User-agent: Mediapartners-Google* Disallow: Trucks World News: July 2012
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Jul 29, 2012

TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * USA

* DC - Truck makers push back on U.S. rollover-technology rule 

(Photo: Ford's AdvanceTrac stability control with anti-rollover technology) 
Washington,DC,USA -Bloomberg News/The Detroit News, by Jeff Plungis -July 26, 2012: -- U.S. truck manufacturers are urging the Transportation Department to scale back a requirement for anti-rollover systems, saying it may force them to spend millions to avoid crashes that probably won't occur... The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed in May to require electronic stability control in heavy-duty trucks and buses in two to four years. The technology will help prevent rollover accidents that now result in about 700 fatalities a year, the agency said... Truck manufacturers, while praising the proposed technology at a public hearing in Washington Wednesday, said NHTSA's stability-control road test for each model would go far beyond what truckers would probably experience in driving... NHTSA should adopt a test that trucks with roll stability control can pass. Companies would be free to adopt the more expensive electronic stability control systems if they wanted... NHTSA projected in its proposed rule that electronic stability control may prevent as many as 56 percent of rollover crashes and another 14 percent of loss-of-control crashes. Agency researchers estimate it would prevent 2,329 crashes and save 49 to 60 lives a year... 


* Michigan - Ford Reports of more aluminum on F-150 'premature'

(Photo from Ford: Ford has made the hood of the F-150 out of aluminum since 2004. It has used aluminum for the lower control arm on the SVT Raptor version of the truck since 2010)
 Dearborn,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by Karl Henkel -July 27, 2012: --  Ford Motor Co. is looking into adding more aluminum parts to its popular F-150 pickup, according to a company source, but the automaker says reports it is planning a largely aluminum version of the truck are "premature." The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the Dearborn automaker "is working on a pickup truck with a largely aluminum body" for 2014. But Ford spokesman Said Deep said, "It is premature to discuss specific approaches or solutions that we might use for future products" ... Ford has made the hood of the F-150 out of aluminum since 2004...  Analysts said Ford may add other aluminum body components in its next-generation truck, but said an aluminum body is not practical...  A Ford source confirmed the company is looking at using more aluminum components on its new pickup, but added that design has not been finalized. Adding aluminum components would lower the weight of the F-150 and improve fuel efficiency, currently an Environmental Protection Agency-certified 17 miles per gallon combined city and highway. Ford has tried to shed weight across its vehicle lineup, especially with the pending fuel-economy regulations implemented last year.Those regulations will require U.S. vehicle fleets to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025...


* Michigan - Ford Plans Aluminum Pickup Truck to Boost Mileage

Allen Park,MICH,USA -NASDAQ/The WSJ, by Mike Ramsey -27 July 2012: -- In this suburb just west of Detroit, Ford Motor Co. is working on one of the biggest gambles in its 108-year history: a pickup truck with a largely aluminum body... The radical redesign will help meet tougher federal fuel-economy targets now starting to have wide-ranging effects on Detroit's auto makers... Ford is hoping the switch to the lighter metal will cut the weight of its F-150 truck by about 700 pounds, according to Ford executives familiar with the company's plans. That is roughly a 15% reduction for the F-150, which is the company's most popular pickup in the U.S., favored by farmers and suburbanites alike. Such a reduction would enable Ford's trucks to go farther on a gallon of gasoline, and open the door to other changes, such as the use of smaller engines, that can further boost fuel economy. Along with the aluminum makeover, the new F-150 also is getting a more muscular look, according to one Ford designer... In the summer of 2011, the Obama administration pushed through new fuel-economy regulations that would require the U.S. vehicle fleet to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025... The new Ford truck is being designed to come out in 2014 capable of hitting the increasing fuel economy standards through 2020, one of the executives familiar with its plans said...

