the 75,000th articulated hauler, a product segment where we have more than a third of the world market. Volvo Buses leads the Group on the road to electrification and in October announced a new generation of its all-electric bus. Volvo 7900 Electric is equipped with next generation battery technology, significantly extending the operating range to up to 200 km. The all-electric bus is based on the Group’s modular electrical architecture that will also be the base for electrification of trucks, construction equipment and other industrial and marine applications. Volvo Buses had an operating margin of 3.3%. Volvo Penta’s sales increased by 8% driven by both marine and industrial engines, and their adjusted operating margin amounted to 13.3%. Volvo Financial Services delivered a good return on equity with low credit losses. Financial services are key in our work to deepen the relationship with customers, and there is still an untapped potential for VFS to increase the sales of financing and insurance packages for Group products. In August, new financial targets were introduced for the Volvo Group. The Group’s profitability target was set to exceed 10% operating margin over a business cycle, while the financial position target is that the Industrial operations shall have no net financial indebtedness, excluding pension liabilities. Looking ahead to the next couple of quarters, we will be working hard to secure the introduction and the ramp-up of production of the new truck portfolio in North America as well as working together with our suppliers to reduce inefficiencies due to supply constraints for our truck production. We continue to focus on a culture with decentralized account ability and actions that result in higher speed in our continuous improvement work. This focus together with acceleration in our development of new and modular technologies will continue to drive better performance and customer success. Martin Lundstedt President and CEO Volvo Group 3rd Quarter Report - http://mb.cision.com/Main/39/2372017/739173.pdf .

GM donates $5 million to Henry Ford museum Automotive News / October 17, 2017 DETROIT -- General Motors is donating $5 million to a nonprofit organization founded by the patriarch of its largest American rival. Mark Reuss, GM's head of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, announced the donation Tuesday as part of a new partnership between the automaker and the Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark in Dearborn, Mich., established by Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford in 1929 to display his personal collections and other innovations. "The Henry Ford is a national treasure," Reuss said at the HenryFordMuseum, one of the organization's five attractions. "One that all of us who grew up around here feel a lifelong very personal connection with." With the gift, GM will sponsor the museum's rotating exhibit that will now be known as the Gallery by General Motors. Reuss said the mission is to offer exhibits that help promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. Reuss did not shy away from the irony: GM now supports an educational effort that includes the Ford name, but the gift is meant to ensure GM is part of the museum's innovations for future generations. "We know that Henry Ford and Ford Motor Co. have always been and will always be inextricably linked. There's no getting around that," Reuss said. "But the museum is a celebration of American innovation, particularly in the transportation space, and you can't tell that story without General Motors and Ford together." The collaboration has been years in the making, according to officials. Nearly four years ago, Reuss and Edsel Ford II, a trustee of the organization and great-grandson of Henry Ford, had lunch to first discuss GM playing a bigger role in the Henry Ford. Patricia Mooradian, president of the organization, said the lunch spawned a tour of the GM Heritage Center, where the automaker preserves and displays its collection of historic vehicles. She said Edsel Ford II asked Reuss "to imagine a world where two companies that are intense rivals in the marketplace can come together to support our nation's museum of innovation." Reuss answered by joining the Henry Ford Board of Trustees last year and bringing GM into the partnership. Mooradian called the collaboration with GM one of the most "historic and game-changing" in the organization's 90-year history. Reuss said the sponsorship is just the beginning of "many other special programs" that the organizations will introduce. The first exhibit in the GM-sponsored space is "The Science Behind Pixar," a Walt Disney computer animation film studio. The Henry Ford is an independent nonprofit that's not affiliated with Ford Motor Co. or the Ford Foundation. Ford family members have been major supporters and board members of the organization. The museum features a plethora of historic exhibits, including the chair in which President Abraham Lincoln was sitting when he was assassinated, the bus on which civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to move to make room for a white passenger and the presidential limousine in which President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

http://cvgrp.com/sprague-devices/

Please don't blame Watts. High prices for legacy Mack parts are dictated by Volvo Group. There's nothing that Watts Mack, or any other Mack brand dealer, can do about that. Watt's Mack is the kind provider of the BMT website, and I for one deeply appreciate it. They don't have to do it, but they do.

