TuSimple is focused on the development of self-driving Class 8 commercial trucks and through the collaboration will be able to realize that with one of the largest Tier 1 suppliers of auto parts and technologies. With the partnership now in effect, the Chinese and German companies have set to co-develop a central computing platform for autonomous trucks, starting with the regions of China, North America and Europe.

The two companies will also be focusing on developing a sensing system which would consist of cameras, laser radars, and millimeter-wave radars, all of which are key in creating a technology that can generate three-dimensional maps of the environment surrounding a vehicle in 360 degrees in real time. In addition to that, the German counterpart of the partnership will also be providing engineering support to integrate TuSimple’s autonomous system into self-driving trucks.

Chuck Price, Chief Product Officer of TuSimple: “Working side by side with ZF to refine and integrate our production-ready technology has allowed us to optimize our hardware stack and focus on scaling these technologies to make it possible for autonomous-ready trucks to be mass produced.”

TuSimple was founded in 2015 and currently has a fleet operation that consists of more than 40 SAE Level 4 self-driving trucks that make up to 20 trips between Texas and Arizona on a weekly basis. With a safety engineer onboard, as well as a driver, these 40 trucks drive themselves while hauling trailers for 18 contracted companies, including American courier company UPS, announced not nearly a month ago. The agreement with UPS is part of a pilot program that aims to test TuSimple’s U.S. Society of Automotive Engineers-rated Level 4 autonomous technology, which allows a truck to self-drive without the need of a human operator.

TuSimple has come a long way in these past five years, especially after hitting the milestone of being one of the first companies to obtain licenses in its home country to test self-driving trucks in Shanghai two years ago. Future plans of the autonomous technology company include true driverless tests within the next year. By 2023, the Chinese company hopes to begin delivering autonomous trucks to buyers as a result of this collaboration with ZF.

With the worldwide pandemic and businesses actively looking for a platform for recovery, Tyrexpo Asia 2021 is due to open in almost seven months’ time next March 2021 and so far this specific event for the international tyre market has attracted over a hundred confirmed exhibitors’ positive interest and support.

Stands of varying sizes have been taken by many leading business around the world including Stamford Tyres International (Singapore), Deestone Corporation (Thailand), Goodtire Rubber Industrial (Taiwan), GB Tyres (UK), Sun Rubber Industry (Malaysia), Service Industries (Pakistan) and Middle East Tyre Center (UAE), which incorporates a mixture of both returning customers, showing a trust in the show series and new exhibitors wishing to expand their marketing image globally and anticipating a rebound in business activities.

This latest announcement of the special business conferences at the show follows close on the heels of the recent launch of the Hosted Special Buyers Scheme as the Tyrexpo Asia 2021 Show and further illustrates the continual marketing momentum that Tarsus are determined to maintain on a regular basis right through to the commencement of the show.

High on this list of proposed attractions will be this innovative series of open business conferences throughout the three-day event which will encompass a variety of topical issues by a series of experienced professionals in their specific aspect of the tyre market. The Marina Bay Sands Conference facility has two high standard conference halls so there will be two conferences on each day and the first day at the show will present two distinctive summits on international Tyre retreading and recycling and a ‘unique’ Fleet management summit with the remaining conference topics to be confirmed in due course.

This event is now managed by Tarsus Group, one of the largest and most successful exhibition management specialists in the world and definitely on course to take the international tyre industry to the next professional level of presentation which will incorporate a series of new features and facilities.

Alwin Seow of Tyrexpo adds, “We have put a lot of thought into the presentation of the conferences we are presenting and are very confident they will provide good coverage of what is happening in today’s market both at the moment and in the future. In due course we will be announcing the schedule of each individual conference during the event which will be more expansive and cover more market sectors than ever before.”

UD Trucks Singapore recently announced the winner of the 3^rd Extra Mile Challenge. Tay Kay Poo of NSL OilChem Waste Management Pte Ltd emerged as the winner after many challenging obstacles. The competition aims to promote “smart drivers” where truck drivers are not just individuals behind the wheel but smart professionals managing the works of a truck.

