Volvo AB - Sweden-based auto and truck maker is planning to cut the weight of the cab and chassis in trucks within ten years.
The company aims to reduce the weight by 20 percent which will lead to reduction in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
TROY, Mich. -- ArvinMeritor Inc. today announced that it has reached agreements to divest its entire ownership stakes in two joint ventures in its light vehicle Chassis business. Together, these transactions will result in the divestiture of 45 percent of the Chassis Systems business (as measured by 2008 sales).
The company entered into a binding letter of intent to sell its 57 percent stake in Meritor Suspension Systems Company ("MSSC"), a joint venture that manufactures and sells automotive coil springs, torsion bars and stabilizer bars in North America, to its joint venture partner, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., LTD (MSM). The transaction is expected to close in the coming months, after receiving necessary regulatory clearances.
The Federal Reserve’s June 10 report noted trucking remained weak along with the rest of nation’s economy this spring, especially in the Southeast.
Reports from the 12 Federal Reserve District Banks indicated economic conditions remained weak or deteriorated mid-April through May. Still, five districts noticed signs of moderating, while its contacts in several districts said their expectations have improved, although they do not see a substantial increase in economic activity before 2010.
Yoshiki “Steve” Sekiguchi has been named president & CEO of Denso International America (DIAM), the Japanese company’s North American arm. He replaces Haruya “Harry” Maruyama, who will return to Japan to head the Global Sales and Business Development, Toyota Sales, and Chubu Sales departments, as well as the Hiroshima Branch Office.
As president & CEO of DIAM, Sekiguchi also will serve as chair of the Board of Directors for the North American Denso Group and remains a managing officer of Denso Corp.
Over-the-highway trucks and buses with 2007 engine technology ran nearly 90 percent cleaner than required by federal emission standards for diesel particulate matter, the key pollutant targeted that year, a recent study has found.
The study, partly funded by the Department of Energy and prepared by the nonprofit Coordinating Research Council, Alpharetta, Ga., also found that other pollutants were cut much more sharply, in some cases 99 percent cleaner than previous engine systems.
Although there is still one month to go in the second quarter of 2009, U.S. trailer orders have already exceeded the total for the previous six months, according to ACT Research.
While that improvement might be an indication trailer demand has begun to rebound from historically low levels in Q4 08 and Q1 09, “we can’t be sure we’ve entered a recovery until we see data for the next quarter,” Gayatri Deshpande, ACT research analyst, told Fleet Owner.