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Ford plans sweeping dealer closures in Europe to accelerate rebound Nick Gibbs, Automotive News / November 12, 2020 Ford's plan to shrink its European retail network to help the unit return to profit in the region will result in deep cuts to its dealers, particularly in the U.K. Ford of Europe President Stuart Rowley declined to say how many dealers will be slashed. “It will be appropriate for the market,” he told Automotive News Europe. Up to 180 of the 400 dealers in the U.K., Ford's biggest market in Europe, are at risk of closure. Cutting the number of dealers will improve profitability at Ford, Rowley said. “There is obviously a lot of cost wrapped up in the distribution network and that ends up in the price of the vehicle or coming out of profit,” he said. “We want to make the network more efficient.” He also believes the reduction will help Ford’s retailers. “Our dealers are private investors who expect a return on that capital,” Rowley said. The overhaul of Ford’s European distribution network will include an accelerated shift toward online sales in reaction to changes in consumer demand. “The retail world is changing,” Rowley said. “We think over time we will have fewer [dealer] owners and fewer physical sites.” The roll out of Ford's online sales system in Europe will coincide with the launch of the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover, which arrives later this year. “All of us now expect to transact much more online,” Rowley said. “Customers want to be able to order their vehicle online. They want to pay for it online. They want a single interface.” Ford said that 90 percent of the U.K. population would still be able to reach one of its dealerships by car in 30 minutes after the reduction. Ford is looking to switch some dealerships to service-only centers as part of the European network overhaul, Rowley said. The automaker is also looking to focus more on dealers that specialize in selling the brand’s successful family of Transit commercial vehicles with an emphasis on servicing. “This is effectively somebody's business and livelihood. So our objective is to have them on the road faster,” Rowley said. The new Transit centers wouldn’t have to follow the location strategy as car dealers. “They don't necessarily need to be a nice glass box in that certain part of town,” Rowley said. “They may need more space because they might want to have a much more complex product offer.”

General Motors copied their sliding van door design from Volkswagen. I know the dealer who provided GM engineers with a VW bus.

If the cab was proportional in size to the hood, it would look better. And with a proper cab, the driver would sit higher, for better visibility over that hood. I wish the hood wasn't so bulbous.

Allison Ends TC10 Transmission Production Jim Park, Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / March 11, 2020 Allison Transmission has ceased all new production of the TC10 Series transmission. Allison says it will continue to offer a TC10 Series ReTran product to service units requiring transmission replacement. "Although we have decided to discontinue new unit production of the TC10, the promise to our distributors and customers remains the same," said Claire Gregory, Allison Transmission's director of communications and media relations. "Throughout our more than 100 years of business, we have introduced and sunset products, yet we continue to provide world-class customer support. The TC10 was introduced in 2011 and brought to market in 2012 as an alternative to competitive automated manual transmissions. It offered continuous torque to the drive wheels even during upshifts through a torque converter and twin countershaft gear box by alternating torque flow along the counter- and main-driveshafts. It was billed as fully automatic, offering smooth, seamless shifting through 10 gear ranges for optimized acceleration and fuel economy. The TC10 was targeted at distribution applications where tractor-trailers splits work cycles between city and highway conditions. Allison added its FuelSense fuel-efficiency package in 2014, an update that automatically adapted shift schedules and torque to maximize transmission efficiency based on load, grade and duty cycle. It was upgraded it in 2017 to FuelSense 2.0, introducing DynActive Shifting. Meanwhile, Allison recently unveiled the 3414 Regional Haul Series (RHS) transmission – an up-rated version of the established 3000 Series. It has a dual personality of sorts, with shift schedules suited to mixed duty cycles for fleets that cover city routes on one shift and turn to regional use during a second shift. On top of that, Allison has said it plans to release a 9-speed transmission in 2022 for the medium duty market. "As you look to 2024 and 2027, emissions standards are getting stricter, even for medium duty trucks," said Branden Harbin, Allison's manager of global marketing. "The OEMs are asking for help meeting those standards, and the new transmission will do that." Harbin wasn't willing to share too much more about the transmission, so we'll have to wait and see what additional tricks Allison has up its sleeve. .