During the pre-qualifying rounds held on 19 October 2019, 20 contestants gathered to understand the rules of the competition and perform their best skills at three main stations namely pre-inspection station, driving skill station and safety and fuel efficiency station. Each driver was assessed and top five drivers were allowed to advance to the finals.

During the finals on 9 November 2019, the five drivers were tested on their driving skills, safety and fuel efficiency on actual roads with a distance of 8.62km. The winners were announced on 30 January 2020 in conjunction with Chinese New Year and Driver’s Appreciation Night. The champion will go on to represent the Singaporean market in the global final of Extra Mile Challenge in Japan this April.

“UD Trucks is committed to going the extra mile for smart logistics. As a company, we know that the driver is integral to maintaining smart logistics, this is why our aim is to motivate and develop as many ultimate drivers as possible through such competitions” said Joseph Heng, General Manager of UD Trucks Singapore.

Champion: Tay Kay Poo of NSL OilChem Waste Management Pte Ltd

1^st Runner Up: Ng Sin Aik of Hock Seng Heng Transport and Trading Pte Ltd

2^nd Runner Up: Pachayappan of CWT Pte. Limited

Congratulations to the winners!

Sharing the Green Deal vision of sustainable transport and a carbon neutral Europe by 2050, two leading companies in the commercial vehicle industry, Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group, have signed a preliminary non-binding agreement to establish a new joint venture. According to statements by both companies, the intention is to develop, produce and commercialize fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicle applications and other use cases. Daimler will consolidate all its current fuel cell activities in the joint venture. The Volvo Group will acquire 50% in the joint venture for the sum of approximately EUR 0.6 billion on a cash nd debt free basis.

“Transport and logistics keep the world moving, and the need for transport will continue to grow. Truly CO2-neutral transport can be accomplished through electric drive trains with energy coming either from batteries or by converting hydrogen on board into electricity. For trucks to cope with heavy loads and long distances, fuel cells are one important answer and a technology where Daimler has built up significant expertise through its Mercedes-Benz fuel cell unit over the last two decades. This joint initiative with the Volvo Group is a milestone in bringing fuel cell powered trucks and buses onto our roads,” says Martin Daum, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler Truck AG and Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG.

“Electrification of road transport is a key element in delivering the so called Green Deal, a carbon neutral Europe and ultimately a carbon neutral world. Using hydrogen as a carrier of green electricity to power electric trucks in long-haul operations is one important part of the puzzle, and a complement to battery electric vehicles and renewable fuels. Combining the Volvo Group and Daimler’s experience in this area to accelerate the rate of development is good both for our customers and for society as a whole. By forming this joint venture, we are clearly showing that we believe in hydrogen fuel cells for commercial vehicles. But for this vision to become reality, other companies and institutions also need to support and contribute to this development, not least in order to establish the fuel infrastructure needed,” says Martin Lundstedt, Volvo Group President and CEO.

The Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG will be 50/50 partners in the joint venture, which will operate as an independent and autonomous entity, with Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group continuing to be competitors in all other areas of business. Joining forces will decrease development costs for both companies and accelerate the market introduction of fuel cell systems in products used for heavy-duty transport and demanding long-haul applications. In the context of the current economic downturn cooperation has become even more necessary in order to meet the Green Deal objectives within a feasible time-frame.

The common goal is for both companies to offer heavy-duty vehicles with fuel cells for demanding long-haul applications in series production in the second half of the decade. In addition, other automotive and non-automotive use cases are also part of the new joint venture’s scope.

To enable the joint venture, Daimler Trucks is bringing together all group-wide fuel cell activities in a new Daimler Truck fuel cell unit. Part of this bundling of activities is the allocation of the operations of “Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell GmbH”, which has longstanding experience in the development of fuel cell and hydrogen storage systems for various vehicle applications, to Daimler Truck AG.

