Author:charleen-clarke
As I write this story, there are 230ย 051 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide and 9ย 388 deaths. South Africaโs infection rate โ at 150 โ still seems quite small (thank goodness). I have heard lots of hysterical rantings and Iโve encountered lots of panic-stricken people. Amid all this hysteria, one thing is missing: no one is talking about the importance of our industry Until now. Iโm going to talk about how important and how utterly invaluable our industry is right now. If […]
If there is one expression that applies to UD Trucks, it is this: the only constant in life is change The jury is out as to whether the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, actually said that โthe only constant in life is changeโ, or โchange is the only constant in lifeโ. No matter; both have the same meaning anyway. However, there is one statement with which everyone agrees: UD Trucks and change have become synonymous. Indeed, Nihon Diesel Industries โ which became […]
We have been watching the progress of Ford Trucks with great interest. Back in July 2018, we met with the company, and heard all about its plans to take on the so-called โSeven Sistersโ (the seven established European brands, Mercedes-Benz, MAN, Iveco, Renault, Scania, DAF and Volvo) in their own backyard โ namely Europe. To be frank, we wondered if the company could achieve its highly ambitious goals, but things appear to be very much on track. Recently, Ford Trucks […]
The Volkswagen Amarok has retained its title as Best Pick-up Truck at the What Car? Awards 2020. The winning model, the Amarok Trendline 3.0-litre TDI V6 4Motion, once again won over the hearts and minds of the What Car? judging panel with its unique blend of on- and off-road abilities and all-round quality. Commenting on the result, editor of What Car? Steve Huntingford said: โJust because a pick-up truck is expected to lead a hard-working life, that doesnโt mean quality […]
Iveco, FPT Industrial and Nikola have unveiled the prototype of the remarkable Nikola Tre, the first vehicle resulting from the joint venture between CNH Industrial and Nikola Motors. The vehicle is based on the Iveco S-Way heavy-duty truck launched in July 2019. The prototype battery electric Nikola Tre 4ร2 tractor is for regional applications, with a range of up to 400 km and dynamic performance equal or better than a diesel equivalent model. The vehicle will feature a modular battery […]
The second North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) Show recently took place in Atlanta, and we had the opportunity to check out the wares of the 473 exhibitors and learn about the latest technologies at play globally (see page 14 of this issue for the latest on vehicle autonomy) The North American Commercial Vehicle Show featured the biggest names in Class 8 trucks and trailers, including Daimler, Dana, Hino Trucks, Hyundai, Kenworth, Mack, Navistarโs International, Peterbilt and Volvo. The show took […]
If there is one man who is a real icon of the tyre industry in South Africa, itโs John Laskarides, the CEO of Bandag. CHARLEEN CLARKE went face to face with him First up, where does the Bandag name come from? The global company was formed in 1957, when an American businessman by the name of Roy Carver purchased the rights to a revolutionary precured retreading process from its German inventor, Bernard Anton Novak. The name Bandag comes from his […]
Last month, we mentioned that we would be attending the Traton Innovation Day at Scaniaโs headquarters in Sรถdertรคlje, Sweden. We were promised a host of innovations, and the group certainly didnโt disappoint The day kicked off with a presentation from Traton CEO Andreas Renschler, who touched on the multifaceted challenges faced by the commercial vehicle industry, including in particular the significant transformation towards alternative drive systems and systems with reduced COโ emissions, as well as the considerably fast pace at […]
As you read this issue of FOCUS, we will be in Sweden, attending the first-ever Traton Innovation Day (weโre hoping that the company will host many more of these events). Just in case youโre not a regular reader of FOCUS, the Traton Group has three brands: MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Caminhรตes e รnibus. Theyโre arch-rivals in many markets, but the Group is hoping to benefit by collaboration between the brands. โOne thing is certain: by working collaboratively, there are greater […]
The Hyundai Motor Group has developed a new prototype electric scooter with rear-wheel drive, a highly capable lithium battery and stylish front and rear lights. It also has suspension on the front wheel in order to provide a smooth ride, even on rough surfaces. The latest concept features in Hyundai Motor Group plans to enable first- and last-mile mobility by integrating the scooter with future Hyundai and Kia vehicles. When mounted on a vehicle, the scooter is charged automatically using […]
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