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles / March 8, 2020 It's March 8, 1950, the first Type 2 (aka. Transporter, Bulli) rolls off the assembly line and a cult model is born... Today, we celebrate 70 years of the Transporter production! And we break records: our van is the longest built commercial vehicle in the world. Seventy years ago, the world's bestseller took to the road - to date, the first model has been followed by more than 13 million others in six generations. Companies trust it and families drive safely through everyday life. What was new at the time, is now indispensable. We say: Happy Birthday, "Bulli bus"! .

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / March 10, 2020 Kenworth introduced a new, factory-installed twin steer configuration for its T880 with set-back front axles, suited for crane, mixer and other vocational applications that require 86-inch axle spacing to meet local bridge laws and enhance overall load carrying capacity. The Kenworth T880 Twin Steer provides 40,000-pound-rated front axles, springs and steering gears. The front suspension is equalized between the front and rear steer axles for improved driver comfort and payload distribution. Both the Paccar MX-13 engine, rated up to 510 hp and 1,850 lb-ft of torque, and the Paccar MX-11 engine with up to 430 hp and 1,650 lb-ft of torque, are available with this new configuration. The T880 Twin Steer comes standard with a 116.7-inch-BBC short hood optimized for the Paccar MX engine family. The 122.6-inch standard BBC hood is an option for the Paccar MX-13 and the optional Cummins X15 engine. The new package also includes aluminum fenders over the second axle and step-between axles for cab access. Battery box choices include parallel between right-hand steer axles with up to three batteries, in-cab, or any back-of-cab option. A back-of-cab vertical DPF/SCR exhaust system is required with the Paccar MX-13 and Paccar MX-11. .

International Announces Lightweight Spec for HV Series Transport Topics / March 10, 2020 International Truck, a unit of Navistar Inc., announced a new lightweight spec for its HV50B mixer package that removes 1,000 pounds from the vehicle, and is intended to allow drivers to haul up to 9.75 cubic yards of concrete while staying under 66,000 gross vehicle weight rating. Customers currently only able to legally carry 9 cubic yards of concrete will be able to increase their revenue by $750 per truck, per day, according to the Lisle,Ill.-based company. The spec also includes an improved line of sight for the driver. The spec also features an all-aluminum, lighter bumper used on its HX series and optimized front-suspension components — allowing for a lower hood height, which leads to increased visibility. The fuel water separator and air dryer also were mounted on the same bracket, saving the weight of multiple brackets and getting out of the way for concrete mixer hydraulics. “A major concrete producer was excited about our HV series but had some constructive feedback regarding the chassis weight and line of sight for their application,” Mark Stasell, Navistar’s vice president of vocational truck business, said in a release. “As with all customer feedback, we took that challenge to heart and wanted to respond to these suggestions. We put together a small, passionate team and got creative from a design standpoint.”

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / March 10, 2020 International Truck’s new lightweight HV50B mixer package removes over 1,000 pounds of weight from the vehicle, with engineering optimizations that allow drivers to haul up to 9.75 cubic yards of concrete while staying under 66,000 pounds GVW. These changes allow customers to increase their revenue by $750 per truck, per day, as well as increase safety with an improved line of sight for the driver. The new spec was designed to focus on the customer, an idea that stemmed from a conversation between International and a potential customer. “A major concrete producer was excited about our HV series but had some constructive feedback regarding the chassis weight and line of sight for their application,” said Mark Stasell, vice president, vocational truck business at Navistar. “We took that challenge to heart and wanted to respond to these suggestions. We put together a small, passionate team and got creative from a design standpoint.” The new configuration features an all-aluminum, lighter bumper that is used on the International HX series. The front suspension components have also been optimized, allowing for a lower hood height and increased visibility for the driver. The fuel water separator and air dryer were also mounted on the same bracket, saving the weight of multiple brackets and getting out of the way for concrete mixer hydraulics. The design team also optimized crossmember locations, further reducing the weight of the chassis and leading to reduce costs for the customer, as truck equipment manufacturers do not need to relocate crossmembers. “With this spec, we were able to reduce the weight of our vehicle without compromising any job site performance,” said Stasell. “Reduced vehicle weight means heavier loads per trip and per truck, which directly improves our customers’ bottom lines.” .