The joint venture will include the operations in Nabern/Germany (currently headquarters of the Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell GmbH) with production facilities in Germany and Canada.

The signed preliminary agreement is non-binding. A final agreement is expected by Q3 and closing before year-end 2020. All potential transactions are subject to examination and approval by the responsible competition authorities.

Facts: Fuel cells and hydrogen as fuel
• A hydrogen fuel cell converts the chemical energy of the fuel, in this case hydrogen, and oxygen (in the air) into electricity. The electricity powers the electrical motors that propel an electrical vehicle.
• There are two main ways to produce the hydrogen needed. So-called green hydrogen can be produced locally at the gas station, using electricity to convert water into hydrogen. Blue hydrogen is expected to be produced from natural gas, utilizing carbon capture technology to create a carbon neutral fuel.

The Volvo FH with I-Save is now being launched in an even more fuel-efficient version that can cut fuel costs by up to ten percent. This marks a significant improvement of three percentage points on the previous generation. Volvo FH with I-Save becomes even more efficient, saving up to 10 percent.

That Volvo FH with I-Save could slash the cost of fuel considerably compared to a truck without I-Save equipped with Volvo’s conventional 13-litre engine has been confirmed by independent tests as well as customers experience. “Cutting fuel consumption and, as a result, reducing CO2 emissions is crucial for all transport companies, especially those with long haul operations. With the new Volvo FH with I-Save, we give hauliers even greater opportunities to reduce their operating costs and environmental impact,” says Jessica Sandström, Senior Vice President Product Management at Volvo Trucks.

The new Volvo FH with I-Save is part of Volvo Trucks’ new European product range introduced this spring. I-Save includes many fuel-saving solutions, of which the most important is the Volvo D13TC engine. Volvo’s 13-litre turbo compound engine, launched at the start of 2019, is the company’s most fuel-effective engine to date.

With the launch of the first-generation Volvo FH with I-Save in 2019, Volvo Trucks showed that this solution could slash the cost of fuel – diesel and AdBlue – by up to seven percent compared to a truck without I-Save equipped with Volvo’s conventional 13-litre engine. This figure has been confirmed by independent tests as well as customers experience.

“The combination of low fuel consumption, low noise levels and good driveability has garnered a very positive response. Many hauliers see the Volvo FH with I-Save as a tool to help reduce their carbon footprint,” says Jessica Sandström.

With the new-generation Volvo FH with I-Save, Volvo Trucks’ product developers have reduced fuel consumption even further. Through software updates based on user data analysis, the balance between fuel consumption and driveability has been refined and optimised, leading to a further reduction in fuel consumption when driving in Eco mode.

In addition to an upgrade of I-Save, the new Volvo FH has a more aerodynamic design. To save even more fuel, I-See now has a new function that enables the truck to detect when it´s efficient for the engine to rev up slightly and then freewheel, even on roads that look flat to the human eye.

“This result means that by choosing the new Volvo FH with I-Save, hauliers can reduce their fuel consumption by up to ten percent compared to an ordinary Volvo FH equipped with our 13-litre engine with Euro 6 step D*. Even greater savings can be achieved in practice, since most customers who buy the new Volvo FH with I-Save switch from older trucks with higher fuel consumption,” Jessica Sandström explains.

Fuel-efficient with Outstanding Driveability
The new Volvo FH with I-Save doesn’t only represent a major step forward in terms of fuel economy. Its optimised torque within a wide rev range results in smooth driving and delivers the power needed to maintain a high and constant average speed, even in challenging topography.

“We are making it easier and more comfortable to drive fuel efficiently even on hilly roads. The new Volvo FH’s top-class driver environment also helps drivers perform optimally throughout their entire work shift,” concludes Jessica.