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AUTOMAKERS NEWS * USA

* Michigan - Cadillac's small car rolls off Lansing assembly line

(John F. Martin for Cadillac: The first new Cadillac ATS comes off the line at the GM plant in Lansing)
Lansing,MI,USA -The Detroit News -July 26, 2012: -- The first 2013 Cadillac ATS compact luxury sport sedans rolled off the line Thursday morning at General Motors Co.'s Lansing Grand River assembly plant... The plant underwent a $190 million upgrade for ATS production, adding a second shift and 600 jobs... GM has targeted the BMW 3 Series with its new, small Caddy. It arrives at dealerships in August, and starts at about $34,000... 


- AUTOS RECALLS - 

* DC - Throttle problem behind recall of 485,000 Ford small SUVs

(Photo from Ford: 2004 Ford Escape) 
Washington,DC,USA -The Detroit News, by David Shepardson -July 27, 2012: ... Ford Motor Co. it is recalling nearly 485,000 Escapes to repair sticky gas pedals that can lead to unintended acceleration incidents. The recall covers 423,000 2001-04 Escape SUVs with 3-liter V-6 engines and cruise control, plus 60,000 outside the U.S. Ford said that because of a lack of clearance between the cruise control cable and engine cover, a driver may be unable to disengage the throttle when the cruise control is on. This is the third recall in two weeks for the Escape. Last week, Ford recalled 11,500 new 2013 models with 1.6-liter engines because the fuel lines could leak, and warned owners to immediately stop driving the new Escapes after three reports of fires in June. The company also recalled 10,000 2013 Escapes to fix carpet padding that could interfere with brakes...


* Michigan - Mazda will recall 217,500 Tributes

(Photo from Mazda: Mazda’s recall covers more model years than Ford’s: 2001-2006 and 2008 Mazda Tributes equipped with the 3.0-liter V6 engine and cruise control. The Mazda Tribute was not produced in the 2007 model year) 
Washington,DC,USA -The Detroit News, by David Shepardson -July 28, 2012: -- Mazda Motor Co., following Ford Motor Co.'s lead, said Friday it will recall 217,500 Tribute SUVs to fix sticky gas pedals that can lead to unintended acceleration...  The Tribute and Ford's Escape are nearly identical and built on the same platform at Ford's Kansas City Assembly plant... Mazda's recall covers more model years than Ford's: 2001-2006 and 2008 Mazda Tributes equipped with the 3.0-liter V6 engine and cruise control...


* DC - Hyundai recalling 220,000 vehicles over airbag issues

(Photo by Joe Raedle /Getty Images: Hyundai Motor Co. is recalling nearly 200,000 Santa Fe SUVs and Sonata sedans because of problems with their air bags) 
Washington,DC,USA -The Detroit News, by David Shepardson -July 28, 2012: -- Hyundai Motor Co. said Saturday it is issuing two new recalls totaling 220,000 vehicles covering airbag issues... The Korean automaker said it is recalling 199,118 2007-09 Santa Fe SUVs to ensure that airbags deploy in a crash when a small individual is sitting in the passenger seat. Sensors in vehicles do not deploy the airbag when a small person is sitting in certain positions in order to prevent injuries...  Since 2009, Hyundai has received less than 2 complaints per month, the automaker said... Separately, Hyundai is recalling 22,512 2012-13 Sonatas to prevent side curtain air bags from improperly deploying and will replace the airbag modules...

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Jul 27, 2012

ACCIDENTS STATISTICS * Australia

* ACT - Heavy vehicle crash deaths continue to fall 

Canberra,ACT,Australia -AG DOIT -27 July 2012: -- The number of deaths from heavy vehicle crashes continues to fall according to the latest quarterly bulletin on fatal heavy vehicle crashes from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics... While deaths from crashes involving articulated trucks remained at 141 for both 2010 and 2011, heavy rigid truck crash fatalities fell from 83 in 2010 to 71 in 2011... The 40-59 age group had the highest number of fatalities from heavy vehicle crashes with 82 deaths in 2011 – nearly double that of any other age group. The over 60 age group was the next highest, with 43 fatalities...

