Ford Motor Company of Detroit, Michigan, USA and SK Innovation Inc, of Seoul, South Korea, part of SK Energy, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a joint venture company – to be called BlueOvalSK – to manufacture battery cells in the USA.

Mercedes-Benz, through MFTB Taiwan, launched a touring coach for the Taiwanese market built on the OC500 RF Euro VI-compliant chassis in April this year, fitted with the 12-litre Mercedes-Benz OM 470 diesel engine.

UD Trucks announced in April it had entered into a multi-year digital transformation and hybrid cloud contract with Indian information technology (IT) group, HCL Technologies to further accelerate its digital transformation. 

In March, Tatung signed a contract to supply electric drive systems to local commercial vehicle manufacturer, Tangeng Advanced Vehicles.

Mitsubishi Fuso has made some important improvements to its Canter light-duty truck for compliance with Japanese regulations to be introduced in September 2021.

The Iskandar Regional Development Authority of Malaysia in March said its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project would likely cost MYR2.5bn (USD600m) and is expected to become operational in 2023.

Mitsubishi Fuso has launched a new model version of its heavy-duty Super Great truck, equipped for the first time with Emergency Stop Assist, which detects anomalies in steering wheel activity.

The Dutro Z EV, a next-generation ultra-low-floor, front-wheel drive light-duty electric truck with a walk-through van-style configuration designed to be both user-friendly and emissions-free, will be introduced in Japan in early summer 2022.

In April, Toyota and Aeon agreed to expand further their collaboration to develop systems that would help improve the efficiency of Japan’s logistics industry.

Toyota plans to establish a new joint venture in China with Beijing SinoHytec Company, called Toyota Sinohytec Fuel Cell Company, to manufacture hydrogen fuel cell systems to power electric vehicles.

Mitsubishi Fuso has launched an upgraded medium/heavy-duty Fighter truck with an advanced safety package, which puts it in full compliance with new safety regulations in Japan due to be introduced in September.

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