Volvo Updates VHD Vocational Truck Line Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / March 10, 2020 Volvo has updated its Class 8 VHD Vocational Series trucks with what it calls a “fresh, modern look.” And, in keeping with the company’s longstanding commitment to safety, it has also added new safety and uptime solutions with vocational fleets in mind. “The new Volvo VHD looks every bit as capable as it is, designed to bring new energy into the vocational market,” said John Felder, product marketing manager, Volvo Trucks North America. “Everything we’ve done to improve the model to make it more versatile and reliable also extends the life of the vehicle and increases driver productivity, safety and comfort. Drivers will love this truck because it makes hard work easy. It’s the perfect example of tougher made smarter.” According to Volvo, the VHD provides a number of notable upgrades, including: An updated exterior gives a modern look that reflects the other models in the Volvo Trucks family. The VHD has a new grille design, as well as new LED high/low beam headlights. The fully sealed headlamp component offers a brighter, more focused beam for increased visibility. An available de-icing feature burns through ice and snow that accumulates on headlamps in colder weather. Groundbreaking safety and productivity features for the vocational industry include Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS) and the next generation of Volvo Active Driver Assist (VADA). The VDS system delivers a safer, more comfortable driver experience by adding torque to reduce steering strain at low speeds and remove vibrations caused by rough terrain. Also, now available in the VHD, the next-generation VADA provides integrated radar/camera capabilities, automatic emergency braking, highway departure warnings, adaptive cruise control and more. A new, more robust VHD bumper features a heavy-duty 45 mm tow pin rated for a full 80,000 pounds. Responding to customer requests, the rugged tow pin allows for a quick pull out of sticky situations thereby increasing uptime and drivers’ peace of mind. A state-of-the-art interior offers improved driver comfort and productivity. For example, the truck’s ignition has been moved to the lower left-hand side of the dash, while the steering wheel buttons are more touch-friendly and clustered intuitively to help drivers feel more confident. Volvo I-Shift transmission with crawler gears adds one or two gears to the 12-speed Volvo I-Shift transmission, enabling the VHD to start on steep grades, provide low-speed control, and reach maximum highway speeds with faster rear axle ratios. Volvo T-Ride suspension delivers the best ride under the most demanding conditions by applying constant pressure on the wheels to create sure-footed traction. The Volvo T-ride suspension also offers a new ride stiffness option for mixers and trucks with wing plows. The latest in connectivity solutions such as Remote Programming and Remote Diagnostics allow customers to use real data insights to make the right decisions for increased safety and truck productivity. “For years, the Volvo VHD has been one of the most capable and versatile trucks on the jobsite. We listened to our customers, and are proud to showcase the newly updated VHD with the same class-leading features and technological innovations our customers expect from a Volvo truck with relevant and important updates that benefit the functional needs of vocational applications,” said Felder. “At Volvo Trucks, we continue to improve our product offerings and we have done so for an already tough vocational truck model. Now, this smarter and more innovative VHD for the vocational market raises the bar on what it takes to be an all-around great work truck.”

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Saudi Arabia is escalating its oil price war with Russia today by pledging to supply a record 12.3 million barrels a day next month, an amount 25 percent higher than last month when it produced 9.7 million barrels a day.

Kevin Jones, Trailer-Body Builder / March 9, 2020 https://www.trailer-bodybuilders.com/equipment-parts/media-gallery/21125689/the-work-truck-show-2020-gallery-truck-bodies-and-equipment/slideshow

ALL the companies in the oil sector were on sale today, including Exxon at $40. Quality companies with excellent dividends are all bargain priced, including APA, SHLX, HESM, ET and KMI.

China as a manufacturing base is larger than ever. However, due to rising labor cost for one thing, most production is for domestic consumption, as they push you to produce there as the price for selling there. Much export production has relocated over the last decade.

Remember, China never begged big business to come to China. Rather, big business intentionally off shored to enhance profitability. Just as big business, with Clinton and politicians in their pockets, arranged for NAFTA.......allowing big business to produce more cheaply in Mexico and them bring it all in tariff free. And as an added bonus, we taught China how to produce high tech product, and now they self-developing forward ahead of us.

No, that's not it at all. A rare opportunity to give payback fell at Putin's feet and he plans to use it, even if it means dissolving his OPEC relationship. Russia only needs $40 -$44 (depending on who's saying) to break even on oil. The U.S. Permian shale patch requires $60 (the Saudi's around $50). He refused OPEC's request to cut production even further, as from his perspective it would only bail out US oil that is heading for bankruptcy (the mighty Chesapeake Energy fell to just 12 cents today). Putin's thinking, why should I help the country's economy that is killing my country's economy with sanctions? Rather, let's let them feel some pain, like we've been feeling.

