Vancouver, British Columbia-based First Hydrogen Corp has announced that its green hydrogen van will begin demonstrator testing in June 2022. First Hydrogen has partnered with Ballard Power Systems Inc of Vancouver, Canada, and the UK subsidiary of AVL List GmbH, AVL Powertrain UK Ltd of Hartlebury, to provide the drive components for the vehicle. The two demonstrator vans have been sourced from MAN SE, based in Munich, Germany, and are currently at AVL’s UK headquarters.

School bus builder Blue Bird Corp, based in Macon, Georgia, has made two appointments to its executive team, for the roles of Electrification and Chief Strategy Officer, and Vice President Global Supply Chain Management.

In a review of its home market, Ravia Automotive Co. (Ravia)1 of Tehran provides an insight into the CV markets in Iran and highlights the potential scale of the opportunity for foreign OEMs on resumption of commercial vehicles sales in Iran in the coming years.

Air Liquide SAS, based in Paris, has received support from the French State, subject to a final validation by the European Commission, to launch its Normand’Hy large scale renewable hydrogen project. The electrolyser will have an initial 200MW capacity and will provide renewable hydrogen to the TotalEnergies Normandy refinery.

The plant, producing Class 6-8 vehicles and their powertrains, is the company's new benchmark facility for its manufacturing network, with innovations in digital work processing and in sustainability.

Speaking to Truck and Bus Builder, Stephen (Paddy) Dyson, Marketing Manager at HMG Paints Ltd, based in Manchester, UK, discussed the benefits of operating a family-run coatings business that manufactures locally in the UK.

SAF-Holland has acquired truck and trailer parts supplier IMS Ltd from Dutch firm IMS Group, with the view of expanding its market share in Britain and Ireland. 

Knorr-Bremse AG, based in Munich, Germany, has announced it is to acquire the stake of Robert Bosch GmbH of Stuttgart in its European and Japanese commercial vehicle business.

Stuttgart-based Daimler Truck AG has announced its Mercedes-Benz Trucks brand will be launching the third generation of its OM 471 heavy-duty commercial vehicle engine. The new engine is now available to order and will be ready to deliver from October 2022.

Wave has announced the acquisition of a new 12,000 square-foot facility next to its headquarters which will enable the company to expand manufacturing capacity of its induction charging products.

The market for trailers and semi-trailers in Italy grew by 32.3% in 2021, from 11,414 units the year before to 15,097 units, according to ANFIA.

Sales increased by 10.4% in 2021, from 3,145 units to 3,471, but they remain well short of 2019 sales of 4,211 units (a 17.6% decrease from 2019 to 2021), according to ANFIA.