The market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw in East Asia’s seven main markets (excluding China) strengthened significantly in the fourth quarter of 2018, with combined sales growing by 12% to 462,934 units from 419,290 in the same period of 2017, according to data compiled by www.AsiaMotorBusiness.com from numerous industry sources.

UD Trucks demonstrated Level 4 autonomous driving with its Quon heavy-duty truck in December at its UD Experience Centre in Japan.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines in November unveiled a production model of the Fuso Canter Commute, a light-duty bus designed to replace the Jeepney as the country’s main public utility vehicle.

Ford Motor Company, under a comprehensive redesign of its global business structure, has announced it plans to exit the commercial heavy truck business in South America.

UD Trucks Ageo, Saitama prefecture (a Volvo Group subsidiary) added a new model to its Quon heavy truck range at the end of January featuring a small displacement 8-litre engine.

Hyundai Motor Company has confirmed it is moving ahead with the development of a production version of the Santa Cruz pickup truck, after years of speculation.

Millbrook Proving Ground is increasing its operational capacity to support the heavy-duty commercial vehicle industry in meeting air quality and CO2 targets.

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.

DRiV Incorporated is the name of the future publicly traded Aftermarket and Ride Performance company due to launch in the second half of 2019, following Tenneco Inc’s acquisition of Federal Mogul Corporation in October 2018 and its decision to separate into two independent companies.