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International Trucks Press Release / August 25, 2020 Today, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc took delivery of its 5,000th International Trucks LT Series on-highway tractor complete with a custom commemorative decal to mark the longstanding collaboration between our two companies. In the words of Navistar President and CEO Persio Lisboa, "We value J.B. Hunt's business and look forward to many more years of working together." .

Motley Fool / August 25, 2020 Shares of trucking company YRC Worldwide plunged a staggering 16.2% to $4.06 in 11 a.m. EDT trading this morning on negative news from an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus. In today's report, Stifel resumed coverage of YRC with a "neutral" rating and a price target of $5. As the analyst reports, YRC has succeeded in securing a "much-needed loan" of $700 million from the U.S. government, which will give the company "financial breathing room" that allows it to purchase new equipment and to refinance its debts "for years." With this loan in hand, says Stifel, YRC can now "continue operations into 2021." But what happens after that? YRC, after all, is a money-losing company that was losing money even before the COVID-19 pandemic tipped the economy into recession. Indeed, YRC lost money in two years out of the last five and avoided unprofitability by the skin of its teeth in one more year (2015). Its debt load -- $1.2 billion -- dwarfs the company's $220 million market cap. With the addition of $700 million in new loans from the government, it now probably owes closer to $2 billion. In short, even if Stifel is right about YRC surviving "into 2021," the question of whether it can survive any longer than that remains highly uncertain.

Fifty percent more energy density would cross the line and make electric trucks unarguably viable.

Tesla's Musk hints of battery capacity jump ahead of event Reuters / August 25, 2020 SEOUL -- Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he plans to produce longer-life batteries with 50 percent more energy density in three to four years. "400 Wh/kg *with* high cycle life, produced in volume (not just a lab) is not far. Probably 3 to 4 years," said Musk on Monday. Researchers have said the energy density of Panasonic's 2170 batteries used in Tesla's Model 3 is around 260 watt-hour per kilogram, meaning a 50 percent jump from the current energy density which is key to achieving a longer driving range. Tesla may be using "silicon nanowire anode" top achieve longer-life batteries, a breakthrough technology which can potentially increase both battery energy density and battery life sharply. Panasonic plans to boost the energy density of the original 2170 battery cells it supplies to Tesla by 20 percent in five years. Tesla is also working with China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL) to introduce a new low-cost, long-life battery in its Model 3 sedan in China later this year or early next year, with the batteries designed to last for a million miles of use.

Paul, you might be interested to watch the WW2 videos by Mark Felton. They really are quite good. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCKvREB11-fxyotS1ONgww/videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XX9ptCNpik

