Author: Central Desk

MAN Truck & Bus has introduced a new digital service, MAN SimplePay, in collaboration with UTA Edenred, a leading European mobility service provider. This innovative platform aims to streamline fleet management by offering customers greater transparency and control over their operating costs. MAN SimplePay allows users to digitally store fuel and charging cards, enabling fleet managers to prioritize them for specific vehicles. The platform is hosted on the RIO system, where it consolidates various day-to-day business costs, such as fuel, parking, and vehicle washing, into one user-friendly interface. This provides a clear overview of expenses, simplifying cost management for fleet…

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) invests £500 million to overhaul its historic Halewood plant. The site, initially built in 1963 for the production of the Ford Anglia, is undergoing a transformation that will facilitate the production of electric vehicles (EVs) alongside existing combustion and hybrid models. This major capital injection is part of a larger initiative to prepare JLR’s operations for the electric age. £250 million has already been channelled into the project, with more than one million hours of construction logged over the past 12 months. The expansion added 32,364 square meters to the facility, designed to produce JLR’s medium-sized…

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) has introduced its all-electric eCanter truck to Singapore, marking a pivotal moment for the country’s green transport initiatives. With the first unit already handed over to a local customer, this move reinforces Singapore’s goal of transitioning all vehicles to cleaner energy by 2040. Known as a global logistics powerhouse, Singapore is at the forefront of embracing sustainable technology. The government’s aggressive roadmap targets 60,000 EV charging stations by 2030, facilitating a shift towards electric vehicles and supporting Singapore’s vision for a greener future. Versatile eCanter Fleet Unveiled The eCanter, first rolled out in…

The Duvenbeck Group, a logistics and freight forwarding company has forged an alliance with Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group during the IAA TRANSPORTATION 2024 fair in Hanover. This partnership signals a major leap forward for both companies in their pursuit of innovative, sustainable logistics solutions. The agreement, signed by Duvenbeck CEO Hakan Bicil and Farizon CEO Mike Fan, was attended by senior figures from both organisations, including Duvenbeck’s Chief Procurement Officer Wolfgang Kortus, Corporate Development Head Moritz Kiepen, Farizon Vice President Shangguan Yunfei, and International Marketing General Manager Cook Xue. This collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of…

The Biden administration has unveiled a decisive plan for fortifying the U.S. auto industry against what it perceives as aggressive trade tactics from China. Addressing the Detroit Economic Club, White House economic adviser Lael Brainard outlined a strategy designed to prevent the looming threat of a ‘second China shock’ — a scenario reminiscent of the economic upheaval caused by China’s rapid industrial ascent in the early 2000s. “China is flooding global markets with a wave of auto exports on the back of their own overcapacity,” Brainard remarked. “We saw a similar playbook in the China shock of the early 2000s…

Geotab, a top global player in connected transportation solutions, has entered a partnership with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG (VW GIS). This collaboration signals a major step in Geotab’s expanding OEM network, integrating high-quality data from Volkswagen Group’s multi-brand fleets with the power of Geotab’s platform. It delivers advanced telematics and connected mobility without the need for additional hardware installations. Once fleet operators provide consent, sensors within Volkswagen Group vehicles gather and transmit critical data to the Geotab platform via an API, ensuring seamless data flow. The system processes and transforms raw data into actionable insights, enabling fleet operators to…

Chinese automakers are hastening their global expansion, targeting African markets. With JETOUR Auto unveiling two new right-hand drive (RHD) models, DASHING and X70PLUS, China is boosting its presence in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2023, China exported 4.91 million vehicles, a 57.9% year-on-year increase, making it the world’s largest automobile exporter. This growth was driven by a 77.6% rise in new energy vehicle (NEV) exports, which surpassed 1.2 million units. JETOUR Auto President Li Xueyong noted that global expansion presents significant opportunities for Chinese automakers, with JETOUR already establishing over 600 sales and service networks in more than 50 countries. South…

Hyundai and the Skoda Group have entered into a major partnership to hasten the adoption of hydrogen mobility solutions. The collaboration was formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Korea-Czech Republic Business Summit in Prague. Hyundai’s Executive Vice-President, Ken Ramírez, and Skoda Group’s CEO, Petr Novotný, represented their respective companies at the signing ceremony, underscoring their shared dedication to exploring hydrogen fuel cell technologies and energy-efficient solutions. The MoU sets the stage for significant advancements, focusing on hydrogen fuel cells for mobility and extending these innovations across broader applications. “Our partnership with Skoda Group aims to accelerate hydrogen…

Chinese experts have strongly criticized Washington’s proposed ban on Chinese-made software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles, warning that this decision could disrupt global auto supply chains, including those in the United States itself. The US Department of Commerce is preparing to unveil restrictions targeting Chinese technology embedded in EVs, part of a broader strategy aimed at curbing China’s influence in the global electric vehicle market. This move follows the recent imposition of a steep 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and signals an intensifying campaign against Chinese-made automotive products. A report by Reuters reveals that the proposed restrictions…

Brussels (Capital of Belgium): Concerns are rising in the EU electric vehicle market as the shrinking market share of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continues to signal challenges for the industry’s growth across the European Union. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has called for immediate action from EU policymakers to address the decline, warning that the sector’s competitiveness is at risk if no urgent relief measures are implemented before new CO2 targets for cars and vans come into force in 2025. According to the latest data from ACEA, EU battery-electric sales have dropped by 8.4% so far this year, with…