April 28, 2011

Resources

‘BharatBenz Will Pioneer Shift to New Generation Trucks’

MyDigitalFC.com via FleetOwner.com
Germany’s Daimler, the world’s leading truck maker, recently announced its plans to make commercial vehicles in India under a new brand name, BharatBenz.

Marc Llistosella, MD and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, speaks to G Balachander about the country-specific branding and market potential for premium trucks. Excerpts:

Kamaz-Vostok Increase in Orders Causes Move to Larger Facilities

Just-Auto
According to Pavel Stanishevsky, Director General of OOO KAMAZ-Vostok, the number of orders is constantly growing, so the company will move to the plant named after A.M. Gorky in the near future. The area is now being prepared for production organization: the workers are cleaning the territory, preparing lighting and airing; they have removed two beam cranes from dead storage and prepared them for work.

To date, the manufacturing facilities of the joint venture are meant for annual production of 200-250 units. But according to the business project of the enterprise, it is planned to expand the production space to 1,500 square meters, to increase the number of employees more than three times, and to work in two shifts. New models of vehicles are being developed.

CNH Global to Build Additional Farm Machinery Plant in Argentina

Dow Jones News Service
CNH Global N.V. (CNH) plans to build a factory in Argentina to assemble farm tractors and harvesting combines, as the company moves to shore up its farm machinery business in South America.

The plant in Cordoba, Argentina, will produce specialty tractors and large combines, machinery that CNH isn't currently assembling in South America. CNH, an Illinois-based component of Italy's Fiat Industrial Group, said its investment in the plant will top $100 million, roughly a quarter of company's capital expenditure budget for 2011. The 255,000-square-foot plant, which will be company's first plant in Argentina, will employ about 600 people. Production of Case IH and New Holland-branded farm machinery in Cordoba is expected to begin in the fourth quarter.

Mahindra & Mahindra to Set Up Additional Plants in African Countries

The Economic Times
MUMBAI: The world's largest tractor maker Mahindra & Mahindra plans to set up assembly plants in Tunisia, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Zambia, boosting its manufacturing prowess to ramp up presence in the fast-growing African economy.

The auto major, which already has satellite plants in Gambia, Tchad, Mali, Ghana & Nigeria for farm equipment, will use its facilities to assemble three-wheelers, light commercial vehicles and utility vehicle Bolero to drive volumes in an economy marked by rising disposable incomes.

Volvo Trucks India to Resume Exports to South Asian Countries

The Hindu Business Line
Volvo Trucks India will resume exports to South Asian countries from this year, though it has completely stopped exports to South Korea because of new emission norms.

Exports to South Korea were stopped because of Euro 5 norms prevalent in the country, while India requires only Euro 3 or Euro 4 norms. But with India now being a hub for South East Asia, it will supply trucks to neighboring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Navistar Names Troy Clarke President of Asia-Pacific Operations

SHANGHAI –Former GM Executive to Lead Company’s Efforts in China as Company Pursues Joint Venture with Chinese Truck Maker JAC.

At a media event at the 14th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2011), Navistar, Inc. today named Troy Clarke to head the company’s Asia Pacific Operations.

East European Trailer Market Rebounds with 20+ Percent Growth in 2011

FleetOwner.com
A new report suggests that the recovery in the East European trailer market is underway, with 28.1 percent growth in heavy trailer demand in 2010 alone. The same report, prepared by the consulting firm Clear, is predicting 2011 growth to exceed 20 percent.

In spite of that growth, though, four countries – Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, and Russia – all saw declines.

Axles India to Sell CV Business to JV Partner Dana

The Economic Times
CHENNAI: Axles India (AIL), a part of the TVS Group, has decided to sell a portion of its auto components business to the US joint venture partner, Dana Holding Corporation.

The US auto parts major is acquiring the commercial vehicle component product portfolio of Axles India for $13 million. Started in 1983, Axles India constitutes of Wheels India, Sundaram Finance Group and Dana Holding Corporation.

Volvo Earnings Call: CEO Johansson Discusses Volvo AB Q1 ‘11 Global Results

SeekingAlpha.com
Executives Leif Johansson – President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Mikael Bratt – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Olof Persson – President, Volvo Construction Equipment Göran Gummeson – President, Volvo Penta Staffan Zackrisson – President, Volvo Aero Martin Weissburg – President, Volvo Financial Services Analysts Fredric Stahl – UBS Nico Dil – JP Morgan Yann Benhamou – Exane BNP Paribas Stephanie Renegar – JPMorgan Jose Asumendi – RBS

Volvo AB (VOLVY.PK) Q1 2011 Earnings Call April 27, 2011 9:00 am ET

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