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TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* Germany - MAN launches Euro-6 models

Munich,BAV,Germany -Commercial Motor (UK), by Will Shiers -26 July 2012: -- MAN is the latest truck maker to say there won't be a fuel penalty at Euro-6... These Euro-6 trucks will return slightly better fuel economy than Euro-5, and that AdBlue consumption has been slashed by 50%... The German truck maker has tackled Euro-6 with a combination of SCR and EGR. Cooling capabilities have had to be increased, hence new grilles across the entire TGL, TGM, TGS and TGX ranges. Aerodynamics have been improved too with the use of redesigned side wind deflectors and bumpers. TGX features revised A-pillars, and by painting the area below the windscreen black, it has given the impression of an enlarged windscreen. Keen-eyed readers will also notice that MAN's trademark lion has had a makeover too, and is apparently now more dynamic, and "radiates agility and strength"... TGL and TGM both receive smart new interiors, with better quality materials, revised dials and enhanced storage...


* France - Volvo: Renault Trucks Defense Buys Vehicle Maker Panhard

(Photo: The Panhard VBR armored vehicle) 
Saint-Priest,France -Dow Jones Newswires/Fox Business (USA), by Christina Zander -July 26, 2012: -- Renault Trucks Defense, included in Swedish truck maker Volvo AB's governmental sales business area, said Thursday it will acquire French automotive manufacturer Panhard for an undisclosed sum... Panhard is a private company which has a background in the car industry and specializes in manufacturing light transport vehicles adapted for defense operations. In 2011, Panhard reported sales of 81 million euros ($98.1 million) and operating profit amounted to EUR9.4 million. The company has about 300 employees. Renault Trucks Defense is included in the Volvo Group's governmental sales business area. The operation produces and sells vehicles adapted for operations in defense, security and international projects. Renault Trucks Defense has about 500 employees, mainly in France...

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AUTOMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* Germany / China - Volkswagen opens new vehicle plant in China 
Wolfsburg,Germany/Yizheng,China -Volkswagen (PR) -26 July 2012: -- The Volkswagen Group today inaugurated the new plant of Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW) in Yizheng, Eastern China, together with SAIC Motor Corporation Ltd... The plant is designed for an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles, and begin producting the Volkswagen Polo models... As the second plant producing this model in China, Yizheng will make production considerably more flexible. It is also planned to produce ŠKODA models here in the next stage... Furthermore the new plant sets environmental standard...


* France - Fiat exits Peugeot SevelNord joint venture

Valenciennes,Francia -In Auto News -26 July 2012: -- FIAT SpA said on Thursday it has signed an agreement with France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen which seals the Italian auto maker’s exit from their shared commercial van plant in northern France... SevelNord will continue to produce light commercial vehicles for the two groups until Euro6 emissions standards come into effect at the end of 2016... PSA Peugeot Citroen last week announced a van production deal with Japan’s Toyota, raising pressure on unions to make concessions on pay and conditions or face a second closure of Sevelnord plant... The company is seeking tax breaks or other support for its northern French Sevelnord plant before committing to build a new vehicle there, Reuters reports citing peoples close to the matter... 


- RUMOURS - 

* USA - Why Would Volkswagen Want To Buy Lotus? 
(Photo: The 2013 Lotus Esprit)
Palo Alto,CAL,USA -Motor Authority, by Nelson Ireson -Jul 25, 2012: ... Despite DRB-Hicom's stated commitment to the brand, and about $155 million worth of cash already invested in the brand, speculation of a sale to another carmaker has persisted... The latest to join the fray is Volkswagen, by way of a confidentially-sourced report from Manager Magazin, via Reuters, and even then, only as a derivative of speculated interest in the intermediary owner of Lotus, Malaysia's Proton... Why Lotus? Volkswagen already has strong motorsports involvement through all of its major brands, with GT racing involvement from Porsche, endurance prototypes at Audi, sedan racing at VW, and a range of series, including a one-make championship, with Lamborghini... Ultimately, if DRB-Hicom lets go of Proton, and if VW is the buyer, and if Lotus goes with Proton as part of the sale, and if VW takes more than a minority interest in Lotus, we might see something of interest come of the deal. But that's a lot of ifs....

