Hino Motors Ltd, a Toyota Group Company, plans to invest JPY11.5bn (USD105m) in a new integrated research and development centre and production hub in Thailand, with construction set to begin in July 2019.

TM4, the Boucherville, motor and inverter joint venture between Dana Incorporated and Quebec-Hydro has reached a major milestone with the production of its 12,000th TM4 SUMO electric powertrain system for heavy commercial vehicles in China.

Volvo Buses UK Ltd has been awarded a contract to supply Ireland’s first electric bus: The Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel and energy supplier, ESB, have awarded Volvo a contract to supply a single-deck electric 12m Volvo 7900e bus for the city of Dublin.

Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH has begun forging stronger relationships with Chinese electric bus manufacturers.

VDL Bus & Coach has won a contract to supply 43 Citea Electrics to operator, Qbuzz, for deployment in Emmen, Assen and Groningen.

Volvo Bus Corporation has delivered the first 12m fully autonomous electric buses to Nanyang Technological University in Singapore where it it is to enter an R&D programme for autonomous electric buses.

January saw the start of pre-production assembly of Hino’s XL-Series Class7/8 trucks in the USA on a brand new production line installed in a new plant in Mineral Wells.

Sweden's Scania has supplied a 16-litre engine to support a new Australian trial of renewable diesel fuel. The fuel will be made from waste plastic, old vehicle tyres, agricultural and forestry waste, as well as bio-solids. The trial is aimed at achieving commercial scale production.

EV battery developer, SK Innovation plans to invest around USD859m in battery technology and production in Hungary.

Transit bus builder, ElDorado National-California Inc, has received certification from the California Air Resources Board on its 40’ 2019 ENC Axess Fuel Cell bus.

DEX Heavy Duty Parts LLC, a Volvo Group subsidiary and supplier of recycled, renovated and surplus medium and heavy-duty truck parts, is expanding its operations with the opening a second facility in Oklahoma City.

Palfinger Tail Lifts Ltd has reached agreement with RLP Distribution Ltd, a specialised parts distribution company and part of the Motus Vehicle Solution Division of Motus Holdings (UK) Ltd, to stock and distribute Palfinger spare parts centrally on its behalf for the UK market.