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Ram battles Ford Raptor with 702-hp TRX pickup Vince Bond Jr.. Automotive News / August 24, 2020 Ram's off-road prowess has merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' street racing chops. The result is the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, a 702-hp pickup that'll zip from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, a new standard for truck performance. The bulky powerhouse is loaded with a premium interior and technology. It comes with the supercharged, 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 that powers Dodge's Hellcat line. After Ford took a shot at Jeep with the Bronco in July, Ram responded by leapfrogging the high-performance F-150 Raptor last week. The TRX, which tops out at 118 mph, is slated to go into production early in the fourth quarter and is expected to arrive in dealerships by the end of the year. The TRX — a play on "T. rex" — will mark the arrival of the newest predator in the pickup world. Ram's North America head, Mike Koval Jr., said the battle will hark back to the prehistoric era by declaring that the TRX "destroys" Raptors. Now it appears the truck sector won't have to wait long to see Ford bite back with the F-150 Raptor, a bruising pickup in its own right that achieves 450 hp in its current form. Ford's pickup was spotted recently during testing with the supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 engine that powers the Mustang Shelby GT500. It reportedly gets 725 to 750 hp, according to spy photography company Spiedbilde. A Ford source told Spiedbilde: "Honestly, we had to counter Ram once we knew they installed the Hellcat in the TRX." Analyst Karl Brauer wasn't surprised to see that Ford already has a response in the cards. "You can't keep a secret in this industry, and I think there's been rumors for a while that Ram was going to unleash something along the lines of a Raptor," Brauer told Automotive News. "I think Ford, wisely, started prepping for such a contingency with their own Raptor efforts and studying the options to crank things up a bit in the Raptor if and when necessary." History repeats Building a wildly quick pickup is nothing new for Chrysler. The performance rush in the pickup segment reminds Brauer of the 1970s, when the muscle car era neared its end because of emissions rules, but trucks had lighter requirements. He said trucks "could continue to be more performance-oriented well into the mid-'70s, when the cars were not allowed to." He pointed to Dodge, which delivered the Lil' Red Express truck during that period. "It was quicker than the Corvette at the time, and it was quicker than the Pontiac Firebird," Brauer said. "It was a 360-cubic-inch V-8 engine with a four-barrel carburetor, but you couldn't put it in, with that kind of horsepower and emissions, a car at that point. [But] you could put it in a truck." In the early 2000s, Chrysler pushed the envelope again with the Dodge Ram SRT-10, a pickup outfitted with a Viper engine that debuted for the 2004 model year. The automaker called the SRT-10 the "Viper of pickup trucks" and earned a Guinness World Records entry for "world's fastest production pickup truck." Koval said the Ram SRT-10, with its 500-hp Viper-sourced V-10 engine that delivered 154 mph, was "absolute batshit crazy." "So you can see," Koval said, "we're no strangers to extreme performance trucks." Koval said FCA has taken everything its truck brand has learned about performance and off-road capability and married that to the knowledge that its SRT crew has gathered through the years about "going fast and breaking records." Koval said TRX buyers will be people who value fun, adventure and off-road excursions. The model will help the brand compete in a diverse pickup space in which the vehicles have numerous roles, including work, family haulers, luxury cruisers and enthusiast trucks, with the TRX falling into that final category. FCA reengineered and fortified the frame for the TRX, which is 75 percent different from the 1500. The TRX, FCA said, is "8 inches wider when compared to the rest of the Ram 1500 lineup." The speedy hauler has a ground clearance of 11.8 inches, FCA said, "due in part to a 2-inch ride height increase when compared with the rest of the 1500 lineup, along with 35-inch tires." FCA said the combination enables the pickup to clear surface obstacles easily and at high speeds. The TRX has five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Tow, Snow and Custom. There is no rotary shifter, as FCA opted for a console-mounted automatic shifter, which is "really core at the heart of performance for this truck," said Ryan Nagode, who heads the Ram interior studios and interior systems. Halo effect Koval expects the average TRX customer to be 50 years old, possibly already owning a high-performance vehicle. This owner would lean toward the TRX in most cases when it's time to head out because of the pickup's utility. Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, doesn't see the TRX doing major volume. It'll be used to draw people into dealerships and bring attention to Ram's other trucks. Fiorani says the TRX likely won't be produced for long. He believes FCA will keep it rare. "This is about creating a product that's a halo for the Ram brand," Nagode said. "It's built upon our award-winning Ram 1500 lineup, which I think brings confidence to what we've applied." .

Ford pays German supplier Mitec $11.8 million to end legal dispute Automotive News Europe / August 24, 2020 Ford Motor Co. has paid a former supplier, Mitec $11.8 million (10 million euros) to settle a 13-year dispute over a canceled contract. Ford refused to comment on the payment when contacted by Automotive News Europe, saying the terms of the settlement were “confidential.” Mitec supplied Ford with a component for the Mazda6 sedan, which Ford built in the U.S. in a joint venture with the Japanese automaker in Flat Rock, Michigan. Mitec sued Ford after the automaker terminated the contract in 2007. Ford rejected the part because of quality issues but the supplier then discovered the same part being built for Ford by the supplier Linamar in Mexico. The supplier accuses Ford of having passed on technical information with the aim of being able to purchase the parts more cheaply from Mexico. Mitec’s former owner, Michael Militzer, said the settlement was too little and too late. The legal dispute with Ford had “cost Mitec its existence,” he says. Ford’s action caused Mitec to file for insolvency [bankruptcy] at the end of 2018. “Ford is only paying 10 million euros, although the damage is certainly 80 million to 100 million euros,” Militzer says. The insolvency administrator “was clearly only interested in getting at least a little money as quickly as possible,” Militzer said. The Mitec component at issue is a mass balancing system used to attenuate engine noise and vibration. Mitec is a world leader in balancing systems, supplying Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, Mazda and other companies. Detroit-based supplier American Axle & Manufacturing has taken over parts of the company and about 250 jobs have been saved, according to the local branch of the IG Metall union.

