Bridgestone Corporation, based in Tokyo, Japan, has launched a joint programme to develop chemical recycling technologies that utilise used tyres to achieve high-yield production of isoprene, a raw material used in synthetic rubber production.

Weeks after opening its new silicon wafer fabrication facility in Dresden, Robert Bosch GmbH, based in Stuttgart, has announced it is to invest EUR400 million in its silicon chip manufacturing facilities throughout 2022. The investment will expand its wafer fabrication sites in Dresden and Reutlingen, Germany, and its semiconductor operations in Penang, Malaysia.

Ford Motor Co, based in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, SK On Co Ltd, based in Seoul, South Korea, and Koç Holding, based in Istanbul, Turkey, have signed a memorandum of understanding for a new joint venture in Turkey. The proposed JV would lead to the creation of one of the largest commercial vehicle electric battery facilities in the European region.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation, based in Kawasaki City, Japan, has unveiled the next generation eCanter test vehicle. Prior to the official launch, the test vehicles are destined to undergo a total test distance of over 1 million km, which includes testing in severe hot and cold climates both domestically and abroad.

A report co-authored by the Electric Vehicle Council and the Australian Trucking Association recommends a series of measures to help Australian truck manufacturing to catch up with the rest of the world in the transition to electric vehicles, including changes to Australian Design Rules and federal- and state-level incentives.

Sales of commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw fell by almost 15% to 84,410 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 98,836 units a year earlier, based on data released the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). 

Sales of commercial vehicles over 2-tons gross vehicle weight (GVW) in East Asia’s seven main markets, excluding China, continued to decline in the fourth quarter of 2021, by almost 3% to 368,495 units after falling by 10% to 378,493 units in the third quarter, according to data compiled by www.AsiaMotorBusiness.com from numerous industry sources. 

Vietnam’s commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw resumed its recovery in the fourth quarter of 2021, with sales rising by 9% to 23,144 units from a reasonably strong 21,201 units in the same period of the previous year, according to AsiaMotorBusiness.com analysis of data from the Vietnam Automotive Manufacturers Association (VAMA). 

Sales of pickup trucks surged by 32% to 9,855 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 7,487 units in the same period of the previous year, resulting in a 29% rise in full-year sales to 25,325 units from 19,697 units in 2020. 

The Thai commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw declined by a further by 12% to 113,953 in the fourth quarter of 2021 from an already weak 129,470 units in the same period of the previous year, according to data and some estimates from industry sources compiled by www.AsiaMotorBusiness.com. 

Sales of pickup trucks, excluding passenger vehicle derivatives, declined by over 14% to 100,846 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 117,481 units a year earlier, resulting in full-year sales falling by 6.5% to 341,343 units from 364,883 units in 2020. The performance of segment was affected by sluggish domestic economic activity, which was affected by covid outbreaks particularly in the second half of the year.

Sales of domestic light commercial vehicles between 2-5 tons gvw dropped by 15% to 41,415 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 48,711 units a year earlier, with deliveries affected by supply-chain shortages. Full-year sales were down by 3.7% at 187,487 units from 194,791 units in 2020.