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DANGEROUS DRIVERS * UK

* UK - RHA warns against "mentally overloading" drivers

(Photo: A cyclist and a tipper truck) 
London,EN,UK -Commercial Motor, by Chris Tindall -26 July 2012: -- The Road Haulage Association is warning against “mentally overloading” drivers after an influential group of MPs said hauliers should be encouraged to fit sensors to their fleet. The Transport Select Committee (TSC) describes a 15% rise in cyclist deaths as “unacceptable” and that the government needs to step in and find ways for HGV drivers and operators to adopt sensors. It cites figures suggesting that lorries are involved in 20% of collisions where cyclists are killed. Giving evidence to the TSC’s Inquiry earlier this year the RHA warned that the technology could be counterproductive...

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Jul 26, 2012

TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * Canada & USA

* Canada - Navistar delivers MXT armoured personnel carriers to RCMP

(Photo: International MaxxPro MRAP) 
Ottawa,ONT,CAN -Truck News -24 July 2012: -- Navistar Defence Canada announced it has delivered US$14 million in International MXT Armoured Personnel Carriers to the RCMP... The new armoured vehicles will be used to increase protection and rescue capabilities for RCMP officers and members of the public during high-risk situations, Navistar announced... The contract represents Navistar’s first MXT vehicle sales to the police and security sector... Navistar’s Canadian dealer network will support the vehicles, which were produced at the company’s West Point, Miss., assembly plant...


* Illinois / USA - Caterpillar Posts $1.7 Billion Profit, Boosts Outlook

(Picture: CAT truck on display) 
Peoria,ILL,USA -Transport Topics -25 July 2012: -- Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. Wednesday reported a $1.7 billion second-quarter profit and boosted its full-year earnings outlook... Net income rose to $1.7 billion, or $2.54 a share, from $1.02 billion, or $1.52, a year ago. Sales jumped 22% to $17.4 billion... Caterpillar, which formerly made diesel truck engines, said in 2008 it was pulling out of the North American Class 8 truck engine market except for a truck and engine in partnership with Navistar International Corp...


 - COMMENT - 

* Illinois - J2807 Tow Ratings May Be Off For Years

Chicago,ILL,USA -PickupTrucks, by Mark Williams -July 26, 2012: -- When reported on truck manufacturers' attempts to standardize how maximum and specific tow ratings are calculated, the idea was simple: Let's get all the truck makers on the same page when rating their vehicles' tow ratings so that consumers can compare apples to apples...   For years, truck makers have used a wide variety of testing procedures that, in some cases, were used only to allow them to market the biggest and baddest number for advertising purposes...  With quite a bit of guidance from the Society of Automotive Engineers committe chair and representation from all the important players, the J2807 towing standards and practices (for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating up to 13,000 pounds) were, as we understood it, discussed, agreed upon, and released. Now the only hurdle is to figure out how and when each manufacturer will implement the standards...

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TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* Germany - Daimler’s Truck Unit Posts Higher 2Q Profit on Strong Sales

(Photo by Bruce Harmon/Trans Pixs)
Stuttgart,BAV,Germany -Transport Topics -25 July 2012: -- Daimler AG said Wednesday its truck unit’s second-quarter earnings and revenue rose on higher sales. Earnings before interest and taxes at the truck unit rose 8% to $635 million, while revenue jumped 22% to $9.9 billion, Daimler said. The parent company of Freightliner Trucks said it sees strong demand in North America for the full year, citing fleets’ need for replacement trucks...


* Germany - MAN SE Warns of Difficult Market Environment as Profit Slumps 

Munich,Germany -Dow Jones Newswires/Fox Business -July 25, 2012: -- German truck maker and engineering firm MAN SE warned Wednesday that increasingly difficult market conditions are weighing on profits and reported preliminary first-half earnings that fell short of analysts' expectations... The firm said it continues to expect a slight decline in full-year revenue on group level and return on sales to fall to around 6%, provided that the macroeconomic environment does not deteriorate further... MAN was acquired by Volkswagen AG last year. Volkswagen is due to report second-quarter earnings on July 26. MAN is due to release detailed quarterly earnings on July 31... It said full-year revenue at its commercial vehicles division is expected to decline by up to 5% in 2012, while the overall European commercial vehicle market is expected to contract by between 5% and 10%... MAN expects the commercial vehicles business to generate a return on sales of around 4% this year...