About the grille guard, when you called Watt's Mack (provider of the BMT website) at 1-888-304-6225 and asked for (1) 41MF299 plate and (2) 41MF385 post, what did they say?

Trico really put us in a bind when they abruptly decided to exit the heavy truck business in 1986. Sprague was thrilled to get the new business but they couldn't create the tooling overnight. We had a lot of angry customers due to the temporarily. unavailability of wiper motors, I can tell you. But it wasn't Mack's fault. As usual though, the super parts people at the Mack factory branches and distributors shared the inventory we had in the field and helps to minimize the impact. Likewise, Trico's exit from heavy truck hurt Paccar so much that it considered buying Trico (http://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/18/business/company-news-paccar-considers-takeover-of-trico.html). Before you give up, be sure to call Rome Truck Parts in Georgia at 1-800-284-4345. They have been a Trico distributor for years. http://www.rometruckparts.com/ Note page 9 - http://rometruckparts.com/catalogs/RTP Trico Parts Book.pdf

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Do you have air or electric? The R/U/DM right-side 62QT44R (aluminum) supercedes to a 7623-KIT49R (black). The R/U/DM left-side 62QT45R (aluminum) supercedes to a 7623-KIT50L (black). 7623 if I recall correctly is the former Mack's vendor code (prefix) for Sprague, which is now part of CVG. You can look on the internet for the original numbers as new old stock (NOS).

VW to Roll Out Electric Trucks, Buses in $1.7 Billion Push Bloomberg / October 11, 2017 VW Says It's Going Full-Steam Ahead on Electric Models Volkswagen AG is flanking its push into electric cars with plans to roll out battery-powered commercial vehicles targeted at urban areas as growing public concerns about air quality boost demand. The Volkswagen Truck & Bus division will invest 1.4 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in new technology including electric drivetrains, autonomous systems and cloud-based software, Andreas Renschler, head of the unit, said Wednesday in an interview in Hamburg. To help spread the costs, U.S. affiliate Navistar International Corp. will adopt the electric drivetrain. A battery-powered VW truck, dubbed e-Delivery, will roll off assembly lines in Brazil in 2020, while the German manufacturer’s MAN and Scania nameplates will both deliver wholly electric buses next year to European cities, adding to bio-diesel, hybrid systems and natural-gas line-ups. “We believe in a wide range of alternative powertrains and fuels, depending on local availability, social and local demand and customer requirements,” Renschler said at a press event. “Therefore it is crucial that policy makers adopt a technology-neutral approach" in any regulations. Electric trucks for local deliveries will probably exceed a 5 percent market share by 2025, according to Renschler. That compares to a forecast of about 25 percent for battery-powered autos. Commercial-vehicle manufacturers have been slow to develop electric models as loads are heavier than for cars and they serve a wider range of industry needs. Regulatory Differences Complicating matters is that trucks already vary significantly across the globe because of differences in regulations, making it difficult to build vehicles in large enough volumes to generate economies of scale. While in the aftermath of Volkswagen’s emissions-cheating scandal, some municipalities are looking at banning diesel engines to reduce air pollution. German competitor Daimler AG, the world’s largest commercial-vehicle producer and Renschler’s former employer, has stepped up development of engines including fully electric and hybrid versions as well as digital services to defend its lead. Volkswagen is also facing new rivals such as Tesla Inc., which is unveiling of a battery-powered semi truck on Nov. 16. Better battery technology will be key to making electric trucks more attractive by lowering operation costs, Renschler said. In addition to higher prices for the systems and recharging challenges, the power packs “are heavy and room-stealing,” reducing carrying capacity, Renschler said. “With city buses, we are just hitting the break-even point compared to conventional solutions,” Renschler said. “Electric distribution trucks are expected to turn positive in 2020-25,” while battery-powered long-haul heavy vehicles will be “late” in turning a profit for their owners. Autonomous Technology VW Truck & Bus’s autonomous-driving technology is focused on closed environments, like snow plows at airports or transport shuttles on set routes in parking lots or factories. VW plans to be ready for commercial production of the models within two years. Engineers are already working with customers to refine technology and gain experience. “The autonomous Scania mining truck standing outside of this building is ready to be shipped to the first customer overseas after this event,” Renschler said. “This truck is not a vision. It’s real stuff, here and now.” Success with those models, as well as services including new software to efficiently manage cargo, will determine whether VW will gain traction in creating a global truckmaking powerhouse with an average 9 percent operating return on sales. Renschler said VW is keeping all options open to expand the business, including a possible share sale. Renschler is also looking at increasing the 25 percent stake in China’s Sinotruk Hong Kong Ltd. that MAN holds as well as widening cooperation with GAZ PJSC in Russia and Navistar in the U.S., where Daimler’s Freightliner brand is the market leader.

