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Meritor’s Mach brand enters the aftermarket
ATLANTA, GA - Meritor has introduced a value-priced product line for the aftermarket that will be branded as Mach. Initial offerings will include brakes, drivelines, drive axles, suspensions, transmissions and springs, but there are plans to expand as well. "Mach is a global aftermarket value brand that we're launching today for North America, but we're going to introduce it here and all over the world," said Rob Speed, president - aftermarket and trailer and Chief Procurement Officer, during an unveiling at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. "The time is right, we believe, to launch a value lineup brand for aftermarket parts. In North America and around the world we're seeing a rise in low-cost competitors and brands that don't necessarily have the same quality focus as Meritor." Buyers are rolling the dice when they buy products from companies they don't know, he said. In contrast, Meritor is a proven company. "We're not offering parts that won't fit or won't work well. Mach is different."
Navistar, VW promise electric powertrain
ATLANTA, GA - Navistar will bring a medium-duty electric powertrain to the North American marketplace by 2019/20, drawing on technical expertise available through Volkswagen Truck and Bus. "There is an opportunity for electric and electric vehicles in the North American market," said Troy Clarke, chairman, president, and Chief Executive Officer, referring specifically to the Class 6/7 segment. "It is still in the early stages of the product development cycle there, but that's the target." Volkswagen officially secured a 16.6% stake in the company in March, and is already expected to bring a big bore diesel powertrain to North America by 2021 in addition to sharing other technologies. It won't be Navistar's first foray into electric vehicles. The company launched its Class 3 eStar van several years ago, but that model was ahead of its time, Clarke said in a presentation during the North American Commercial Vehicle Show. MAN, a European nameplate owned by Volkswagen, recently released an electric truck of its own in the form of the eTruck.
After 25 years Trucker Buddy appoints new director
ATLANTA, GA - Involved with Trucker Buddy International for 25 years, executive director Randy Schwartzenburg feels it's time to pass the torch. At the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) Show Wednesday, Schhwartzenburg announced his retirement from the not-for-profit organization.
Michelin guarantees performance of new drive tire
ATLANTA, GA - Michelin is promising its new XDA Energy + drive tire will save fleets $400 a year in fuel, and is backing that promise up with a guarantee. The company's newest drive tire was designed for fuel economy, and Michelin says it will pay fleets that don't see the promised fuel savings over competitive brands up to $400 per truck. Fleets of any size can take the test. Michelin will work with them to benchmark their fuel economy using their current drive tire, then swap those brands out with the new XDA Energy+.