No. Nord Stream 2, Venezuela and a few more.

The market decline, now, has more to do with the oil price war and well placed recession concerns.

It has hit the fan ! An event of massive proportions that will effect us all. Oil futures: https://www.bloomberg.com/energy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oil Drops 31% in Worst Loss Since Gulf War as Price Fight Erupts Bloomberg / March 8, 2020 Oil markets tumbled more than 30% after the disintegration of the OPEC+ alliance triggered an all-out price-war between Saudi Arabia and Russia that is likely to have sweeping political and economic consequences. Brent futures suffered the second-largest drop on record in the opening seconds of trading in Asia, behind only the plunge during the Gulf War in 1991. As the global oil benchmark plummeted to as low as $31.02 a barrel, Goldman Sachs Group warned prices could drop to near $20 a barrel. The cataclysmic collapse will resonate through the energy industry, from giants like Exxon Mobil to smaller shale drillers in West Texas. It will hit the budgets of oil-dependent nations from Angola to Kazakhstan and could also reshape global politics, eroding the influence of countries like Saudi Arabia. “It’s unbelievable, the market was overwhelmed by a wave of selling at the open,” said one energy consult. “OPEC+ has clearly surprised the market by engaging in a price war to gain market share.” Hammered by a collapse in demand due to the coronavirus, the oil market is sinking deeper into chaos on the prospect of a supply free-for-all. Saudi Arabia slashed its official prices by the most in at least 20 years over the weekend and signaled to buyers it would ramp up output -- an unambiguous declaration of intent to flood the market with crude. Russia said its companies were free to pump as much as they could. Aramco’s unprecedented pricing move came just hours after the talks between OPEC and its allies ended in dramatic failure. The breakup of the alliance effectively ends the cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Russia that has underpinned oil prices since 2016. The state-owned Saudi producer has privately told some market participants it plans to raise output well above 10 million barrels a day next month and could even reach a record 12 million barrels a day. Oil prices have suffered massive drops each time that Saudi Arabia has launched a price war to drive competitors out of the market. West Texas Intermediate fell 66% from late 1985 to March 1986 when the country pumped at will amid a resurgence of U.S. oil output. Brent crude briefly dropped below $10 a barrel when the kingdom had a showdown with Venezuela in the late 1990s. With oil demand already plummeting due to the economic impact of the coronavirus, traders forecast that prices will drop even further. “The oil market is now faced with two highly uncertain bearish shocks with the clear outcome of a sharp price sell-off,” said Goldman Sachs. Brent for May settlement tumbled as much as $14.25 a barrel to $31.02 on the London-based ICE Futures Europe Exchange, the biggest intra-day loss since the U.S.-led bombing of Iraq in January 1991. It pared some of those losses to trade 22% lower at $35.39 a barrel as of 8:04 a.m. in Singapore. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude plunged 22% to $32.22 a barrel after sliding as much as 27% to $30 a barrel just after the open. Trading was frozen for the first few minutes because of the scale of the loss. While the price crash was dramatic, for oil specialists the movements in time-spreads, options and volatility are just as remarkable. Brent’s three-month price structure widened sharply as oil for prompt delivery collapsed against later shipments. It moved deeper into contango, a sign of bearishness and oversupply, making it profitable for physical traders to buy crude and put it in storage, either in onshore tank farms or at sea on tankers. The plunge in oil also ricocheted across financial markets. U.S. equity futures plunged, along with oil currencies including the Norwegian krone and Mexican peso, while havens such as the Japanese yen and gold jumped. Shares of Australian oil producers fell over 20% in early Sydney trading. The prospect of another price war is spooking traders who will remember the crash that began in 2014, when an explosion in U.S. shale production prompted OPEC to open the spigots in an attempt to suppress prices and curtail shale output. That strategy ended in failure, with shale producers proving too resilient and Brent crude tumbling below $30 a barrel in 2016 amid a global glut. It was that crash that prompted OPEC to partner with Russia and others to curtail output and help shore up their oil-dependent economies.