Truck & Bus Builder’s Post

Have you already seen the latest Bus-News magazine? 🔍 Check out our editorial on page 26 to find out how to reduce your vehicle's weight and footprint! 🌳 🌍 🥁 You can also have a peek at the NEW WIRELESS SYSTEM!! #wireless #sustainablemobility #citybuses #bus #transport #businteriors #pushbuttons #footprint #weightreduction

With the Commercial Vehicle Show this week announcing its new Event Director, Mike Costain, it means plans to bring a fresh vision to the largest trade show in the UK for the road transport sector are well in motion. The appointment follows a new strategic partnership between SMMT, Nineteen Group and the RHA, further helping solidify the event’s reputation as the commercial vehicle sector’s one-stop location for doing business, with new and exciting opportunities coming soon. The UK automotive industry is investing big in decarbonisation and while bringing vehicles to market has been successful, consumers and businesses must be confident to switch. Suitable political support is needed and, for the UK bus sector, the new Buses Bill proposed this week must open the door to greener fleet investment. Bus manufacturers, like all automotive sectors, are ready to deliver but the key to unlocking decarbonisation is an ambitious strategy - and one that realises the importance of incentives and infrastructure to Britain's world-leading decarbonisation timelines. More in this week's Update: https://lnkd.in/ehayAMS9

The spotlight is on the MasterDrive Fleet Safety Awards at Automechanika Johannesburg today, with this year’s theme ‘Fleet Forward’, emphasizing collaboration and innovation for business success. 🚛✨ Key topics shaping the future of the fleet industry include: ✅ Insights on fleet safety and how continuous improvement drives excellence. ✅ A forward-looking analysis of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, addressing opportunities and challenges unique to South Africa. ⚡ #AutomechanikaJohannesburg #FleetSafety #EVFuture #Innovation #Sustainability

As car ownership in Britain reached an all-time high of 35.7 million vehicles last year – and adding to that record an ever growing number of zero emission vehicles on our roads – new opportunities abound for aftermarket businesses to provide cutting-edge parts and servicing solutions here in the UK. But doing business overseas also promises great potential with rising demand for aftermarket products as global mobility grows. British firms are seeking to exploit these opportunities as Automechanika Frankfurt made clear this week with more than a hundred UK exhibitors and a sold-out UK Pavilion hosted by SMMT. Our exhibitors met with hundreds of new and existing customers across the four days, including at our networking reception, and built quality business connections that will help drive their expansion around the world. Growing global interest in parts and components for electrified and zero emission vehicles is no surprise given the numbers that need servicing continue to surge, and SMMT is supporting members with plans for an expanded international programme - with a busy Autumn including three overseas trade missions to China, Los Angeles and Slovakia More in this week's Update: https://lnkd.in/eb_UMfaR

Essen today - as with all German cities, it is simply public transport excellence. As a teenager in the 1990s I felt as though I knew all about essen and it's guided buses, through reading at length about the similar vehicles my home city of Leeds was in the process of introducing guided buses. Since then the tunnel under the city (formerly shared between trams and guided buses in electric mode) has become tram and metro only, and one of the lines through a park has similarly gone. The guided busway between the A40 carriageways remains, operated by Mercedes Citaro articulated buses (similar to those we operate). Also former Docklands Light Rail P86 vehicles still giving good service. Credit also to the german-built tram with the folding step. Ruhrbahn GmbH you are a shining example to the rest of us in how to 'do' public transport right. UK devolved mayors; i realise you can't change the destructive decisions of the 1960s and 70s, but please consider European cities such as essen as examples of what ought to be possible.

Exploring truck parking demand and supply in Europe: unveiling the gap and solutions! With a staggering demand for 400,000 spots and a shortfall of 100,000, discover the three key strategies in securing the road ahead together with TRAVIS! 🚚🅿️🔒 👉 Download our whitepaper 'Securing the Road Ahead' to read more about this initiative: https://lnkd.in/ehEt9RK4

We got the chance to speak at length with ZF Group's Prof Dr Peter Laier at the IAA. Among other things, we asked him what he thought Europe could learn from China's approach to electrification. Read his answer in our article at Truck & Bus Builder: https://lnkd.in/eQSpaw4D