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / October 13, 2017 Court filings have begun to pile up that may ultimately determine the fate of the trailer-related provision within the federal Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards. On Oct. 12, the Environmental Defense Fund and a coalition of other environmental and public health groups formally requested that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reject what they regard as the “eleventh-hour stay” of the trailer provisions filed as a motion with the court by the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association on the 25th of last month. In its statement of intervenor opposition asking the court to deny TTMA’s motion for stay of the Phase 2 trailer provision, EDF argues in part that “TTMA attempts to artificially divide the tractor from the trailer to claim that TTMA’s members cannot be regulated directly because they are not manufacturers of motor vehicles.” In addition, EDF contends in its brief that “TTMA has likewise failed to demonstrate that its members will be irreparably harmed absent a stay of standards that simply require manufacturers to equip more of their trailers with widely used technologies that deliver fuel savings.” It also argues that TTMA’s motion is “littered with contradictions and belied by its remarkable eleven-month delay in seeking a judicial stay.” The Phase 2 GHG/MPG rules are set to require compliance starting in Jan. 2018, which explains TTMA’s desire to secure a stay of the trailer provision. In addition, TTMA filed a lawsuit back in Dec. 2016 asking the D.C. Circuit to overturn the trailer portion of the Phase 2 rule. EDF and a coalition of public health and environmental groups are also intervenors in that case, along with the California Air Resources Board and a group of seven states (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington). A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit will hear that case. According to EDF, a stay of the trailer rule— if granted-- would “delay these critical health and environmental protections for the duration of the litigation, which could last for years.” HDT contacted TTMA on Oct. 13 for comment on its motion for stay and EDF’s counter filing, but no reply has been received. “The trailer provisions of the [Phase 2] Clean Truck Standards are based on cost-effective and widely available measures that have long been used by industry leaders, and have been effectively incorporated into state standards for the past decade,” said EDF Attorney Alice Henderson in a statement. “It is critical that these common sense protections remain in place to reduce the dangerous pollution that causes climate change and save money for American families by reducing the costs for shipping goods.” Meanwhile, TTMA has also been working the regulatory relief track as well in hopes of rolling back entirely or at least weakening the trailer provision. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the joint promulgators of the GHG rules, advised TTMA on Aug. 17 that they reviewed TTMA’s petitions for reconsideration of the trailer provision and “agree that further rulemaking is needed.” However, neither agency has taken any further action.

Fleet Owner / October 13, 2017 Stoughton Trailers announced it has released its newly designed Platinum Series Grain Trailer. According to the company, the trailers are available in 34-ft., 40-ft. and 42-ft. lengths in eight models to fit a variety of agriculture needs. All Platinum Series grain trailers come standard with a 34º hopper slope for faster and better cleanouts, the company noted. The Platinum Plus 2-stage door, constructed of corrosion resistant materials, decreases the amount of torque needed by the operator to begin emptying the load, the company added. In addition, the liner is now removable, enabling removal to service the trailer components behind the liner panels. To provide greater durability, strength and stability, Platinum Series new front wall is made of composite panels with stainless steel front corners as standard. The top divider rail is now 25% thicker to provide additional strength. Standard on all Platinum Series, aluminum subframe grain trailers have hot dipped galvanized steel supports which connect the subframe to the cross members. In combination with the aluminum subframe, this offers a more durable and corrosion resistant solution. The front upper rail and top shelf have been redesigned to improve strength. The company added that the lights on the upper rear header of the trailer now function as brake lights and turn signals. The work area lights are standard, offering a solution when unloading at night. Each hopper/trap is equipped with 3 mini LED lights, integrated into the lower trap frame to greatly reduce the chance of being damaged. The crank area is equipped with 1 mini LED light. All Platinum Series grain trailers come standard with two rows of 7 mini LED lights on 40- and 42-ft. trailer models. Optional features include: Stainless steel rear panels Electric traps Electric tarps .

