The compact design of the 14Xe has allowed for a shorter wheelbase, something which Thomas Built Buses says was “highly requested” by customers.

Set to be launched in 2027, the system integrates the Cummins B-Series engine with Allison's eGen Flex electric hybrid propulsion technology, meeting the EPA's Phase 3 greenhouse gas emissions standards.

The new truck with the Cummins-derived engine is believed to be the first of global engine partnership between Daimler and Cummins for medium duty engines at Euro VI and beyond.

James Taylor has taken over as General Manager (GM), Christy Roadknight is now the Deputy GM, and Genoveva Alba has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

The ‘StreetDeck Ultroliner’, which was originally launched in 2014, will now be offered with a Cummins ‘B6.7’ engine, replacing the six-cylinder Daimler ‘OM936’ which was used before.

Allison claims the 60,000 square-foot facility is the only one of its kind in the Midwest allowing Cummins to thoroughly test engine performance, durability and emissions across a range of conditions.

With the Eclipse CANought project, the partners hope to advance the development of software-defined vehicles by making it easier for commercial vehicles to receive updates over the air.

While the spotlight was on its combustion technology at its stand at IAA Transportation 2024 – held between 17-22 September in Hanover, Germany – American powertrain manufacturer Cummins Inc also had a lot to say about its alternative offerings, now grouped under the name of ‘Accelera’. Informally, the Accelera brand covers all “the electric stuff”, while the legacy engine components, together with the non-electric axle, braking, and suspension products acquired from Meritor, retain the Cummins name. However, Cummins envisages that, eventually, the “electric stuff” will become the core of its business.

Cummins used the IAA to launch the next-generation heavy-duty on-highway diesel X10 engine.

In July, American powertrain manufacturer, Cummins Inc, opened a new test facility at its engine plant in Darlington in the northeast of England, with the attendance of T&BB and other members of the trade press. The company has carried out engine testing at Darlington for many years, but the new facility represents a definitive change in approach to product development and evaluation. While the older test cells are solely designed to assess engines, the new facility can accommodate an entire truck or bus for whole vehicle testing. Moreover, the building which houses the new facility is specifically made to safely test gas and hydrogen combustion vehicles.

The companies have successfully completed field tests of the new Cummins X15N 15-litre natural gas engine in combination with Allison’s 4000 Series fully automatic transmission. The results showed significant improvements in fuel efficiency, engine braking, and power during shifting, making the combination ideal for heavy-duty operations.

The two companies began their engine collaboration in 2019 when they signed the 'Isuzu Cummins Powertrain Partnership'.