* Russia - Kamaz to cut up to 3,000 white-collar jobs 

Moscow,Russia -Reuters, by Alexander Gelogayev Writing/Katya Golubkova and Jane Merriman -Jul 25, 2012: -- Russian truckmaker Kamaz plans to cut between 1,500 and 3,000 so-called white-collar workers to increase its business efficiency, Kamaz's spokesman, Oleg Afanasyev, told Reuters on Wednesday... "Our figures do not match international standards of 9 to 11 percent of people working in offices (out of the total number of employees) as Kamaz now has 17 percent," he said... Kamaz, where German truckmaker Daimler has a minority stake, employs around 50,000 people in total... The group swung to a net profit of 1.8 billion roubles ($55 million) in 2011 after a 889 million rouble net loss in the previous year. ($1 = 32.7660 Russian roubles)...

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ENGINE MAKERS * China

* Sales analysis of auto diesel engine industry in June 

Beijing,China -China Buses, by Eric and Mika -16 July 2012: -- Production and sales volumes of auto engines produced in June were 1,410,277 units and 1,466,759 units in June, and the figures were 8,888,067 units and 8,969,445 units, up 6.12% and 3.70% over last year... The top ten engine makers are Yuchai Power, Quanchai, FAW, Weichai Power, Yunnei Power, JMC, Dongfeng, Chaochai, Yangchai and Shandong Huayuan Laidong, and their sales volumes were 366,150 units, 217463 units, 206269 units, 147985 units, 123051 units, and 106354, 86693 units, 82336 units, 79411 units, and 78552 units. Altogether they produced 1,494,264 diesel engines, taking 81.57% shares...

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Jul 25, 2012

AUTOMAKERS NEWS * USA

* Michigan - Europe's crisis hits Ford profits

Dearborn,MICH,USA - The Detroit News, by Karl Henkel -July 26, 2012: -- Ford Motor Co.'s second-quarter profits took a hit almost entirely due to the European debt crisis, and analysts say General Motors Co. and Fiat SpA, which controls Chrysler Group LLC, will likely find themselves in a similar situation when they report earnings next week... Ford reported Wednesday that it lost $404 million in Europe last quarter, less than the Dearborn automaker had projected in June. But as it released its earnings report, Ford nearly doubled its European loss projections to $1 billion for 2012 amid continued concerns about Europe's sovereign debt crisis and high unemployment, which have dealt a blow to consumer confidence and automobile sales...


* California - Toyota drives past GM in global sales for 1st half of 2012
 
(Picture: Toyota Yaris Hybrid 2013)
 Irvine,CAL,USA -The Detroit News, by Christine Tierney -July 26, 2012: -- Toyota Motor Corp., rebounding from a series of disasters in 2011, is on track to regain its No. 1 sales ranking in the global auto industry. In the first half of 2012, Toyota sold 4.97 million vehicles worldwide, moving ahead of last year's sales champion General Motors Co. GM's global sales totaled 4.67 million for the first half of the year. Germany's hard-charging Volkswagen AG followed in third place with global sales of 4.52 million vehicles. That figure includes sales of its truck-making subsidiaries MAN and Scania but not Porsche, whose results will be consolidated into VW's next month. VW aims to be the world's biggest and best automaker by 2018, and most forecasters see it competing neck and neck with Toyota for first place in coming years...


* DC - Chrysler: Support natural gas autos 
Washington,DC,USA -The Detroit News, by David Shepardson -July 25, 2012: -- Chrysler Group LLC told a U.S. Senate committee Tuesday that the federal government can help boost the number of compressed natural gas-powered vehicles on U.S. roads... Reg Modlin, director of regulator affairs for the Auburn Hills automaker, told the Senate Energy Committee that federal policies are skewed toward electric vehicles... Chrysler and General Motors Co. are offering "bi-fueled" trucks that run on either compressed natural gas or gasoline...

