UD Trucks Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volvo Group since 2007), has joined forces with Japanese logistics firm, Nippon Express, and Hokkaido-based agriculture cooperative, Hokuren, to bring autonomous driving technology to farm equipment.

Volvo Group Venture Capital AB has invested an undisclosed sum in Next Gear Ventures of Tel Aviv, Israel – a venture capital fund sourcing start-ups for interaction with global transport industry companies.

Automotive Axles Ltd has opened a new USD36.5m axle assembly facility along with a new state-of-the-art research and development centre in Mysore.

With revenues forecast to reach EUR11.6m in 2019, this will represent growth of some 7.4% over EUR10.8m registered in 2018 at bus and coach premium quality windscreen specialist, Finn Lamex Safety Glass Oy.

Commercial vehicle manufacturer, VE Commercial Vehicles Limited - the commercial vehicle manufacturing joint venture and subsidiary of Sweden’s Volvo AB and Eicher Motors Ltd of Gurugram - has revealed a new range of BS VI Eicher Pro 2000 series light-duty trucks comprising the Eicher Pro 2049 and Eicher Pro 2095XP.

Gainsborough-based emissions reduction specialist, Eminox Ltd has officially opened a new Retrofit Service & Support Centre and dedicated Aftermarket Distribution Hub in Stoke-on-Trent.

Scania do Brasil Ltda has announced it is to invest a further BRA1.4bn (USD350m) in upgrading its plant in São Bernardo do Campo over the next three years from 2021 to 2024.

Samauto is planning to produce some 10,000 buses in 2019, which would be more than double the 4,000 units built in 2018, suggested Serkan Öztürk, export specialist for Samauto at Busworld Central Asia in Almaty, held at the end of June.

Daimler Trucks of Stuttgart has formed a new division called the Autonomous Technology Group as a global organization for automated driving.

Olectra-BYD has announced it plans to open a second plant in North India by 2021 to meet growing demand.

Blue Bird Corporation has inaugurated a new 60,000 sq ft paint shop facility at its Fort Valley assembly plant. Blue Bird states the investment will provide best-in-class paint coverage, minimise waste and improve production efficiency in school bus manufacture.

The government of Moscow city and PJSC KAMAZ have signed an agreement whereby Kamaz will set up an assembly plant in the city for building more than 500 electric buses annually.