Ford gearing up for F-150 plant overhauls Keith Naughton, Bloomberg / August 24, 2020 DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is gearing up for an intricate, two-phase overhaul of factories for its most profitable vehicle, putting to the test a pledge by incoming CEO Jim Farley for flawless execution. Ford will temporarily shut a factory in Michigan next month to install machinery for the redesigned F-150 pickup going on sale next year. The automaker also is constructing a new facility adjacent to its Dearborn, Michigan, truck plant to build an electric version of the F-150. Prototype production is expected to start next year, said the people, who asked not to be identified revealing internal plans. Ford also will idle and overhaul its Missouri pickup factory in October to prepare for the redesigned truck after closing its Dearborn plant for two weeks of retooling starting Sept. 7. The complex and costly changeover of the two factories will trim output of Ford’s biggest cash cow by about 100,000 vehicles this fall. The critical launch is under heightened scrutiny after Ford botched the rollout of its redesigned Explorer SUV at its plant in Chicago last year. The debut of the new F-150 will be the first big test for Farley, 58, who is set to take the wheel from retiring CEO Jim Hackett on Oct. 1. The company has said the F-150 factory changeover will contribute to its first full-year loss in more than a decade. “We have good inventory of the current model F-150 and we’re building at a higher-than-normal rate to ensure our stocks remain high to continue to meet customer demand,” Ford said in an emailed statement. Ford sold almost 900,000 F-Series pickups in the U.S. last year, generating about $42 billion in revenue. That’s more than the revenue at McDonald’s, Nike, Coca-Cola and Starbucks. Analysts say the F-Series generates most of Ford’s profit. “It’s the crown jewel of the business,” Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s product-development chief, said in a June interview. “Tremendous volume, a tremendous profit pool, two assembly plants with a huge economic impact in those communities where those employees are working and living. So there’s no product more important for us.” That’s why Ford is being so deliberate about the rollout of the new truck. While the factory in Dearborn is down for retooling, the plant near Kansas City, Missouri, will continue to build the current model to minimize lost production. The Dearborn plant -- commonly known as the Rouge, where Henry Ford once built the Model A -- will begin building the new truck the week of Sept. 21, the people said. A gasoline-electric hybrid F-150 will roll down the assembly line alongside traditional internal-combustion engine versions. Meanwhile, the new operation that will produce the all-electric F-150 is under construction alongside the Dearborn factory. It will employ 300 new workers, the people said, and may begin production as early as next spring. Ford has said the electric F-150 will go on sale in 2022. It will take on Tesla Inc.’s futuristic Cybertruck, which is scheduled to start production in late 2021.

Barron's / August 24, 2020 The U.S. has seen a significant decline in the number of daily new Covid-19 infections. A total of 34,567 new cases were reported across the country on Sunday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. That’s the lowest daily count since June 22, and the seven-day rolling average of daily cases has dropped to the lowest level since early July. Medical experts say that the continued drop is not due to a recent drop in testing volume, because hospitalizations and the percentage of positive tests has also dropped. They attribute the decline to the introduction of mask mandates and reimposing restrictions on bars, restaurants, and gyms.

Landing in Perth......fighting a crosswind. .

At that time Bob, M-B was having serious problems. There was a mountain of disagreement within on the Chrysler ownership.

I think Freightliner dealers losing the Sprinter is a mistake, equal to the loss of the 4500/5500 Sterling "Bullet" line-up (These Sterling trucks should have been pulled under the Freightliner brand).

Automotive News / August 21, 2020 Mercedes-Benz is dropping the Freightliner Sprinter van in the U.S. at the end of the 2021 model year, with output ending at a South Carolina plant in September 2021. Sales are expected to end by Dec. 31, 2021, the company told Freightliner dealers this week. Mercedes has sold the Sprinter van, redesigned in 2018, through two channels, Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz dealers, and will continue to build and market Mercedes versions. The company cited multiple factors for the decision to drop the Freightliner van, introduced in the U.S. in 2001, including current and future economic conditions as well as the COVID-19 outbreak. Mercedes-Benz is also reviewing its global product lineup to reduce costs and complexity. "The high homologation costs for a single-market, low-volume product as the U.S.-only Freightliner Sprinter brand were central to this decision," Robert Veit, vice president and managing director of Daimler Vans, told dealers in a letter this week. "We will be working in close communication with the Freightliner Sprinter Dealer Board as we roll out the necessary actions to discontinue the distribution of Freightliner Sprinter." U.S. sales of the Sprinter rose 7.4 percent to 32,000 last year, and 19 percent to 14,582 in the first half of 2020. A Mercedes-Benz spokeswoman said the Mercedes model accounts for the bulk of deliveries. There are 36 Freightliner Sprinter dealers in the U.S. .

