The UK market for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs, i.e., trucks >6t) grew by 13.5% to 46,227 registrations in 2023, making it the best year for the UK truck market since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to statistics published by the SMMT.

The new model is a battery electric version of the longstanding ‘8900’ range, designed for extended city, intercity, and commuter operations.

The UK bus and coach market in 2023 grew by 44.6% to register 4,932 units, a promising level of growth which still remains below the pre-pandemic figure of 5,874 units (2019), according to statistics published by the SMMT.

Daimler Truck opened a new 22,000 sqm truck and bus all-purpose driveline agnostic servicing and sales centre in Stuttgart (“Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Center”) for Mercedes-Benz and Fuso trucks as well as Setra and Mercedes-Benz buses. This is its fifth such facility in the past 12 months, and it plans to add three more in Europe in 2025.

Paccar has installed its first on-site power supply system consisting of 750 solar panels, at the BEST DAF Trucks centre in Barendrecht, Netherlands. In combination with an energy storage system, the solar panels power the three superchargers, able to fast charge electric trucks (maximum output of 360 kW) leaving the workshop.

The company has equipped 115 Iveco Eurocargo ML150 4×4 trucks with the Allison 3000 Series six-speed fully automatic transmission with Power Take-Off. Built to handle steep inclines, the trucks have been shipped and will be in service across several Australian states facing bushfire emergencies.

The app has multiple new functions, including the addition of the van and camper-van tyre segments. Commercial Vehicle (CV) tyre regulations from over 39 countries have been included, provided in 20 languages.

The company is set to supply 140 electric charging stations to Nobina, Scandinavia’s largest public transport operator, for use at four electric bus depots across Stockholm, Sweden. The chargers are to be installed by the end of 2024 and in operation by Q1 2025. This signifies Ekoenergetyka’s continued growth in the Nordic markets.

Iveco announced a positive set of financial results for the 2023 year, including EUR 16 billion in consolidated revenues (up 13% from 2022), an adjusted EBITA of EUR 940 million (up EUR 413 million compared to 2022) and an adjusted net income of EUR 352 million (up EUR 127 million from 2022 figures).

In collaboration with Esterer, a German tank body specialist, the 18.5-metre eEconic was equipped with a 40,000-litre fuel tanker trailer that draws electricity from the vehicle batteries, helping aid in the aircraft refuelling process by powering the fuel pump.

Kempower expects to offer boosted charging performance with its next-generation DC fast charging technology. Series production is set for late Q1 2024 in the Lahti plant in Finland and Q2 2024 in the North Carolina factory in the USA.

On 14 March, Schmitz Cargobull Ltd took over the King’s Suite of the Hilton Metropole, situated near the NEC in Birmingham, to launch the ‘S.KOe Cool’, an all-new fully-electric refrigerated semi-trailer which is the first of its kind to receive type approval for the European market.