Toyota’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck to Run Routes in California Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / October 13, 2017 Toyota Motor North America has announced that its Project Portal Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell truck has completed initial testing and development and will begin regular drayage routes at ports in Southern California starting in late October. Project Portal has already completed more than 4,000 successful miles of testing while pulling drayage-rated cargo and will begin moving goods from select Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach terminals to surrounding rail yards and warehouses for distribution on Oct. 23. Project Portal was originally announced in April of this year as a proof of concept to determine the feasibility of fuel cell technology for heavy-duty trucks in drayage operations. With initial testing complete, the truck will log around 200 miles worth of daily trips from the twin ports. The localized, frequent route patterns are designed to test the drayage duty-cycle capabilities from the fuel cell system while capturing real-world performance data. As the study progresses, Toyota will introduce the truck to longer-haul routes. The initial feasibility study operations will be managed by the TMNA Project Portal team in collaboration with Toyota’s Service Parts Accessories Operations group and its drayage provider, Southern Counties Express. “Toyota has led the way in expanding the understanding and adoption of fuel cell technology,” said Bob Carter, TMNA executive vice president. “From the introduction of the Mirai passenger vehicle to the creation of the heavy-duty fuel cell system in Project Portal, Toyota continues to demonstrate the versatility and scalability of the zero-emission fuel cell powertrain.” Project Portal is a fully functioning heavy-duty truck concept that generates more than 670 horsepower and 1,325 lb.-ft. of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery - a relatively small battery to support Class 8 load operations. The concept’s gross combined weight capacity is 80,000 pounds and its estimated driving range is more than 200 miles per fill, under normal drayage operation.

Testing trucks at Navistar's proving grounds Fleet Owner / October 12, 2017 Navistar brought a slew of its new and “enhanced” truck and tractor models – including the all-new International HV Series in a variety of vocational configurations – to its 675-acre proving grounds in New Carlisle, IN, this week as part of a ride and drive event for journalists. The facility’s three-mile, three-lane oval, and off-road "severe service" durability course gave journalists a chance to get an up-close, hands-on feel for Navistar’s product line, including trucks equipped with its proprietary 12.4-liter A26 engine. Photo gallery - http://fleetowner.com/trucks/testing-trucks-navistars-proving-grounds#slide-0-field_images-228441

U.S. unveils proposal to boost autos content in NAFTA Reuters / October 13, 2017 WASHINGTON -- The United States on Friday unveiled hotly contested proposals for higher regional autos content in the North American Free Trade Agreement, three sources said, casting further doubt on the chances of reaching a deal to modernize the pact. Washington made its move a day after insisting that NAFTA contain a sunset clause that could mean the deal expires in five years. Canada and Mexico, the two other members of the pact, strongly oppose both ideas. A Mexican source with direct knowledge of the talks called the auto content proposal "absurd." Sources familiar with the talks say the mood is bad and question whether the negotiations can be wrapped up by the end of the year as planned. President Donald Trump, who complains that NAFTA has been a disaster for the United States, is threatening to walk away from the deal unless major changes are made. The U.S. side made its auto proposal during the fourth of seven planned rounds of talks on the treaty. Ensuring that autos need more regional content to qualify for NAFTA tariff-free access is one of the Trump administration's key demands. Canada and Mexico say such a move would disrupt the highly integrated continental auto industry. One of the sources said the United States wants to increase the North American content requirement for trucks, autos and large engines to 85 percent from 62.5 percent. Furthermore, Washington insists 50 percent of content must be U.S.-made. Trump administration officials say current content rules are too lax and have allowed auto companies to bring in too many cheap parts from China and other low-wage Asian countries. They are also seeking to halt the migration of vehicle production and manufacturing jobs to Mexico from the United States. Auto industry groups say substantially increasing local content requirements would raise costs, hurt regional competitiveness and cause many companies to forego NAFTA's benefits and simply pay the 2.5 percent U.S. tariff for imported cars and many parts. Trump has made no secret that he prefers bilateral trade deals, and skeptics wonder whether the U.S. demands are part of a strategy designed to ensure the current talks fail. 'Poison pills' The U.S. Chamber of Commerce had listed the U.S. autos demands among a number of "poison pill" proposals that it said would torpedo the talks. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Thursday for talks, and later said Canada would not walk away from the table. Both men said they were committed to a "win-win-win" deal. Canadian officials say it is too soon to write off the talks. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo are due to meet in Washington on Tuesday to take stock of the negotiations. Metals verification Other people briefed on the talks told Reuters that the U.S. autos proposal would require automakers to verify the use of North American steel, aluminum, copper and plastic resins in their vehicles. A spokeswoman for Lighthizer declined to comment. Canadian and Mexican government officials were not immediately available for comment. “The NAFTA's rule of origin for autos is already the highest in any trade agreement in the world but the administration reportedly would like to raise it to 85 percent,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President for International Policy John Murphy said on Friday in a statement. “However, higher requirements for North American content would actually incentivize manufacturers to cease trading under the agreement and instead simply pay the low U.S. most-favored nation tariff (just 2.5 percent).”

