A project researching an aerodynamically optimised articulated tractor-trailer combination initiated by Dutch international food producer, Vion NV of Boxtel, The Netherlands, started trials on German roads in mid-March with expectations of reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 8%.

Spanish bus and coach bodybuilder, Industrial Carrocera Arbuciense SA of Arbucies, Gerona, has entered a new partnership agreement with Iveco Bus of Turin, Italy for the manufacture of a new range of low entry urban minibus to be marketed under the name Daily Access.

Linamar Corporation of Livonia, Michigan has entered the evaluation phase for its first Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle delivery vans with UPS in California. They are part of a technology contract with the Centre for Transportation and the Environment which is managing the Next Generation Fuel Cell Delivery Van Deployment Project for the California Air Resources Board.

Quantron AG of Augsburg, Germany, a producer of electric commercial vehicles recently announced two weeks of successful trials of its Q-Econic electric refuse truck with the city of Ulm waste disposal company, EBU.

Caio Induscar Indústria e Comércio de Carrocerias Ltda of Botucatu, in partnership with Mercedes-Benz do Brasil Ltda of São Bernardo do Campo have developed a new model of city minibus for the Chilean market.

DAF Caminhões Brasil Ltda has started production of its latest version of the CF tractor range at its plant in Ponta Grossa, Paraná State, Brazil for both the on- and off-highway markets, as well as a CF rigid truck model, marking its entry into the rigid truck distribution segment in Brazil for the first time.

DAF Caminhões Brasil has launched a new off-road tractor unit in its new CF range, the chassis has been fully reinforced to handle severe off-road applications such as sugarcane and timber operations and offering gross train weights of up to 125 tons.

BYD and Marcopolo in March announced delivery of the first articulated electric bus to be made in Brazil to the city of São José dos Campos. The vehicle is to be used for city public transport as part of the Linha Verde project.

Iveco Bus Argentina together with its distribution network, Ivecam S.A., has delivered 80 Eurobus buses to the Ministry of National Security of Buenos Aires.

Ambev, the largest drinks manufacturer in Brazil, as part of its strategy to reduce its carbon footprint significantly says it plans to convert 102 of its diesel trucks used in city distribution operations to electric drive.

Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus has announced that four of its extra heavy-duty VW Constellation truck models are to be fitted with the new 12-speed V-Tronic ZF Traxon transmission for sale in export markets from April this year.

Volvo Trucks Corporation says the time is right for a rapid upswing in electrification of heavy road transport vehicles. This outlook is based on the ability of Volvo’s electric trucks to meet a broad variety of transport needs.