Partnerships take centre stage

Focus has scoured the globe to bring you the most current, up to date industry news. Details of new releases, moves by big industry players into China, and lots more…

Daimler and Foton Motor Sign Joint Venture Contract and Receive Approval for Truck Production in China
Daimler and Foton Motor have made significant progress regarding their negotiations to establish a 50:50 joint venture. In mid-July, the joint venture contract was signed in the presence of German chancellor

Angela Merkel and the premier of the People’s Republic of China Wen Jiabao. Andreas Renschler, member of Daimler’s Board of Management and Head of Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, says, “The joint venture offers us an excellent springboard from which we can achieve growth, profitability and expansion in China, and with Foton as a global partner, in the international markets as well.” The joint venture will expand Daimler’s industrialisation in China to include trucks, in addition to passenger cars and vans. Wang Jingyu, CEO and president of Foton Motors adds, “The establishment of the new joint venture marks our first step towards global businesses and collaborations.” Last year Foton sold 82 234 heavy-duty truck units and thus already plays a key role in China’s truck segment.

Leyland Trucks Wins MX Awards Again
For the second straight year Leyland Trucks is the overall winner in the UK annual Manufacturing Excellence Awards. The MX Awards are the premier recognition scheme for manufacturers and are run by the UK’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers.  Leyland Trucks is the nation’s only volume truck maker, building DAF trucks for the UK and export.  This is the first time in the Awards’ 28-year history that the same firm has won for two successive years.  “This is a highly competitive and very prestigious award scheme in which we were pitched against hundreds of manufacturing concerns across the UK, many of a world-class says,” said Andrea Paver, managing director.

Another Award for TruckProtect
TruckProtect has picked up the prestigious Van Fleet World 2010 Security Award for its first-to-market range of van fuel anti-siphon devices (ASDs).  “We’re proud to be presented with an award alongside global companies such as of Daimler, Iveco, VW and Ford,” says Russell Fowler, CEO at TruckProtect.  “Our kits for Sprinter and Daily models are part of a wide range designed for what is a very important sector.  The Van Fleet World 2010 Security Award joins the Killspills Safety Award in our growing trophy cabinet,” says Fowler.

New Caddy breaks cover
After six years and sales of nearly 800 000 units of the outgoing model, the new generation Caddy range is promising to continue the Caddy’s success as one of Volkswagen’s best-selling global models. Improvements include better economy, more safety features, enhanced quality and refinement, plus improved environmental credentials. Visually, the new generation models are refreshed with the latest frontal styling found across all new Volkswagens, such as the latest Polo and Transporter.  There are also new rear light clusters, plus roof rails available for the first time, and the option of cornering lights.  It is a similar story inside, where new instruments, steering wheels and audio/navigation systems, plus the option of Bluetooth connectivity enhance the Caddy range with more quality and style.  Under the bonnet there is a completely new range of four of Volkswagen’s latest common rail, four-cylinder TDI engines which are up to 13% more fuel-efficient. This includes two 1.6-litre TDI engines, plus two 2.0-litre TDI units. These are quieter, more refined and economical, with cleaner Euro 5 standard levels of emissions. Other new features introduced to the new generation Caddy include Volkswagen’s latest seven-speed DSG gearbox and 4MOTION four-wheel drive. Finally, the new generation Caddy range will have ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) standard on every model.