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AUTOMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* France - Plans to aid its ailing auto industry
Paris,France -The Detroit News (USA) -July 26, 2012: -- The French government has unveiled a plan to prop up the struggling auto industry, which is threatening to eliminate thousands of jobs... Wednesday's plan focuses on making France a center for production of environmentally friendly cars. It includes offering incentives to French consumers who buy electric or hybrid cars. The plan unlocks some 350 million euros ($420 million) for companies investing in such technology. It offers another 860 million euros for small companies and subcontractors to upgrade and modernize factories. It would create an institute for automobile research... The plan is part of a grand scheme by President Francois Hollande's administration to keep and lure manufacturing jobs to France...



* Japan - 2014 Mazda6 to debut at Moscow auto show 

Fuchu,Aki,Hiroshima,Japan -The Detroit News, by Bryce G. Hoffman -July 25, 2012: -- More details will be released when the car makes it debut on Aug. 29.  Mazda Motor Corp. says it will unveil its all-new 2014 Mazda6 next month at the Moscow International Automobile Salon. The company's flagship midsized sedan will be the second vehicle to fully incorporate Mazda's new Skyactiv Technology, which is aimed at delivering better fuel economy without sacrificing performance. The display vehicle will be a Russian-specification car featuring a Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine mated to a Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. It will also incorporate "i-ELOOP" — the world's first capacitor-based regenerative braking system that Mazda says will improve fuel economy by up to 10 percent...


* Canada - Toyota to Expand Lexus Production in 

(Picture: Lexus RX 450h 2009) 
Cambridge,ONT,CAN -TMMC (PR) -July 24, 2012: -- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC) announced today that it will invest more than $100 million and hire approximately 400 employees to increase Lexus RX production at its Cambridge, Ontario facility. Overall Lexus RX capacity will increase by 30,000 vehicles to 104,000 units, including 15,000 RX450h vehicles, the hybrid electric version of the popular Lexus. The investment will take Toyota's annual production capacity in Canada to 500,000 units...


* Finland - Valmet Automotive to manufacture the new Mercedes Benz A-Class in
(Photo: Mercedes Clk Class)
Uusikaupunki,Finland -Valmet Automotive (pr) -July 24, 2012: -- Valmet Automotive Inc. and Daimler AG have announced that Valmet Automotive will manufacture the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class to satisfy the expected high demand of the new vehicle. Valmet Automotive will start the work for the project immediately and the parties are expected to finalize the contract during the fall 2012... More than 100,000 A-Class vehicles are planned to be manufactured by Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki, Finland from 2013 to 2016... Daimler will parallelly produce the new A-Class in its own manufacturing facilities. According to Daimler, there are already 40,000 orders...


* UK - Jaguar Land Rover will create 1,100 new jobs in

(Photo: JAGUAR LAND ROVER Jaguar XF SportBrake)
Coventry,UK -Europa Press -25 July 2012: -- The British car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors group, will create 1,100 new jobs at its factory in Castle Bromwich (United Kingdom) to support the launch of new signature models, including the Jaguar XF is SportBrake... According to the company said in a statement, the intention is to hire more than 1,100 new workers to support the launch of its future production vehicles and indicated that it has launched a recruitment drive manufacturing operators... Meanwhile, Human Resources Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, Des Thurlby, said the company has started the biggest recruitment campaign in the history of the company, with the addition of 8,000 people in the past two years... 


* Brazil - General Motors resumes production in 
Sao Paulo,SP,Brazil -Associated Press/The Detroit News (USA) -July 25, 2012: -- The Brazilian subsidiary of General Motors Co. says production at its eight plants near Sao Paulo has resumed after a one-day shutdown was ordered because of fears of an unspecified job action by a local union... The Sao Jose dos Campos metalworkers union has said that it fears GM could announce the dismissal of close to 2,000 workers when it stops manufacturing the four models... On Tuesday, General Motors said it gave paid leave to its more than 7,000 employees to not expose them "to incitement and provocations," and to protect their "physical integrity" ...