I’m very much looking forward to meeting coach members at the EURO BUS EXPO in Birmingham next month (12-14 November). The event showcases the latest services, vehicles and technologies for coach operators – and offers a range of seminars on current industry experiences and developments. We will exhibit at the #NEC event (Stand 110) where visitors can find out what we do to support our members and the wider coach sector. Come and see us if you’re there. The event will follow shortly after the Budget and we’re getting the message across that we will support the Government deliver on their mission to drive economic growth with our coach members playing their crucial part. But there’s a lot that ministers can do to help the coach sector do what it does even better. We’re asking the Chancellor to continue with the fuel duty freeze and introduce a 15-per-litre essential user rebate. This would make coach travel even more competitive and could take more cars off the road. We’re calling for the take up of low-carbon fuels like HVO to be incentivised through rebates to speed up coach sector decarbonisation, and for the National Wealth Fund to support the sector with investment in zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure. Our industry needs continuing support to recruit and train more drivers and vehicle technicians, and on reducing cost burdens – we’re calling for full expensing to be extended to leased assets to help small operators. More on our #Budget asks:https://lnkd.in/eD58vaq4 I welcome your comments… #RHACoaches #RHAInfrastructure #RHAFacilities #RHACostsAndRegulation #eurobusexpo

I had the opportunity to attend Road Expo 2024 UK at NAEC Stoneleigh last week. The event featured over 250 exhibitors, with trucks at the centre of attention. The expo showcased the latest technologies and advancements shaping the future of road transport, offering a valuable opportunity to explore sector innovations. It was interesting to see the rapid advancements in alternative fuels for heavy-duty trucks, including battery electric technology, hydrogen fuel cells, and biogas, all aiming to reduce emissions and promote sustainable road transport. Leading manufacturers showcased vehicle technology, safety features, and performance enhancements at the show. The event also served as a platform for exhibitors and visitors to foster partnerships and collaborations for innovation and efficiency in the trucking industry. Notable truck introductions included the eActros 600 electric truck by Daimler Trucks, the MAN eTGX by MAN Trucks, battery electric and biogas-powered models from Scania, as well as the Volvo Trucks FH Aero series and FH Electric models. Renault Trucks also unveiled the all-electric E-Tech T and HVO-compliant diesel vehicles within their product range from 3 to 44 tons. Volta Trucks, now called Volta Commercial Vehicles, displayed a 16-tonne electric chassis, aiming for commercial availability in the second quarter of 2025. In a change in strategy, Volta will be selling cab chassis only and no longer building bodies. Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS) showcased their electric hydrogen trucks, planned for commercial release by the end of 2026. BEDEO showcased its in-wheel-motor-enabled retrofit kit for large vans through its Reborn Electric program. The Volvo FH Electric made history by becoming the first electric truck to win the UK trophy for the International Truck of the Year award at the event. Another interesting opportunity for the visitors was the ‘ride and drive’ experience, featuring a selection of the newest models from manufacturers such as BEDEO, Ford, FUSO, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, MAN, Renault Trucks, SANY eTruck, Scania, Volta Trucks, and Volvo. In conclusion, Road Expo 2024 provided an insightful outlook on the heavy-duty truck journey towards a zero-emission landscape. Frost & Sullivan Europe

This week’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, Raising the roof for future prosperity World-leading pioneers of truck and van technology headed to Birmingham this week to the Commercial Vehicle Show, providing a massive opportunity for industry to showcase the latest innovations currently available in Britain. Taking place over three days and all under one roof, more than 200 exhibitors set out their stalls – including around 180 vehicles, as well as advanced components, state-of-the-art solutions and all-new services – giving thousands of UK fleet operators the perfect chance to give their business a competitive edge. Government has an important part to play in encouraging operators to switch, as made clear in a new SMMT report published at the event – particularly to deliver a ‘next-generation’ Plug-in Truck Grant and the depot and public infrastructure needed to power the very greenest vehicles. It was a highlight therefore to welcome Shadow Minister for Roads, the Rt Hon Bill Esterson MP on the second day. He visited a number of stands and SMMT members to hear about their priorities for the years ahead, with engagement between industry and politicians as important as ever during an election year. Exhibitor feedback has been positive with quality leads being generated, helped not least by a number of exciting vehicle and product launches that make the Show the UK’s premier industry event. As we transition to net zero, the market is evolving with more competitive and high-tech vehicles features, which as evident this week is encouraging more operators – who typically have long-term loyalty to their brand – to consider switching to new technology.