I would have liked to save the Land Rover.

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/56138-dana-takes-top-stake-in-heavy-duty-hybrid-systems-designer-hyliion/?tab=comments#comment-418129 https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/52669-hyliion-offers-week-long-tests-of-its-hybrid-tractors/?tab=comments#comment-393240 https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/56228-driving-hybrid-electric-fully-electric-trucks-in-atlanta/?tab=comments#comment-418513 https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/51438-electric-axle-for-trucks-saves-up-to-15-in-fuel/?tab=comments#comment-407630

The stock market is at a very dynamic moment, due to the global pandemic. The March/April low was a once in a decade event. I invite all members with an interest in the market to join in discussion.

No worries......we aim to please. Nice truck !

The cab hydraulic lift cylinder is atop the right front fender, under the muffler. Flip the lever direction and pump.

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/61205-ihc-payhauler/

UPS Moves Down Electric Truck Path with New eCascadia Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / August 20, 2020 UPS is not one to shy away from emerging technology, especially when it comes to lowering its carbon footprint. Recently, the package delivery and supply chain management provider dipped its toes a little deeper into the electric truck market with the acquisition of a Freightliner eCascadia battery-electric Class 8 truck. “UPS remains very committed to electrifying its fleet, and this vehicle is the first battery-electric heavy-duty class 8 truck to be deployed for testing within the UPS global fleet,” said Scott Phillippi, senior director of maintenance and engineering, international operations, at UPS. With roughly 1,000 electric or hybrid-electric vehicles already in operation in cities around the world, UPS expects to continue to proactively “lead the charge” on electrification of medium-duty vehicles over the next five years, Phillippi told HDT. The long-term lease of the eCascadia, which will be working out of the company’s Anaheim, California, location, was part of a collaborative effort between UPS, Daimler Trucks North America, Freightliner, and Penske, with the support of California's South Coast Air Quality Management District. The testing will provide real-world experience of the use of heavy-duty battery-electric trucks for UPS. “We’ll be measuring the range as well as evaluating the vehicle’s reliability, design and integration into our fleet over the next year,” said Phillippi. Anaheim was chosen because of the convenience for charging, since it is located close to a Penske depot with electric charging capabilities. Also, there are currently more electric charging stations in California than any other state. Phillippi and his team have a number of questions they would like answered by the testing, including: What exactly is the range? How reliable is it? Does the design work for us or what would need to be modified? How does this vehicle integrate into our fleet? UPS has tested a number of different alternative fuels and drivetrains in its fleet, including three Toyota and Kenworth jointly developed fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck, which was announced last April. The carrier also plans to test the Tesla Semi, according to Phillippi. “We’re hoping to begin getting these semis at the end of next year.” UPS preordered 125 of the Tesla electric Class 8 trucks in December 2017. .

FOMC* Backs Away From September Guidance Shift MarketWatch / August 20, 2020 U.S. central bankers backed off in July from an earlier readiness to set a clearer bar for raising interest rates, a step that would underscore their commitment to an extended period of ultra-loose monetary policy. “With regard to the outlook for monetary policy beyond this meeting, a number of participants noted that providing greater clarity regarding the likely path of the target range for the federal funds rate would be appropriate at some point,” according to minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee’s July 28-29 meeting released on Wednesday. That was a subtle change from the previous set of minutes indicating policy makers were keen to sharpen their so-called forward guidance “at upcoming meetings.” Last month’s debate included a discussion about committing to holding rates near zero until specific thresholds for inflation, or unemployment, or both, had been reached. The FOMC next gathers on Sept. 15-16. * The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) consists of 12 members--the 7 members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and 4 of the remaining eleven Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.