This factory represents a major investment and will focus on producing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, including buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles.

Schmitz began production of its own axles at the Altenberge plant in 2004: since then, it has manufactured 2 million of them, installing them on trailers made in Altenberge or shipping them to its other trailer plants in Europe and Turkey.

At IAA Transportation 2024, held between 17-22 September in Hanover, Germany, Brazilian trailer and components firm Randoncorp presented products from its auto parts brands, including wheel-end components from Castertech, brake systems from Master Freios (a joint venture with Cummins), and axles, suspensions, and e-mobility products from Suspensys. However, the group’s most interesting showcase was invisible to the naked eye. In its axle products lay hidden a secret ingredient measurable only on the nanoscale: a niobium compound, which has the power to augment the mechanical properties of steel while considerably reducing its weight. It also improves the performance of other materials, enabling them to achieve their full potential.

Starting in late 2024, ZF will provide its CeTrax 2 dual electric central drive, which is designed for heavy-duty trucks, including Ford Trucks' electric rigid truck (F-Line E). This drive offers two electric motors with a continuous power of 380 kW and a peak torque of 24,700 Nm, enabling efficient and powerful performance.

The company highlighted the AddVolt Powerpack, an energy system that enables the electrification of refrigerated transport vehicles which can eliminate diesel use and reducing noise, making it ideal for operating in low-emission zones.

The new ‘HV (i.e., high voltage) Test & Validation Laboratory’ is already accredited to national and international standards for testing electric vehicles with architectures rated at 800 volts.

The company will also consolidate its shares, merging five existing shares into one. Essentially the number of shares outstanding changes from 73,088,382 to 14,617,676. This consolidation aims to stabilise the stock price and improve trading liquidity.

TIP is trialling an electric regen axle system – developed jointly by Thermo King Europe and BPW – with a refrigerated semi-trailer in Britain.

Prior to his appointment, Bryant was CEO and Head of Manufacturing for venture capital firm BGF Investment Management Ltd, or the “Business Growth Fund”, established in 2011 by major British banks.

The German manufacturer recently unveiled three new fire trucks: two with corrosion-resistant aluminium bodies, one with a body optimised for airport applications, and all with new driver display systems in the cab.

SKF intends to divide its Industrial and Automotive business segments, allowing them to operate as separate companies.

The Schiphol Group has ordered 52 of MAN’s ‘Lion’s City 12 E’ buses, capable of carrying up to 107 passengers.