In Focus: The New Volvo FH with I-Save
The new Volvo FH with I-Save will be available to order in European markets starting from September 2020
Volvo’s 13-litre engine with turbo compound technology (Volvo D13TC) with 460 hp (2,600 Nm) or 500 hp (2,800 Nm)
Map-based I-See – uses information about the planned route to utilise the truck’s kinetic energy
I-Shift gearchanging system with software optimised for long-haul operations (Eco mode)
I-Cruise with I-Roll, which adjusts the speed to keep fuel consumption down
Fuel-efficient rear axle
Idle stop
Variable power steering pump
Full air deflector package

*The difference in fuel consumption is computed by comparing the costs of diesel and AdBlue for I-Save: D13TC Euro 6 step D with the long haul fuel package, with D13 eSCR Euro 6 step D without the long haul fuel package. The actual fuel economy varies according to many factors, such as the driver’s level of experience, use of cruise control, the vehicle specifications, vehicle load, actual topography and current weather conditio

The Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors will establish a Joint Alliance Office, with facilities both in Japan
and Sweden, which will be overseen by an Alliance Board comprising the Isuzu Motors President,
the Volvo Group CEO and other key executives from the two groups.

There is great complementarity between the Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors from both a geographical and product line perspective. The two companies have signed an Alliance Framework Agreement for a minimum duration of 20 years, to take up the possibilities and challenges of the logistics industry of  the future, maximizing value and benefits for customers as well as for society.  “I have high expectations on this strategic alliance, which will make Volvo and Isuzu Motors even
more competitive within their respective markets and segments. This is an opportunity to share technology investments and also to help each other grow. I am confident that UD Trucks will become a bridge between the Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors and that the strategic alliance will create the conditions to continue to develop UD Trucks to a new level within Isuzu Motors. I also want to express my pride at how the UD Trucks team has been able to serve customers and continue to improve financial performance also during this unprecedented period, characterized by the COVID-19  pandemic. The Volvo Group will continue to support UD Trucks, and participate in the Asian markets  through this alliance,” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of the Volvo Group.

“This is a very exciting day. We have signed the strategic alliance agreement with the Volvo Group. The difficult and unforeseeable COVID-19 situation has made the strategic alliance even more valuable and has built a solid, trustful relationship between Isuzu and the Volvo Group. This longterm partnership will span across products, technologies and regions, and actively contribute to  service improvements and strengthened customer satisfaction as well as supporting the logistics industry. I am fortunate to have UD Trucks joining the Isuzu Group. UD Trucks will play an important role of the strategic alliance for efficient and effective collaboration between Isuzu Motors and the Volvo Group,” says Masanori Katayama, President and Representative Director of Isuzu Motors Limited.

The agreed purchase price on a cash and debt free basis, enterprise value, for UD Trucks is JPY 243 billion (approx. SEK 20 billion) to be paid to Volvo at the closing of the transaction. Furthermore, the agreement includes an earnout, in which an additional amount up to JPY 15 billion (approx. SEK 1.2 billion) is to be paid subject to the performance of UD Trucks during the years 2021-2023. UD Trucks’ revenues for the last 12 months (July 2019-June 2020) amounted to JPY 278 billion (approx. SEK 23
billion). The business had a marginally positive impact on the Volvo Group’s operating income in the same period. At the time of closing, the transaction is expected to result in a positive impact on the Volvo Group’s operating income of approximately SEK 2 billion and increase the Volvo Group’s net cash position in the Industrial operation by approximately SEK 20 billion. Closing is expected during the first half of 2021. The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including approval from
regulatory authorities. 

Hauliers and transport buyers are increasingly interested in reducing their CO2 emissions and costs through the use of refrigerated liquefied gas as a fuel. For this reason, the new Volvo FH and Volvo FM trucks will have engines that run on liquefied natural gas and biogas, which offer the same high performance as diesel engines. Using biogas makes it possible to achieve carbon-neutral transport and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 100 percent.

The EU Green Deal clearly indicates the direction the transport industry needs to take towards a cleaner future, which means that there must be an end date for fossil fuels. As a result, hauliers and transport buyers are increasingly looking for alternatives to diesel.

