Volvo Group has signed definitive agreements to acquire 60% of Designwerk Technologies AG, an engineering company in Winterthur, Switzerland which develops and sells electromobility products and engineering services.

Bearing specialist, SKF Group of Gothenburg to reduce its use of fossil fuels, is to test a self-driving electric truck together with Stockholm-based technology company, Einride AB, on a public road between the factory and the warehouse in Gothenburg. Einride which builds complete vehicles was the first company in the world to operate an electric self-driving truck on public roads for commercial purposes in 2018.

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), based in Brussels, has agreed a set of new labels for electric vehicles and charging stations for certifying compliance with the EU Directive on the deployment of alternative fuels and infrastructure (2014/94/EU). The new labels will start to be used throughout Europe as of March 20 this year.

Dana has acquired Detroit-based Pi Innovo, a specialist in embedded software solutions and electronic control units to support the light vehicle, commercial vehicle and off-highway markets.

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles LLC (Arboc), a mobility accessible midi-bus builder and subsidiary of NFI Group Inc based in Middlebury, Indiana, USA has launched a battery-electric low-floor bus called the Equess CHARGE.

Highland Electric Transportation (Highland) of Hamilton, Massachusetts, a provider of turnkey electric fleet solutions has been awarded a contract by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Board of Education (Maryland) to change its entire school bus fleet to electric, starting with 326 school buses over the next four years.

Electric truck developer, Tevva Motors Ltd of Chelmsford, UK has successfully raised USD12.5m (GBP9m) in capital finance in a funding round that it states was over-subscribed.

Specialist vehicle design and manufacturing group, Woodall Nicholson Holdings Ltd (WNHL) of Bolton, UK, which builds light- and medium-duty commercial vehicles under various brand names (which include Mellor Bus, Trekka Bus and VCS, see below) has added a fourth division to its group portfolio.

Daimler Truck AG of Stuttgart says it has conducted winter testing of near-series prototypes of battery-electric heavy-duty Mercedes-Benz-branded trucks.

The electric bus partnership between Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) of Larbert, UK (body) and BYD (CO) UK Ltd of Iver, UK (e-chassis) has expanded its city bus offering with the introduction of a shorter version of the BYD ADL Enviro400EV double decker.

Kiel transport operator, KVG Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH in Germany has ordered 20 more Citea SLF-120 Electric buses from VDL Bus & Coach NV of Eindhoven, Netherlands in addition to the 47 articulated electric buses it has already acquired.

Electric van and bus manufacturing start up, Arrival Ltd of London, UK, is to begin trials of its first zero emission bus with First Bus in UK cities from this Autumn.