The People First Warranty | Volkswagen “Rain” Commercial Volkswagen USA / October 13, 2017 .

Someone makes an intelligent post relating to the subject of the thread (my thread), and you make such a remark. You have the right to post anything you like on any thread, including mine, but I likewise have the right to stop posting the news.....and I will.....if this is going to start up again.

Ford offers repairs to prevent exhaust leaks in 1.4 million Explorers Reuters / October 13, 2017 WASHINGTON -- Ford Motor Co. said on Friday it will offer free repairs to North American owners of more than 1.4 million Explorer SUVs to help ensure that carbon monoxide and other exhaust gases cannot get into the vehicles, following the U.S. government's decision to upgrade an investigation into the issue in July. Several U.S. police agencies have raised concerns about potentially deadly carbon monoxide gas entering the cabins of Ford Explorers that had been adapted for law enforcement uses. Federal regulators have said they are aware of more than 2,700 complaints, three crashes and 41 injuries that may be linked to exposure to carbon monoxide among police and civilian 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. Ford said its investigation has not found "carbon monoxide levels that exceed what people are exposed to every day" in the 1.4 million civilian vehicles. There is no U.S. government standard for in-vehicle carbon monoxide levels. Ford says it believes the vehicles are safe and is making the offer, which it is not classifying as a recall, in response to customer concerns. The automaker said starting November 1, dealers will reprogram the air conditioner, replace the liftgate drain valves and inspect sealing of the rear of the vehicle. The fix covers about 1.3 million U.S. vehicles and about 100,000 in Canada and Mexico. Ford declined to comment on the potential financial impact of the service offer that will last through the end of 2018. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in July upgraded and expanded a probe into 1.33 million Ford Explorer SUVs over reports of exhaust odors in vehicle compartments and exposure to carbon monoxide. Police agencies have reported two crashes that may be linked to carbon monoxide exposure and a third incident involving injuries related to carbon monoxide exposure. NHTSA said it is evaluating preliminary testing that suggests carbon monoxide levels may be elevated in certain driving scenarios. Ford has issued four technical service bulletins related to the exhaust odor issue to address complaints from police fleets and other owners. In July, Ford said it would pay to repair police versions of its Ford Explorer SUVs to correct possible carbon monoxide leaks that may be linked to crashes and injuries after some police reports temporarily halted use of the vehicles over carbon monoxide concerns. The city of Austin, Texas, said in July it would remove all 400 of the city’s Ford Explorer SUVs from use for additional testing and repairs after the city said 20 police officers were found with elevated levels of carbon monoxide. The department returned the vehicles to service after repairs and testing. In 2016, Ford agreed to settle a U.S. class-action lawsuit involving 1 million 2011-2015 Explorer SUVs over exhaust odor complaints, including reimbursements of up to $500 for repairs. The company agreed to make repairs. That settlement was approved in June but has not taken effect because of a pending appeal.

