Alliance Ventures, the strategic venture capital arm of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi consortium, has made an investment in PowerShare, an electric vehicle (EV) charging platform start-up company based in China.

Trailer and bodybuilder, Cartwright Group, has invested in a fully programmable robotic welder to drive up productivity and efficiency at its South Manchester production facility.

Alfdex AB, a 50/50 joint venture, between Swedish companies, Alfa Laval AB and Concentric AB, is to expand its manufacturing unit in China during the first half of 2019 in response to demand driven by China's initiative to improve their air quality, called the 'Blue Sky' action plan.

Pailton Engineering, the steering system manufacturer, has invested in a low volume production cell specifically for small batch orders and pre-production sample manufacturing.

Meritor Inc has developed its Aftermarket product training programme for dealers, distributors, fleets and service garages to include live, instructor-led, interactive distance training.

Schmitz Cargobull AG has announced major further investment of some EUR100m in its Vreden factory, which is the company’s centre of expertise for box van and refrigerated semi-trailers and bodies; this capital expenditure was authorised by the group’s Supervisory Board last September.

Mahle GmbH of Stuttgart has inaugurated a new research and development centre in Valencia. Eventually it is to house around 250 employees working to develop new products and solutions for sustainable mobility, based on vehicle electronics.

Continental AG has officially inaugurated its materials research laboratory, called 'Taraxagum Lab Anklam'.

The Mercedes-Benz Car division of Daimler AG has committed itself to an electric future.

Schmitz Cargobull AG says investments during 2017/18 year ending March 2018 and on-going into 2018/19 on technology and capacity expansion at its plant in Panevezys (where it builds a range of refrigerated and dry box van structures for trucks and trailers) will see daily output levels triple from April 2019.

Austrian trailer manufacturer, Schwarzmüller Group, has opened a new branch outlet in Germany by acquiring a service and repair location in Eltmann.

Stoneridge Inc has announced it is to invest in a fund managed by Autotech Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on ground transportation technology, located in Menlo Park.