Eletra (Tecnologia de Tração Elétrica) - recognized as a national and international reference company in development of electric traction systems for buses - has signed exclusive partnership agreements with Grupo Moura, the leader in battery sales in South America and XALT Energy, specializing in energy solutions for heavy vehicles, to develop electric buses to be manufactured in Brazil.

February 2019 saw Chile introduce, what it claims, is South America’s first intercity electric coach.

Scania do Brasil Ltda has said it is forecasting continued market growth across all industrial areas in which it participates (trucks, buses, services and industrial, marine and power generation engines) in 2019.

In its centenary year in Brazil, Ford Brasil Ltda surprised the market in February by announcing it is to close its factory in São Bernardo do Campo where it produces the Ford F-Series models and Ford Cargo truck, as well as the Ford Fiesta car; production is expected to cease as soon as inventories run out, the company stated.

Hap Seng Trucks Distribution Sdn Bhd took over the Daimler commercial vehicle general distribution business from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia in November 2018.

Commercial vehicle manufacturer, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd - the commercial vehicle manufacturing joint venture and subsidiary of Sweden’s Volvo AB and Eicher Motors Ltd - has introduced Wabco’s OptiDrive AMT system to its 6-speed gearbox in the Eicher Pro 3016 16t gvw rigid truck model.

Tata Motors Ltd has announced it has received a Bharat Stage VI Type Approval certificate for its 3.8-litre NA SGI CNG engine from ARAI ahead of other manufacturers.

The Indonesian market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw continued to rebound in the fourth quarter of 2018, with sales rising by over 20% to 49,018 units from 40,669 units a year earlier, based on AsiaMotorBusiness analysis of industry data.

Vietnam’s commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw stabilised in the fourth quarter of 2018, with sales rising by just under 4% to 26,324 units from 25,334 units a year earlier, according to AsiaMotorBusiness analysis of data from the Vietnam Automotive Manufacturers Association.

The Automotive Research Association of India has announced it is to establish a fourth testing facility on the outskirts of Pune.

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for the implementation of phase II of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles with a fund allocation of USD1.54bn over the next three years, with effect from April 1, 2019.

ZF Friedrichshafen AG has opened a new ZF branded shock absorber production line at the headquarters of ZF India Pvt Ltd as part of plans to expand its portfolio of locally-made products for the Indian commercial vehicle sector.