“Today, LNG-fuelled trucks are the most commercially viable alternative to ordinary diesel for heavy long-haul operations. This fuel is available in sufficiently large quantities and at a competitive price. Using more gas trucks creates favourable conditions for making a transition to a larger share of liquefied biogas over time,” says Lars Mårtensson, Director of Environment and Innovation at Volvo Trucks.

Volvo Trucks’ driveline for liquefied biogas and natural gas has an energy-efficiency comparable to that of its diesel-powered counterparts, but produces significantly lower CO2 emissions. Using liquefied biogas, also known as Bio-LNG, reduces net emissions by up to 100 percent from tank to wheel (TTW), while using natural gas cuts emissions by around 20 percent (TTW) compared with ordinary European standard diesel.

Reducing diesel dependency requires strong investment
The production of fossil-free biogas requires a greater number of production plants for anaerobic digestion of waste with the possibility of cooling the gas into liquid form. Various studies have calculated that just over 20 percent of diesel in Europe could be replaced by renewable gas in the form of Bio-LNG by 2030. The number of liquefied gas filling stations is constantly increasing, and is already an alternative to diesel on many routes. However, the number of filling stations needs to continue expanding in pace with a corresponding growth in the number of gas-powered trucks.

“By investing in LNG trucks, we are showing that Bio-LNG is an important alternative to reduce dependency on fossil diesel. However, to speed up the transition to climate-neutral transport, it is necessary to continue investing in liquefied gas filling stations and carrying out measures to make it easier for hauliers to invest heavy in heavy gas-powered vehicles,” Lars Mårtensson points out.

Need for a mix of fuels going forward
Because no individual energy carrier is capable of meeting all the challenges related to climate change, different types of fuels and drivelines will continue to co-exist for the foreseeable future.

“Embracing new technology will be the key to achieving climate neutrality. The share of LNG trucks will gradually increase in Europe. But gas trucks won’t be able to meet all transport challenges. Electromobility will play an important role locally, as well as regionally going forward, and the development of batteries and charging infrastructure will be important factors in its expansion,” explains Lars Mårtensson.

Electromobility using hydrogen fuel cells has potential to reduce the need for batteries in long-haul transport in the longer term. “Although promising developments have been made in hydrogen fuel cell technology, there are still practical and financial obstacles to overcome before it can provide significant climate benefits in heavy-duty transport,” says Lars Mårtensson.

Despite all the technical advances in electromobility, ongoing improvement of the efficiency of combustion engines will continue to play a key role in reducing climate impact for many years to come.

“A lot can already be done to reduce climate impact with today’s engines. For instance, both new and older diesel trucks from Volvo can run on HVO, a biofuel producing very low net CO2 emissions. The challenge is that the availability of biofuels continues to be so limited,” Lars Mårtensson concludes.

ZF is poised to be the leading technology partner to the commercial vehicle industry with the addition of WABCO’s capabilities. The company is playing a pivotal role in the industry’s drive towards a more sustainable, connected and safer future. With a clear focus on reducing CO2 emissions and enhancing safety standards, ZF is also at the forefront of delivering the next level of vehicle automation and digital connectivity. Recent applications and technology advancements were showcased by the leading commercial vehicle technology systems supplier at a digital press event in the ZF Forum.

Accelerating Development
Building on its recent acquisition of WABCO, ZF is accelerating the development of its product and systems portfolio to enable intelligent commercial vehicles. This includes an industry-first autonomous trailer coupling function (pictured) and energy-saving truck-trailer combination. EU requirements for manufacturers to reduce new commercial vehicle CO2 fleet emissions by 15% before 2025, increasing to 30% by 2030, makes ZF an invaluable partner to the commercial vehicle industry as demand for electric drive trains in buses and trucks grows exponentially. In addition, the EU requires new driver assistance systems approvals from 2022 and, from 2024, for new registrations to include advanced blind spot warning systems.