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Jul 24, 2012

TRANSPORT & LOGISTIC NEWS * WORLDWIDE

Briefing weekly news

(Photo: OOCL Shenzen container ship)

* Pantos Logistics Wins a Logistics Contract from GM Uzbekistan 
- Pantos Logistics, which is the largest logistics business in South Korea, has been selected as the logistics business for GM Uzbekistan... Read more 

* EU regulators broaden probe into UPS, TNT deal 
- EU antitrust regulators stepped up their investigation into United Parcel Service's 5.2 billion euro (4.1 billion pounds) bid for Dutch peer TNT Express on Friday, saying they were concerned about the combined company's large market share... Read more

* Mooncakes for flowers: Schiphol and China celebrate first e-freight shipments 
- Schiphol Cargo – the dedicated cargo arm of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol - IATA and China’s Central Customs Department have set October 1st (the National Day of China) as the target date for the first e-freight shipments between China and Amsterdam... Read more 

* J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Reports Earnings for the Second Quarter 2012 
- J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., announced second quarter 2012 net earnings of $80.5 million, or diluted earnings per share of 67 cents vs. second quarter 2011 net earnings of $65.7 million, or 53 cents per diluted share... Read more 

* Leading Customs and Trade Compliance Company Livingston International selects CGI to transform... 
- CGI Group Inc. North America’s number one company focused on customs brokerage and compliance, today announce a five-year, $27M agreement that will see CGI provide IT infrastructure and software support to a recently acquired business... Read more 

* Francisco Partners Completes Acquisition of Global Supply Chain Software Company Kewill 
- Acquisition Marks Francisco Partners' Sixth European Take-Private Transaction since January 2009... Read more

* UPS Technology Expands to 20 Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean 
- Expansion Will Provide Customers With Technology Solutions That Facilitate and Streamline Global Commerce... Read more 

* Marken Launches New Global Regulatory Consultation Services 
- Regulatory Risk Mitigation for Global Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management... Read more

* Complimentary Webinar - Tackle Compliance Complexity in Asian Life Sciences Supply Chain 
- Eyefortransport have announced the details of their latest free webinar on Tuesday July 17th at 11am GMT, giving a comprehensive overview of compliance complexity in Asian life sciences supply chain... Read more 

 * New Asia Healthcare Spending Map 
- The Asia Healthcare Spending Map reveals key healthcare expenditures in each country of the APAC region including increase in medical costs and public and private healthcare expenditures... Read more 

* Cost Versus Strategy in the APAC Hi-tech Supply Chain – a Complimentary Webinar 
- Eyefortransport have announced the details of their latest free webinar on Wednesday August 1st at 5pm SGT, 10am GMT giving a comprehensive overview of how two industry-leading companies have approached balancing cost with strategy in their supply chains through the Asia Pacific region... Read more 

* Hi-Tech Supply Chains Seek Improved Agility and Customer Orientation with Integrated Business... 
- As improving agility and becoming more market driven gain increasing importance for hi-tech supply chains, a select group of senior supply chain decision makers from hi-tech manufacturers and retailers will gather in San Francisco, October 22nd, for an in-depth discussion on achieving S and OP maturity and improving integrated business planning... Read more 

* Ask what your supply chain vendors can do for you! 
- Last month there was an interesting announcement in the supply chain world - the strategic alliance between GT Nexus and Kinaxis. The new alliance is promoting the merger of execution and planning - via the cloud. Without knowing all the behind the scene details, this alliance makes a lot of sense on the surface... Read more

* DHL Supply Chain Unveils New Hong Kong Headquarters 
- Launches new state-of-the-art MegaHub facility in Tsing Yi. Brings total investment to €224 million in the North Asia sub-region. Built to environmentally-friendly standards... Read more 

* Océ Belgium signs contract with Yusen Logistics Benelux 
- Yusen Logistics (YL) Benelux has been awarded a contract with Océ. YL will be providing a range of services including final mile transportation, warehousing and dust-off activities for copying-machines and large format printers to Océ customers in Belgium and Luxembourg... Read more 

* Pepsico Awards Logistics Contract to Kuehne + Nagel in Poland 
- PepsiCo is entrusting Kuehne + Nagel with warehousing and distribution activities in Poland. The agreement covers operations in five warehouse locations... Read more 

