Aeolus Truck & Driver News

Volvo Trucks has renewed its entire Australian-built range – in what it says is its biggest-ever Australasian launch.
The new Volvo FM, FMX, FH and FH16 went on sale at the end of November – less than three weeks after they were revealed.
It is also “our safest, most productive and most efficient range of transport solutions,” says Volvo Trucks Australia vice president sales Tony O’Connell.
“This has been a massive project and we have invested heavily in our manufacturing capability to ensure that these trucks will be built at our Wacol, Queensland, production facility.” 
The new FH will have the option of Euro 5 and ...

Hydrogen fuel cell pioneer Hyundai says it has won two huge orders with Chinese companies – to supply 4000 hydrogen trucks in the next four years.
It has signed a memorandum of understanding with three Shanghai-based energy companies to supply 3000 hydrogen FCEVs – setting up a “business cluster” to cover hydrogen production, charging infrastructure and truck sales and lease programmes.
Another MOU signed with two companies in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic zone, calls for the supply of another 1000 hydrogen trucks.
China is, as Hyundai Motor commercial vehicle business executive VP Lee In-Cheol says, “one of the hydrogen markets with t...

Isuzu is no longer the last remaining major truck make not aligned to a global truckmaker supergroup – with confirmation of the strategic alliance with the Volvo Group announced almost a year ago.
Also confirmed, as part of the deal, is the Volvo Group’s sale of UD Trucks to Isuzu Motors for 243 billion Yen (equal to around $NZ3.4billion).
The announcement that the deal has been finalised came hard on the heels of rival TRATON agreeing terms to buy out Navistar International – giving it a long-sought strategic foothold in the huge North American market.
Volvo and Isuzu announced that they have signed binding agreements to form the strategic allian...

The male-dominant world of global truck company bosses has a new woman member – high-achieving Swede Karin Rådström taking over the management of Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
Rådström, who will take up her role as Daimler Truck’s board of management member responsible for M-B trucks on February 1, started as a trainee at Scania just 16 years ago.
Rådström graduated with a Master of Engineering in Industrial Management from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. 
Since 2007, she has held various managerial positions within Scania’s sales and service organisation including heading its bus and coach business and sta...

Following on from Keith Andrews Trucks’ appointment in October as the new Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner dealer in the lower North Island, it has bought out Wellington’s Diesel and Equipment Services and First Commercials in Palmerston North.
As a result of the acquisitions, since November 11 all Wellington Merc, Freightliner and FUSO sales, parts and service have been provided by KAT branches in Seaview and Porirua.
In Palmerston North, the First Commercials business will transition to KAT ownership at the end of January – with M-B and Freightliner parts and service support “provided in cooperation with FCL” until then.
KAT managing direct...