When one talks about autonomous vehicles, it is all too easy to slip into science-fiction reveries of driverless vehicles everywhere, transporting people and goods without requiring any human input. However, that is a vision of the future which is not shared by Nick Elder of American tech firm Torc Robotics.

The Busscar brand of coach bodies resumed production in 2019 under the name Carbuss - Indústria Cartarinense de Carrocerias Ltda - a subsidiary of bus body builder Caio Induscar of Botucatu, in the state of São Paulo.

The new Volksbus range already consists of seven models - one more for minibus production is now being added.

Together with sponsor Caltrans, Nikola’s “Hyla” brand will build six stations across three air quality management districts which cover Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Mojave Desert.

Later this year, the vehicles will be deployed at the Kramer City Terminal; the following year, they will begin operating on the Maasvlakte Container Exchange Route as well.

Putzmeister, a subsidiary of Sany Group since January 2012, last year became the official importer and distributor of Sany electric trucks in Europe.

Testing has been on-going since the start of the year with plans for a commercial launch later this year - the brand already has a commercial electric truck, called the eDelivery.

The O 500 RSD 2448 478hp 6x2 and O 500 RS 1945 448hp 4x2 chassis conform to Euro V emissions standard, which is the prevailing standard or better in most Latin America countries outside of Brazil.

The low cabin of the ‘Volta Zero’ will be supported by an independent front suspension from ZF which can support a vehicle width of up to 2,600mm and an axle load of 8,200 kg.

Designed with significantly higher ground clearance and a suspension suited for off-road journeys, the Bus Rural, which is compact is size measuring 8.78m long and 2.50m wide, is mounted on the 15-210 Iveco chassis.

Included in the new options is air or pneumatic suspension and a choice of manual and automated transmissions with some of the rear engine versions.

The project, known as ‘Mach2’, aims to integrate Level 4 autonomous Renault minibuses, without onboard supervision, into the city’s public transport network, which is operated by Keolis.