At the beginning of the year, Daimler Buses launched two new public transport bus models on the Indonesian market, these were based on the chassis models of Mercedes-Benz OF 1623 RF and O500RS 1836, which the company says offer passengers improved levels of safety and comfort.

UD Trucks, based in Ageo, Saitama prefecture (a Volvo Group subsidiary), in January launched the updated Quester – its heavy-duty truck range designed for developing markets with tough road conditions in mind.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, a Daimler company, has relocated its corporate headquarters to the newly constructed Product Centre on the site of its main production facility in Kawasaki City.

Scania AB inaugurated a new THB800m (USD26m) assembly plant in Thailand in February, as it looks to expand its presence in the region’s truck and bus market.

The South Korean government is actively promoting the use of hydrogen as a new source of economic and manufacturing growth for the country.

Hino Motors Ltd, a Toyota Group Company, plans to invest JPY11.5bn (USD105m) in a new integrated research and development centre and production hub in Thailand, with construction set to begin in July 2019.

Volvo Bus Corporation has delivered the first 12m fully autonomous electric buses to Nanyang Technological University in Singapore where it it is to enter an R&D programme for autonomous electric buses.

January saw the start of pre-production assembly of Hino’s XL-Series Class7/8 trucks in the USA on a brand new production line installed in a new plant in Mineral Wells.

Sweden's Scania has supplied a 16-litre engine to support a new Australian trial of renewable diesel fuel. The fuel will be made from waste plastic, old vehicle tyres, agricultural and forestry waste, as well as bio-solids. The trial is aimed at achieving commercial scale production.

EV battery developer, SK Innovation plans to invest around USD859m in battery technology and production in Hungary.

From the second quarter 2019, Mobility Networks Group is to supply Japan's Hato Bus Company with lifts for a selection of its tourist coaches – notably those designated for inbound tourists.

The first coach based on a MAN Euro VI emissions compliant chassis has entered service in Australia and is being used to take winter sports enthusiasts to the skiing areas in New South Wales by travel services provider, Cooma Coaches.