During 2020, Russia registered a total of 97,882 light-duty commercial vehicles with gross vehicle weight of up to 5t, which was 6.1% fewer than the 104,224 units registered in 2019, according to statistical data provided by Avtostat Info.

While the European market is growing at a phenomenal rate – the European electric bus market is forecast to grow from 2,114 units registered in 2020 to more than 12,760 units in 2030 - the market in Asia really accounts for the lion share of the electric city bus market, stated Rueben Scriven - Senior Analyst at Interact Analysis, during an on-line presentation at the Sustainability Bus conference last month.

Rigorous test track and test rig trials of Daimler Trucks’ first new enhanced hydrogen fuel cell-powered tractor unit prototype, the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck began in late April, the Stuttgart-based company has announced.

Alexander Dennis Ltd of Larbert, UK has delivered a new, fully accessible Plaxton Panther coach to Norfolk-based Sanders Coaches Ltd.

As previously announced (T&BB March 2021), Volvo Group of Gothenburg, Sweden and Daimler Truck AG of Stuttgart, Germany have now created a new joint venture company designed to accelerate the use of hydrogen-based fuel cells for long-haul trucks and beyond.

The total number of alternative drivelines in city buses in Western Europe (+Poland) totalled 7,747 units accounting for 58.9% of total city bus registrations in 2020 of 13,140 units, according to market analysis by Wim Chatrou of Chatrou CME Solutions of The Netherlands.

Motor Coach Industries of Des Moines, part of the NFI Group, has unveiled its first two battery-electric zero-emission coaches for the North American market within weeks of each other.

Alstom has confirmed rumours that it plans to make a divestment of its electric bus unit, Alstom Aptis, which are made at its facility in Hangenbeiten, France.

Iveco Ltd of Basildon, UK has added new variants to its relaunched Drive Away bodybuilder programme for Daily diesel-powered LCVs.

Electric van and bus manufacturing start up, Arrival Ltd of London, UK, on 24 March 2021 completed its previously announced merger with CIIG Merger Corporation of New York, NY, USA to become a publicly listed company trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market with its ordinary shares and warrants listed under the new ticker symbols ‘ARVL’ and ‘ARVLW’, respectively.

Hino Motors Ltd of Hino-shi and ‘electric skateboard chassis builder,’ REE Automotive (REE*) of Tel Aviv, Israel, have signed a strategic business alliance agreement to realise their shared vision of “providing new value to society through next-generation commercial mobility.”

Jost-Werke AG of Neu-Isenburg, Germany, a manufacturer and supplier of coupling components for trucks and trailers has been bought by investment fund management company, sold Edbro Ltd of Bolton, UK to Enact and its fund manager, Endless LLP of Leeds, UK for an undisclosed sum.