Thursday May 28 2009

Resources

HDMA’s 2009 ‘Global Commercial Vehicle Report’ is Available on CD

The 2009 HDMA “Global Commercial Vehicle Report” details trending and data points on the NAFTA and Global heavy duty commercial vehicle industry and provides up-to-date information that will help effectively plan marketing campaigns, determine new product research and development and to make sound market evaluations.

Visteon Files for Bankruptcy in U.S.; European Assets Safe

Visteon Corp., a major supplier to the European auto industry, said on Thursday it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for its U.S. operations.

No Visteon subsidiaries or joint ventures outside the United States are part of the filing, the company said.

Last year, Europe account for 41 percent of Visteon's $9.1 billion in total sales of original equipment to the auto industry. It ranks in the top 20 on the Automotive News Europe list of the top 100 global suppliers.

TATA Motors Stock Soars with Optimism Over $2bn Re-Finance

Tata Motors will soon gain some wiggle room. But the squeeze is far from over, although you wouldn't know it from looking at the stock.

Expecting Tata to successfully refinance a near $2 billion loan before its June 2 deadline, investors have driven the shares up 130 percent in the past three months.

Late last week, Tata raised $840 million to repay part of the loan. The company is close to an agreement to roll over the remaining $1.05 billion.

China: Merger of 3 Firms in Shandong to Build Heavy Trucks and Engines

Three state-owned companies in Shandong - two diesel engine manufacturers and a maker of earth-moving equipment - said yesterday they planned to merge to form a giant vehicle, engine and parts maker to be called Shandong Heavy Machinery Group.

The deal was announced yesterday by Weichai Power, a Hong Kong and Shenzhen-listed firm that is 14.92 percent owned by Weichai Holdings; Weichai Heavy Machinery, a Shenzhen-listed firm 30.6 percent owned by Weichai Holdings; and Shantui Construction Machinery, a Shenzhen-listed firm 21.1 percent owned by Shandong Construction Machinery.

Volvo Group Posts 63 Percent Truck Sales Decline for April

Following the lead of North American truck OEMs, Volvo Truck Group reported worldwide April sales of just 9,196 vehicles-- a 63 percent decline over April 2008

Following the lead of North American truck OEMs, Volvo Truck Group reported worldwide April sales of just 9,196 vehicles-- a 63 percent decline over April 2008.

PAACE Automechanika Mexico: No Travel Restrictions to Mexico

Responding to concern regarding the influenza A (H1N1) virus, PAACE Automechanika Mexico is committed to providing regular updates on the situation and taking the appropriate measures onsite as recommended by the Mexican Government and Health Department.

Given the recent stabilization of the situation in Mexico, positive medical reports and the reopening of businesses and schools in Mexico, we have no doubt that we will have a very successful event this year: Wednesday, July 15, through Friday, July 17, at the Centro Banamex, Mexico City.

The Economist Intelligence Unit: Mexico Economy: Deeper Plunge

Mexico’s economy is likely to sink further and faster than had been expected, given the shocking contraction of 8.2 percent in the first quarter of the year. The shrinkage came prior to the outbreak of the H1NI virus and its consequent damage to the economy. As a result, it is clear that Mexico’s economy will be hit even harder in the subsequent quarters, and this is prompting downward revisions to GDP growth forecasts across the board.

Dana Names Eaton’s James Sweetnam as New CEO

Dana has today announced that James E. Sweetnam, 56, has been named president and chief executive officer, replacing John Devine as CEO.

Sweetnam joins Dana after more than 11 years at Eaton Corporation, where he most recently served as president of the company's global Truck Group.

In conjunction with the appointment of Sweetnam as president and CEO, Dana announced that John Devine, who most recently served as chairman and CEO, will continue as executive chairman moving forward.

Euro April 2009 Truck Sales Drop 68 Percent in Eastern Europe and Spain

European heavy-truck sales dropped at an accelerating rate in April 2009, led by Spain, Italy and eastern European countries, as the worldwide recession reduced demand from freight transporters and construction companies.

Sales in Eastern European countries dropped 68 percent to 1,595 trucks as Poland's market, the largest in that region, shrank by 68 percent, reports Bloomberg/LETA.

Tata Motors Launches Full Line of World Trucks

For the first time ever, Tata Motors showed off its much awaited World Truck range to eyes outside the company. Touted as a product that will change the way the world trucks, Tata Motors has been developing these for a while now - we've all bared witness to test mules plying roads over the past years - and the result as you can see, is awesome!

Their original plan was to conceptualize a commercial vehicle that they could sell the world over and by extension improve the quality of the industry back home as well. What followed was a rigorous process of observing, calculating, developing and designing a truly world class product. What really makes Tata's recent range of trucks truly world class though is that the effort behind the design and development has gone through from around the globe. The look and feel of the trucks is courtesy Stile Bertone - one of the most famous Italian design houses known to the automotive world.

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