* Cooltrax Fresh Helps Schwan's Global Supply Chain, Inc. to Maintain Superior Food Freshness 
- Cooltrax, provider of real-time cold chain tracking and monitoring solutions for temperature-sensitive products and mobile assets, today announced that Schwan's Global Supply Chain, Inc. ("Global Supply") has selected Cooltrax Fresh inTransit® to equip its private fleet of refrigerated trailers with real-time reefer management... Read more

* Shop Direct Group Signs Further Ten Year Deal With Norbert Dentressangle 
- Shop Direct Group (SDG) has awarded Norbert Dentressangle a further ten year contract for the warehousing of ‘two-man’ products... Read more

* GM Agrees To Transfer European Logistics To Peugeot Logistics Unit Gefco 
- U.S. automaker General Motors Co. (GM) agreed Monday to transfer the majority of its logistics business in Europe to Gefco, a wholly-owned logistics unit of French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen. The deal will take effect in 2013... Read more

* Stobart Group acquires Autologic Holdings 
- Stobart Group has bought the quoted vehicle logistics business Autologic Holdings in a deal that values the firm at £12.4m... Read more

* Norbert Dentressangle Puts The Spark Into Vauxhall 
- Vauxhall Motors Ltd has signed a three-year contract extension with Norbert Dentressangle for the overnight distribution of automotive parts to 300 Vauxhall and Chevrolet retailers across the UK... Read more

* Global Mergers and Acquisitions 

* Further investigations into UPS-TNT deal

Brussels,Belgium -Transport Intelligence, by Thomas Cullen -23 Jul 2012: -- The European Commission announced on Friday that it would begin an "in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation" into the take-over of TNT Express by UPS...   The statement asserted that the Commission had conducted initial investigations that found what it called the "small package delivery" market was highly segmented, largely due to the "timeframe associated to the services". However, the Commission believes that only competition from the other big integrators would constrain the combined UPS and TNT Express; especially for the fastest time-commitment deliveries. This would lead to a "highly concentrated market for domestic and, even more so, international express delivery services"...  The further investigation will report at the latest by November 28, on whether the merger is anti-competitive or not. A negative response would not necessarily de-rail the deal in its entirety, but it would be a very significant obstacle...

* UPS and TNT Express acquisition expected to be completed in fourth quarter 2012
- The European Commission's review of UPS's proposed acquisition of TNT Express is expected to move to a Phase II review, as there are areas that require more time to analyze. Read More

* European Commission clears Platinum's acquisition of Cat Logistics
- The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of Caterpillar Logistics Services by Platinum Equity, both US-based companies. Read More

* Access acquires warehouse management specialist Delta Software
- Access Group, a UK-based business solutions provider, has acquired Delta Software, a warehouse management specialist, in a £5.4m deal. Read More

 * Valedo invests in Aditro Logistics
- Valedo Partners, a Swedish private equity group, has announced the acquisition of Aditro Logistics, a Nordic 3PL. Valedo Partners announced it will provide additional resources to help Aditro expand its service offering. Read More

* Flinders Ports acquires ownership of Adelaide Container Terminal
- Flinders Port, the private operator of the Port of Adelaide and six other South Australian ports, announced that it has gained sole ownership of Adelaide Container Terminal through the acquisition of DP World's 60% shareholding. Read More

* Francisco Partners completes acquisition of Kewill
- Francisco Partners announced it has completed the acquisition of Kewill. Read More

* Ingram Micro acquires BrightPoint
- Ingram Micro announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which, subject to customary closing conditions, Ingram Micro will acquire all of the outstanding shares of BrightPoint common stock for $9.00 per share in cash. The transaction is valued at approximately $840m. Read More

* RedPrairie acquires Planora and creates a "Center of Optimization Excellence"
- RedPrairie Corporation announced the creation of a "Center of Optimization Excellence" in Montreal, Canada along with the acquisition of Planora. Read More

* Lineage Logistics acquires Castle and Cooke Cold Storage
- Lineage Logistics, a warehousing and logistics company sponsored by Bay Grove Capital LLC announced that it has acquired Castle and Cooke Cold Storage (CCCS), a third-party warehousing logistics headquartered in California. Read More

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