Scania Opens Sales and Service Company in Japan

IHS Global Insight Daily Analysis
Scania has established a sales and service subsidiary in Japan. The Swedish truck-maker said in a press release that the new subsidiary, Scania Japan, will focus on increasing sales in niche segments such as heavy trucks in Japan. "In the short term, our greatest potential lies in sales of special vehicles, such as tractor units for heavy road transport. Domestic manufacturers produce only a limited range of such vehicles. Through own organization, with its extensive knowledge of Scania's modular product system, we can offer special vehicles tailored for the Japanese market", said Sol Bong Chai, managing director, Scania Japan. The Swedish truck-maker also said that it will limit its co-operation with Japanese truck-maker Hino Motors to a customer-supplier relationship.

Volvo Global Sales Continues Steady Climb

Diesel Progress Magazine
Wherever you look, May was a pretty good month for Volvo Trucks. The company announced its truck deliveries for the month and sales were up significantly in all of the company’s major markets. In total, Volvo delivered 10,228 vehicles in May, up from 5888 in 2010. For the year, deliveries were up 80 percent, from 24,995 in the first five months of 2010 to 44,993 for the same period in 2011.

JCB on a “Fastrac” With AGCO Sisu Power Engines

Diesel Progress Magazine
JCB has announced that its entire Fastrac tractor range will be powered with AGCO Sisu Power Stage 3b/ Tier 4 interim engines. The announcement coincides with the launch of Fastrac 8280 and 8310 tractors at the U.K. Cereals 2011 show.

The 8280 Fastrac is powered by an 8.4 L AGCO Sisu Power engine rated 279 hp with 881 ft. lb. of torque. The 8280 replaces the 8250 model. The new Fastrac 8310 is equipped with an 8.4 L Sisu Power diesel rated 306 hp with 966 ft.lb. of torque.

India-EU FTA to Pose Tough Competition for US Companies

MoneyControl
Negotiations for the proposed free trade pact between India and the European Union are at a fairly advanced stage. That could well pose more challenges for companies from the United States, say CNBC-TV18 Anshu Sharma and Rituparna Bhuyan.

The once India's largest trade partner, the US, will now have to compete with others in the Indian market, they report. "If you are going to have a legislation that allows people to ship cars into India and sell them easier, it is just not right, says Karl Slym, President and MD, GM India. “If you don't have a fair playing field for others who have invested and employed locals, then I don't think that's right for India's progress," he reacts to the proposed EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Mexico Sees Increase in Vehicle and Parts Manufacturing

Close-Up Media, Inc.
Marca Pais announced that manufacturing in Mexico continues to grow in 2011 with both new and existing companies expanding operations across various sectors, most notably numbers in auto production and vehicle exports.

According to a release, in May, more than 213,000 cars were manufactured in the country -- 19.4 percent more than in the same period in 2010, representing the highest record, according to Eduardo Solis, president of the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA). In the same month, exports rose 21.3 percent. May capped a five-month growth period for the first part of 2011, increasing 17.1 percent over 2010 figures and 16.4 percent over 2008 rates. In addition, Mexico, as the ninth-biggest vehicle producer in the world, produced a record 2.261 million vehicles in 2010, up 50 percent from 2009, according to AMIA.