Over the next five years, the German manufacturer will invest approximately EUR100m to prepare the Nuremberg facility for mass production of over 100,000 battery packs per year, starting with small-scale production in mid-2023.

The German manufacturer tested a prototype city bus fitted with an autonomous driving system which allows the vehicle to independently manoeuvre itself into place at a designated stop.

Jean Chereau S.A.S of Ducey, France, has announced a partnership with Sono Motors GmbH of Munich with the intention of developing a test vehicle to study the integration of a new solar solution into a high-volume production refrigerated trailer. The test vehicle will form part of the firm’s demonstration fleet and will be on show at the 2022 IAA event.

The Neu-Ulm plant belonging to Stuttgart-based Daimler Truck AG has started series production of the Setra brand’s Next-gen ComfortClass and TopClass 500 interurban and coach models.

Gao will direct the global strategy of Mercedes-Benz, in particular leveraging his knowledge of Asian growth markets such as China.

The SCT E-motor will allow for continuous high performance without overheating, making it especially suitable for electrifying heavy commercial vehicles and off-road and industrial equipment.

At Interschutz 2022, ZF showcased a modular drive system with electric motor, automatic transmission, and transfer case, and a new EcoLife transmissions system - both designed for offroad use.

Scania primarily showcased the CrewCab, a tractor unit with a number of features specially suited to rescue and emergency applications, and a fire truck for use in airports with a hybrid propulsion system.

Knorr-Bremse AG, based in Munich, Germany, has signed a contract to acquire a majority stake in Spanish connectivity and digitalisation specialist Cojali S.L., based in Campo de Criptana. The signed contract values the 55% stake in Cojali at EUR200 million.

Rachner joins the company from Mercedes-Benz and will be responsible for setting up and expanding the international sales team and growing the number of sales partners.

B-ON is the new brand name and logo for Luxembourg-based start-up, Odin Automotive S.à r.l., with plans for supplying last mile zero-emission light-duty delivery vehicle solutions in Europe, Asia, and North America as well as other global markets.

Costs of production most challenging, says Krone's marketing and sales MD, yet investment continues in production, R&D and technology