Mystery: Did Audi ship thousands of cars with same VIN? And why? Sven Gustafson, Autoblog / August 24, 2017 Prosecutors investigating Audi's involvement in the Dieselgate scandal have stumbled onto a stranger mystery: Investigators found documents indicating that thousands of vehicles exported to China, Korea and Japan were stamped with identical vehicle identification numbers. The discovery, reported by the German business journal Handelsblatt, was made when investigators searched Audi's audit department for documents related to the Dieselgate scandal during a wide-ranging raid in March. It came after the German Transport Ministry accused the company of cheating on emissions testing for 24,000 Audi A7 and A8 diesels. According to the report, Audi's auditors had the documents about duplicate VINs because they were assessing a "risk of discovery." Audi professed ignorance, with a spokesman saying, "We are not aware of the fact the VIN numbers have been issued more than once." VIN numbers are supposed to be unique to each vehicle, with 17 digits and capital letters that identify that vehicle's DNA — including features such as where a car was built, the model year and engine specifications. They're used to track recalls, ownership histories, registrations and thefts, among other things. Under EU and German laws, VIN numbers are supposed to remain unduplicated for at least 30 years. Investigators told Handelsblatt they were puzzled as to why Audi would produce vehicles under common VIN numbers. Audi, a division of Volkswagen Group, in June issued a recall for around 24,000 A7 and A8 models built between 2009 and 2013. It later said it would update engine software blamed for the emissions cheating scandal on up to 850,000 diesel cars. But the VIN mystery adds a new wrinkle.

Green Car Congress / October 12, 2017 The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $4 million for research projects on medium- and heavy-duty natural gas engine technologies. (DE-FOA-0001813) The objective of the new FOA is to address barriers to adoption of natural gas vehicles through early-stage research on medium- and heavy-duty on-road engine technologies. The programmatic goal is to enable natural gas engines that can cost-effectively achieve diesel-like efficiency while meeting current and future emissions standards [a product already available called Westport HPDI 2.0]. A public workshop on natural gas vehicles was held at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on 25 July 2017 to identify early-stage research needs for natural gas engines. Feedback from industry participants at the workship showed interest in low-TRL-level aspects of natural gas efficiency, as well as lubricant effects and advanced modeling. Both criteria air pollutants and GHG control are of interest for NG vehicles; feedback also suggested that research needs exist for addressing the unique NG challenges of methane conversion for all combustion strategies. The workshop also identified several low- and medium-TRL research topics related to NG fuels and fuel systems which can increase the efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty NG vehicles. The DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) is seeking projects to address barriers to the adoption of natural gas vehicles through early-stage research. Projects competitively selected through this funding opportunity will complement additional early-stage research on medium- and heavy-duty natural gas engine technologies at DOE national laboratories. Specifically, this topic addresses engine efficiency improvements, fuel system enhancements, and emission after-treatment technologies, which are barriers to the adoption of natural gas engine technologies. CNG engine efficiency needs to be closer to that of diesel in order to improve the viability of natural gas fueled medium and heavy-duty trucks. There are significant barriers to achieving these efficiency levels that can be addressed with early-stage, low technology readiness level (TRL) research, including: Fundamental experiments and modeling to understand fuel mixing and combustion for improved engine design. Advanced ignition systems to enable highly-efficient dilute combustion. Fundamental catalysis research for after-treatment solutions to meet emissions standards with advanced combustion technology. Potential technologies include (but are not limited to) combustion strategies, engine subsystems, emission control systems, fuel systems, and controls. A complete engine development project is outside the scope of this effort, but engine subsystem research must have a plausible pathway to higher engine efficiency. Teams are encouraged to include medium- and heavy-duty vehicle or engine manufacturers but it is not required. DOE anticipates making approximately 2-3 awards under this FOA. Individual awards may vary between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 million. The Department’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) funds early-stage, high-risk research to generate knowledge upon which industry can develop and deploy innovative transportation energy technologies that improve efficiency, lower costs for families and businesses, and increase the use of secure, domestic energy sources.